The San Francisco 49ers drafted him in the third round of the 1996 NFL Draft.
Photo by Tom Hauck / Icon Sportswire
Photo Courtesy of UTC Mocs Athletics / D _ Rutemeyer
Terrell Owens runs after the catch as a 49er in 2003 Terrell Owens stretching out for a pass in College
“ My mom made our clothes when we were young because she couldn’ t afford to go out and buy things like Tretorn shoes, Nike’ s, Brook’ s or Jordan’ s or other name brands like Guess or Members Only. She just couldn’ t afford it. She wanted us to dress nice so when she had the money to buy those things, she did, but it wasn’ t on a regular occurrence. She was a seamstress, and she learned how to make clothes. She did that to make ends meet and to make extra money on the side. I’ ve been in the house where people come over, and she’ d charge people for alterations of their pants or dresses, their jackets, all types of clothing. She’ s made bridesmaid’ s dresses and things of that nature. That’ s a part of me. That DNA has been in me, and I didn’ t know it. I’ m bringing it back to life and bringing it to fruition.”
Although Terrell wasn’ t an All-American coming out of Benjamin Russell High School, he was able to play football at the University of Tennessee- Chattanooga, which is an FCS school.
The San Francisco 49ers drafted him in the third round of the 1996 NFL Draft.
“ Obviously, I wanted to be a good player,” Terrell said.“ I wanted to be in the same breath of when people talk of some of the greatest guys. You talk about Jerry Rice and Steve Young. That’ s all I knew at that point during my first few years. I didn’ t watch a lot of football when I grew up because my grandmother was very, very strict. I didn’ t watch a lot of TV. I didn’ t even know who Jerry Rice was until probably my junior year in college. I found it very ironic that I ended up getting drafted by the 49ers. I was able to establish myself on the football field by playing consistently and building my name by some of the touchdown celebrations that I did. I became somewhat of must-see TV in a sense. People wanted to watch me play. People wanted to see what I was going to do next. People not only watched for the entertainment factor but the fact that I was becoming a great player right before everybody’ s eyes.”
The entertainment he provided came in different forms. He grabbed pom-poms from cheerleaders and danced with them. He celebrated on the star in Dallas. He even brought out a Sharpie and signed a football after scoring a touchdown.
“ In my mind, I was thinking that if I score, I’ m gonna dance because I know the cameras are going to be on me and somebody’ s got to see me,” he said.“ After that first touchdown, I got the reaction from it, and then I thought I had to do something again. Every week after that and every year after that, I felt like I had to keep it going. That’ s why a lot of people know me. They know the name. If they don’ t know the name Terrell Owens, they know the initials. They will know T. O.”
That name recognition is one of the tools he is using to venture out into creating his new business. Owens has started his new company entitled Prototype 81. The company is slated to sell workout gear. For Owens and people around him, clothing and fashion were a logical step for him to take.
“ People kept asking me why haven’ t I endorsed or have my own clothing line and why haven’ t I done anything associated with fitness and things of that nature,” said Owens.“ People have seen me dress. I think I dress pretty well. I’ ve always been in pretty decent shape. I had a friend over, and she said’ You should do your own line.’”
Coach & Player Magazine • Summer 2017 11