Born into a military family overseas in Frankfurt, Germany, Tony Richardson, or “T-Rich” as he is known throughout the league, is a living testament that it doesn’t matter where you are born to become an NFL star.  Until the age of eight, Richardson called the fifth largest city in Germany his home, while his father proudly served as a Sgt. Major for the US Army.  After Richardson’s sixth grade year, his family permanently relocated to Daleville, Alabama.  It was with the Daleville High Warhawks that T-Rich began to make his mark on the football field.  While at Daleville, Richardson starred in three sports (football, basketball, and track) and garnered a scholarship from Auburn University.

By accepting Auburn University’s scholarship offer, Richardson helped the Tigers keep their legacy as “Running Back U.”  While at Auburn, Richardson was a four-year letterman (1990-1993) and played an instrumental role in the Tigers 11-0 perfect season in 1993.  Richardson’s senior season was capped by 44 receptions and 395 yards receiving.  This stellar performance solidified any doubts that a naysayer may have had about his versatility as a running back.  At the close of his collegiate career at Auburn, Richardson racked up a total of 162 carries for 715 yards (4.45 yards/carry) and 9 touchdowns on the ground. 

After a memorable collegiate career at Auburn, interest in Richardson was expressed by officials at the NFL level.  Although undrafted in 1994, Richardson was picked up by the Dallas Cowboys.  In 1995, after learning from such stars in Dallas as Emmitt Smith and Daryl Johnson, Richardson took his skills to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs knew what athletic prowess Richardson possessed and that it would go a long way to intensify the already potent backfield for the Chiefs.  Kansas City’s vision they had for Richardson came to fruition immediately as the versatile T-Rich was used as a running back, a full back and a receiver for a total of 11 incredibly successful seasons with the Chiefs.  During his tenure with the Chiefs, Richardson established himself as the preeminent running back/full back in the NFL.  He was honored by Pro Bowl selections in 2003 and 2004 to add to his long lists of achievements.  In 2006, Richardson was one of the most heralded free agent acquisitions by the Minnesota Vikings, and he looks to continue his remarkable success in the NFL. To go along with all of the success on-the-field, Richardson’s off-the-field accomplishments are equally as impressive.  While with the Chiefs, Richardson gave and continues to give countless hours of his time and efforts to helping others.  In 2000, Richardson established the “Rich in Spirit” Foundation.  The foundation benefits the Special Olympics (which he was a spokesperson for in 2000-2001), Athletes in Action, the City Union Mission as well as many others throughout each year.  With the success of the foundation, Richardson has been able to provide over 1,500 school-aged children every year with backpacks and school supplies.  In 2002, he jump started the “Dictionary Project.”  This project enabled Richardson to donate thousands of dollars to ensure every child within the four surrounding metro-Kansas City counties would have a dictionary.  Due to the selfless nature of the achievements that Richardson has experienced off-the-field, he has been nominated and awarded with many humanitarian awards throughout his years as a professional.  In 2002, Richardson’s efforts were awarded by Pop Warner Football (as the top role model for youths), the Chiefs’ organization (as their Man of the Year) and by The Sporting News (as one of their “Good Guys in Sports.”).  In 2003, after again being named a Sporting News “Good Guy in Sports,” Pro Football Weekly named him the “Arthur S. Arkush Humanitarian of the Year.”  Most recently in 2005, the National Conference for Community and Justice awarded Richardson with the Distinguished Citizen Award.  The NFL also selected T-Rich to go on a good will ambassador mission to Sri Lanka after the devastating tsunami in late 2004.  There are few players in the NFL that embodies the spirit of giving back and helping others as much as T-Rich.

Earning his degree in Education from Auburn and his MBA at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (while taking classes during football season), Richardson hopes to continue to set a great example and help others for years to come.