Wentford Gaines

Wentford Gaines
No. 36
Position:Defensive back / Return specialist
Personal information
Born: (1953-02-04) February 4, 1953 (age 71)
Anderson, South Carolina, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school:Westside (SC)
College:Ferrum College
Tennessee Tech
Cincinnati
NFL draft:1976 / round: 9 / pick: 265
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Interceptions:2
Fumble recoveries:1
Sacks:1.0
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Wentford Elijah "Mumbo" Gaines (born February 4, 1953) is an American former professional football defensive back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Bears.

Early life

Gaines was raised in Anderson, South Carolina. In high school, he was noted more for his basketball and track performances, but when he failed to receive any basketball scholarship offers, he decided to turn his attention to football. He attended Ferrum Junior College in Ferrum, Virginia. After two years at Ferrum he attended Tennessee Tech for a year before transferring to the University of Cincinnati where he played football and majored in Health Administration.[1]

Football career

Gaines was selected in the ninth round of the 1976 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He lost his first two seasons due to injuries — a pulled hamstring in 1976 and a sprained ankle suffered in the team's final preseason game of 1977.[2] He finally made his NFL debut in 1978, but was cut by the Steelers after the season's first game.[3]

The Chicago Bears signed Gaines a month later.[4] He split time at left cornerback for the Bears with Terry Schmidt.[5]

Gaines once again landed on the injury list after suffering a dislocated wrist in the Bears eighth game of 1980.[6] His playing career ended when he was cut by the Bears during training camp in 1981.[7]

Post-football life

Gaines has twin sons, Jerrid and Jerrod. Jerrid played college football at Miami University and attended camps with both the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals in 2008.[8] As of 2011 Gaines was coaching football at Lincoln High School in Jersey City, New Jersey.[9][10]

References

  1. ^ Emert, Rich (August 2, 1977). "Injuries help Gaines turn corner". The Beaver County Times. p. B-1. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
  2. ^ "Pittsburgh "Gains" Another Cornerback Prospect". Observer-Reporter. AP. August 1, 1978. p. C-1. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
  3. ^ "Steelers Acquire Back Al Maxson". The Vindicator. AP. September 7, 1978. p. 24. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
  4. ^ "Morgan Trying Out With Packer Squad". Milwaukee Journal. AP. October 7, 1978. p. 14. Retrieved December 22, 2011.[permanent dead link‍]
  5. ^ "Bears vs. Vikings". The Vindicator. November 10, 1978. p. 26. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
  6. ^ "Bears may lose defensive back". The Free Lance–Star. AP. October 9, 1980. p. 10. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
  7. ^ "Transactions". Boca Raton News. August 18, 1981. p. 3B. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
  8. ^ Rowe, Kermit (August 7, 2008). "Gaines back with Bengals". Springfield News-Sun. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
  9. ^ Ludwig, Chuck (June 15, 2008). "Ex-Miami Cornerback endures ups, downs in NFL". JournalNews. Archived from the original on June 1, 2012. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
  10. ^ "Liberty Lines" (PDF). Jersey City Public Schools. January–February 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 27, 2012. Retrieved December 22, 2011.