History of Terrell Owens in Timeline
Terrell Owens, nicknamed "T.O.", is a former NFL wide receiver widely considered one of the greatest. He played for 15 seasons, achieving remarkable success and ranking third in NFL history for career receiving yards and touchdowns. Despite his on-field accomplishments, Owens was also known for his controversial personality and flamboyant celebrations, leading to both admiration and criticism throughout his career.
December 7, 1973: Terrell Owens Born
On December 7, 1973, Terrell Eldorado Owens, known as "T.O.", was born. He would become a professional football wide receiver, playing 15 seasons in the NFL.
1999: Acted in 'Any Given Sunday'
In 1999, Terrell Owens played himself as a wide receiver for the fictional Miami Sharks in the film "Any Given Sunday", marking one of his first forays into acting.
2003: Appeared in ESPY Awards Commercial
In 2003, Terrell Owens appeared in a commercial for the ESPY Awards where he caught a home run ball from Barry Bonds in McCovey Cove.
March 4, 2004: 49ers Attempt to Trade Owens to Ravens
On March 4, 2004, the San Francisco 49ers tried to trade Terrell Owens to the Baltimore Ravens for a second-round pick. Owens disputed the 49ers' right to make the deal, believing he was a free agent.
March 16, 2004: Settlement Reached, Owens to Eagles
On March 16, 2004, before an arbitrator ruled, a settlement was reached between the NFL, Ravens, 49ers, and Eagles, sending Owens to the Philadelphia Eagles. His contract was worth about $49 million for seven years, including a $10 million signing bonus.
September 2004: Published Autobiography
In September 2004, Terrell Owens released his autobiography, "Catch This! Going Deep with the NFL's Sharpest Weapon," co-written with Stephen Singular, providing insights into his life and career.
November 15, 2004: Controversial Monday Night Football Skit
On November 15, 2004, Terrell Owens appeared in a controversial introductory skit for Monday Night Football with Nicollette Sheridan, which was later deemed not indecent by the FCC.
2004: Featured in Photographic Work
In 2004, Terrell Owens was the subject of a photographic work by Hank Willis Thomas entitled Liberation of T.O.: Ain't no way I'm go'n in back ta'work fa'massa in dat darn field.
March 14, 2005: FCC Ruled Skit Did Not Violate Decency Standards
On March 14, 2005, the Federal Communications Commission ruled that the November 15, 2004 Monday Night Football skit involving Terrell Owens did not violate decency standards, as it contained no nudity or foul language.
November 19, 2005: Subject of Punk'd Episode
On November 19, 2005, Terrell Owens was featured in an episode of Punk'd, starring Ashton Kutcher, based on his suspension.
March 14, 2006: Eagles Release Owens
On March 14, 2006, the Philadelphia Eagles released Terrell Owens, ending his tenure with the team.
March 18, 2006: Owens Signs with Cowboys
On March 18, 2006, Terrell Owens signed a 3-year, $25 million deal with the Dallas Cowboys, including a $5 million signing bonus.
September 27, 2006: Reported Overdose Attempt
On September 27, 2006, media outlets reported that Terrell Owens allegedly attempted suicide by overdosing on hydrocodone, leading to a police investigation.
December 16, 2006: Spitting Incident
On December 16, 2006, following a game against the Atlanta Falcons, Terrell Owens was fined $35,000 by the NFL for allegedly spitting in the face of Falcons cornerback DeAngelo Hall during the game, a controversial incident that strained relationships between the two players.
2006: Artwork Featured in 'Frequency' Exhibition
In 2006, a photographic work featuring Terrell Owens was displayed in "Frequency," an exhibition of emerging artists at the Studio Museum in Harlem.
August 2008: Featured in Web Series Pilot
In August 2008, Terrell Owens was featured in the pilot episode of the web series FACETIME, on My Damn Channel, interviewing Three 6 Mafia.
March 4, 2009: Cowboys Release Owens
On March 4, 2009, the Dallas Cowboys released Terrell Owens. Owens stated that he was assured he would be remaining with the team and that he was blindsided by his release.
March 8, 2009: Signed with Buffalo Bills
On March 8, 2009, Terrell Owens signed a 1-year, $6.5 million contract with the Buffalo Bills, marking a new chapter in his NFL career.
May 18, 2009: Guest Sports Anchor
On May 18, 2009, Terrell Owens briefly replaced WKBW-TV's sports anchor Jeff Russo for their 6:00 p.m. newscast as a promotional stunt.
June 2009: Starred in Superstars
In June 2009, Terrell Owens participated in ABC's reboot of Superstars, a sports competition show, and partnered with supermodel Joanna Krupa.
September 20, 2009: First Touchdown with Buffalo
On September 20, 2009, Terrell Owens caught his first touchdown pass as a member of the Buffalo Bills in a 33–20 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
2009: Won Second Consecutive NBA All-Star Celebrity Game MVP
In 2009, Terrell Owens secured his second consecutive MVP award at the NBA All-Star celebrity game, scoring 17 points with impressive plays.
2009: Premiered 'The T.O. Show' on VH1
In the summer of 2009, Terrell Owens premiered "The T.O. Show" on VH1, providing a glimpse into his life off the football field. The show was later renewed for two additional seasons.
2009: Starred in Reality Show
In the summer of 2009, Terrell Owens starred in a reality show on VH1, "The T.O. Show", which focused on his personal life and career.
July 27, 2010: Signed with Cincinnati Bengals
On July 27, 2010, Terrell Owens signed a one-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals for a reported $2 million, with potential bonuses adding another $2 million.
April 2011: ACL Surgery
In April 2011, Terrell Owens underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL during the offseason, sidelining him from NFL play.
