The undersized high school recruit who became a first-overall draft pick
In short: Most scouts overlooked Eric Fisher because he was too small for his position. Weighing only 225 pounds as a senior, he was a two-star prospect with no elite ranking. Yet, he defied the odds to become the first player from a mid-major conference ever selected first overall.
Fisher's journey began in Rochester, Michigan, where he was raised by a single mother who battled thyroid cancer. At Stoney Creek High School, his physical stature was a significant hurdle; at 225 pounds, he was considered undersized for an offensive tackle. Because of this, he was not ranked among the top prospects in his class by Rivals.com, leading many to believe his professional ceiling was limited.
His trajectory shifted at Central Michigan University from 2009 to 2012. He became a standout for the Chippewas, earning first-team All-American honors in 2012 and helping the team secure victories in the 2010 GMAC Bowl and 2012 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl. His dominant performance in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) eventually caught the attention of the Kansas City Chiefs, who selected him with the first overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.
The transition to the pros was not immediate. In his rookie year, Fisher struggled with his technique, ranking 70th among tackles in his first season. However, after a move back to the left tackle position in 2014, he flourished. He eventually signed a massive four-year extension in 2016 worth $48 million. His career reached a pinnacle in 2019 when he helped lead the Chiefs to Super Bowl LIV, the franchise's first title in half a century.
Fisher's career also featured unique milestones, such as scoring the first receiving touchdown by a number one overall pick since 2006. Despite a career-altering torn Achilles in the 2021 AFC Championship Game, Fisher remains a significant figure in football history as a testament to late-blooming talent and the ability to overcome early scouting skepticism.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Eric Fisher (American football)
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/history-eric-fisher-american-football.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Born on this day · More in History · Latest · A–Z · All topics
