Hall of Fame
Position: Defensive Back
Years: 1983-1985
Place of Birth: Los Angeles, CA
Date of Birth: Sept. 28, 1964
Jersey Number: 7
Height: 6-3
Weight: 236
High School: John C. Fremont HS (Los Angeles, CA)
Referred to as "a safety in a linebacker's body" for his rare combination of size and speed, David Fulcher is one of only three Sun Devils to twice earn consensus All-America honors. The Los Angeles native is the ninth Arizona State player to join the College Football Hall of Fame.
A consensus First Team All-American in 1984 and 1985, Fulcher also earned Second Team All-America laurels as a freshman. The three-time First Team All-Pac-10 selection twice led the Sun Devils in tackles (1983, 1984) and interceptions (1983, 1985). A three-year starter, Fulcher's established himself as a star early – recording 53 tackles, three interceptions, six sacks and six pass deflections just four games into his college career. In his second collegiate game in 1983, he posted 15 tackles and returned an interception 40 yards against UCLA. Named Arizona State's Most Outstanding Defensive Back in 1985, Fulcher guided the Sun Devils to a berth in the Holiday Bowl.
A 1996 inductee into the Arizona State University Sports Hall of Fame, Fulcher finished his career with 293 tackles and 12 interceptions. During his time in Tempe, "Fo-Rock" played for College Football Hall of Fame Coach John Cooper and alongside Hall of Famer Randall McDaniel.
A third-round pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1986 NFL Draft, Fulcher spent eight years in the league with the Bengals (1986-92) and the Los Angeles Raiders (1993). The three-time Pro Bowl selection guided the Bengals to an appearance in Super Bowl XXIII following the 1988 season.
The founder and director of the David Fulcher Foundation, he is active in fundraising and awareness for multiple sclerosis. Fulcher has also operated his Mentoring Against Negative Actions program for 15 years, working in prisons to help inmates learn life skills. In 2016, he helped launch Cincinnati Christian University's football program, serving as the head coach for two seasons. Fulcher also previously coached at Cincinnati Christian High School. Decades after leaving college early for the NFL, he earned his degree from Arizona State in May 2020.