September 2011: Child Support Lawsuit
In September 2011, Terrell Owens was sued by Melanie Paige Smith III, the mother of his daughter, for failure to pay child support; the case was later settled.
November 2, 2011: Signed with Allen Wranglers
On November 2, 2011, the Allen Wranglers of the Indoor Football League offered Terrell Owens a six-figure contract for the 2012 season.
2011: Ranked on NFL Top 100 Players
In 2011, Terrell Owens was ranked 91st by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players list, acknowledging his impact and standing within the league.
2011: Led Bengals' Receivers Despite Injury
In 2011, despite being placed on injured reserve in December, Terrell Owens still led all Bengals' receivers in receptions (72), yards (983), and touchdowns (9) for the season.
January 18, 2012: Accepted Wranglers' Offer
On January 18, 2012, Terrell Owens announced that he accepted the Allen Wranglers' offer and joined their ownership group.
May 8, 2012: Child Support Accusations on Dr. Phil
On May 8, 2012, Terrell Owens appeared on Dr. Phil, where three of the mothers to his children accused him of being short or not paying child support, with Owens claiming to pay $45,000 monthly at one time.
May 29, 2012: Released by Wranglers
On May 29, 2012, Terrell Owens was released by the Allen Wranglers due to a perceived lack of effort both on and off the field.
August 6, 2012: Signed with Seattle Seahawks
On August 6, 2012, Terrell Owens signed a one-year contract with the Seattle Seahawks for $925,000, hoping to revive his NFL career.
August 26, 2012: Released by Seahawks
On August 26, 2012, Terrell Owens announced that the Seattle Seahawks released him, ending his brief stint with the team.
September 2013: Podcast Launch
In September 2013, Terrell Owens started a podcast on the Sideshow Network, co-hosting with Alonzo Bodden and Rob Cesternino, focusing on NFL games and news.
2013: Modeled Professionally
In 2013, NBC Sports reported that Terrell Owens transitioned into modeling, adding another dimension to his multifaceted career.
2014: Music Video Cameo
In 2014, Terrell Owens made a cameo appearance in Faith Evans' music video "I Deserve It", which also featured Missy Elliott and Sharaya J.
2014: Trained with NFL players during offseason
In 2014, Terrell Owens trained with numerous NFL players during the NFL season and offseason in preparation for a potential return to the league.
January 13, 2015: Expressed Desire for NFL Return
On January 13, 2015, Terrell Owens stated that he had not retired and had been training with NFL players, signaling his intent to return to the league.
2015: Competed on The Celebrity Apprentice
In 2015, Terrell Owens participated in The Celebrity Apprentice 7, finishing in 12th place, showcasing his entrepreneurial and competitive spirit.
2016: Won CP3 PBA Celebrity Invitational
In 2016, Terrell Owens won Chris Paul's CP3 PBA Celebrity Invitational with Pete Weber, demonstrating his bowling skills and charitable contributions.
June 28, 2017: Played in AFFL Inaugural Game
On June 28, 2017, Terrell Owens served as team captain for Team Owens in the inaugural game of the American Flag Football League, showcasing his continued involvement in football.
September 5, 2017: Competed on Dancing with the Stars
On September 5, 2017, Terrell Owens was announced as a contestant on season 25 of Dancing with the Stars, partnering with Cheryl Burke and eventually being the eighth contestant eliminated.
2017: Competed on The Challenge
In 2017, Terrell Owens participated in the special for the MTV reality series The Challenge titled Champs vs. Stars.
May 2018: Featured on Madden NFL 19 Cover
In May 2018, it was announced that Terrell Owens would grace the cover of the "Hall of Fame" edition of Madden NFL 19, a significant recognition of his career.
June 19, 2018: Added to Edmonton Eskimos Negotiation List
On June 19, 2018, the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League added Terrell Owens to their negotiation list, indicating potential interest in signing him.
July 20, 2018: Dropped from Eskimos Negotiation List
On July 20, 2018, the Edmonton Eskimos dropped Terrell Owens from their negotiation list, ending any immediate prospect of him joining the CFL team.
August 5, 2018: Worked Out for Saskatchewan Roughriders
On August 5, 2018, Terrell Owens worked out for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL, exploring further opportunities in Canadian football.
2018: Hall of Fame Induction Controversy
In 2018, Terrell Owens was inducted into the Hall of Fame but caused controversy by skipping the official ceremony and hosting his own celebration at his alma mater, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
2018: Won Celebrity Clash
In 2018, Terrell Owens won the Celebrity Clash at Chris Paul's CP3 PBA Celebrity Invitational, showcasing his bowling prowess.
2021: Won CP3 PBA Celebrity Invitational Again
In 2021, Terrell Owens again won Chris Paul's CP3 PBA Celebrity Invitational, this time with AJ Johnson, marking his second victory in the event.
March 31, 2022: Signed with Fan Controlled Football
On March 31, 2022, Terrell Owens signed with Fan Controlled Football, marking another chapter in his career in an alternative football league.
May 11, 2022: Traded to Knights of Degen
On May 11, 2022, Terrell Owens was traded to the Knights of Degen in Fan Controlled Football, a three-team, four-player trade.
December 28, 2022: Explored Possible NFL Return
On December 28, 2022, it was reported that Terrell Owens was in contact with the Dallas Cowboys and other teams about a possible NFL return, though no deal was reached.
October 16, 2023: Hit by a Car
On October 16, 2023, Terrell Owens was hit by a car in Calabasas, California after an argument following a basketball game, but was not injured.
2024: Son Signed by 49ers
In 2024, Terrell Owens' son, Terique, signed with the San Francisco 49ers as a wide receiver, following in his father's footsteps.
