July 19, 2019
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Former OT Leon Searcy has been named No. 14 on the Jaguars All-25, the club announced today. Jaguars All-25 is a collection of the top 25 non-active players in franchise history, as voted on by members of the local media. The Jaguars’ silver celebration kicked off in mid-March with the start of the new league year and the unveiling of the team’s 25th season commemorative logo designed to embody the spirit of DUUUVAL.
“I’d like to thank the Jacksonville Jaguars for including me in the All-25 as we celebrate 25 seasons of Jacksonville Jaguars football,” said Searcy. “I’m very humbled and I’m very appreciate of being on the list. I was here in Jacksonville for four years and they were outstanding years, the glory years, and I’m just glad to be a part of the Jacksonville Jaguars organization. I love the fans, I love the community and I’m glad to be back home, and DUUUVAL!”
Searcy, 6-4, 313, was originally selected with the 11th overall pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1992 NFL Draft. He played four seasons with the Steelers, appearing in 64 games, and started the final 48 games of his career in Pittsburgh at right tackle. Following the 1995 season, Searcy came to Jacksonville as one of the team’s best and biggest free agent signings in the franchise’s history and went on to start all 63 games at right tackle – opposite Tony Boselli — during his four-year tenure with the Jaguars. During the 1996 and 1997 seasons, Searcy was not flagged for a holding or false start penalty. In 1999, the Jaguars went 14-2 and Searcy was selected to his first career Pro Bowl, while also being honored as an Associated Press second-team All-Pro selection.
“His punch was so strong that the defensive guys didn’t want to practice against him,” said Frank Frangie, the Jaguars’ radio play-by-play announcer, a host on 1010XL and a member of the All-25 voting panel. “The perfect right tackle because he was tough and mean and physical… and remember, Mark Brunell was a left-handed quarterback, so you’re a right tackle and you have to do right tackle things, which is run-block and be physical, but you also have the quarterback’s back-side.”
Searcy signed as a free agent with the Baltimore Ravens in 2001 and with the Miami Dolphins in 2002, before officially retiring from the NFL prior to the 2003 season. He went on to coach the offensive line at Florida International University from 2004-06, and now serves as a radio host and the Jaguars’ preseason television analyst.
He attended the University of Miami and was a three-time national champion (1987, 1989, 1991), and was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame in 2003. A native of Washington, D.C., Searcy played high school football in Orlando, Fla. at Maynard Evans High School.
For more information on Jaguars All-25, including stories, interviews and statistics, please visit https://www.jaguars.com/all25.
JAGUARS ALL-25:
14. RT Leon Searcy (1996-99)
15. LB Kevin Hardy (1996-2001)
16. SS Donovin Darius (1998-2006)
17. TE Kyle Brady (1999-2006)
18. G Vince Manuwai (2003-10)
19. LB Mike Peterson (2003-08)
20. CB Aaron Beasley (1996-2001)
21. K Josh Scobee (2004-14)
22. DT Gary Walker (1999-2001)
23. QB David Garrard (2002-10)
24. DE Joel Smeenge (1995-2000)
25. G Chris Naeole (2002-07)
