Gold Jacket Spotlight: A basketball player at heart, Terrell Owens didn’t dream about NFL

With more and more athletes not only beginning to play sports at young ages, but also focusing on sport specialization early in life, it’s getting rarer to find kids participating in a variety of sports throughout the school year. 

Yet one future Hall of Fame wide receiver wasn’t allowed to play any sport until he reached high school.

TERRELL OWENS was born in Alexander City, Ala., a small town nestled between Birmingham and Montgomery. There, he grew up spending his free time riding his bike in the yard. He was permitted limited time with his friends and was not allowed to watch television. 

In the fall of 1988, Terrell enrolled at Benjamin Russell High School, which would allow him to pursue his real interests: sports.

Basketball, baseball and swimming piqued Terrell’s interest early on, with football and track and field coming later. At Benjamin Russell, he would letter four times in both football and track, three times in basketball and once in baseball. 

Despite lettering four times, Terrell didn’t start on the football team until his senior year, prompting him to think occasionally about quitting altogether. 

Coaches talked him out of that move, a decision that eventually would result in a Gold Jacket, a Bronze Bust in Canton, Ohio, and his place in this week’s Gold Jacket Spotlight. 

“I feel like I was a basketball player that ended up playing football,” Terrell said while reminiscing on his path to the National Football League. He played 219 games in 15 seasons, retiring with 1,078 receptions (eighth all time) for 15,934 yards (third all time) and 153 touchdowns (third all time).

After his senior year in high school, one college that came calling promised him the opportunity to play multiple sports: the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. 

Terrell participated in basketball, football and track for the Mocs, setting the school records for career receiving yards (2,320) and receptions (144). Off the gridiron, he played in the 1995 NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament and anchored the men’s 4×100 relay team.

Despite all the other successes, Terrell’s love remained basketball.

“If I had to choose between football and basketball, I’m taking that round ball all day,’’ he said.

In 2010, Terrell was spotted playing pickup basketball in the Venice Basketball League near the beach in California. He regularly plays in celebrity pickup basketball games, including his own game in 2023 in South Florida, and 50 Cent’s Humor & Harmony Festival in August 2024. 

For three consecutive years, Terrell played in the NBA Celebrity All-Star Game (2008-2010). During his first appearance in 2008, while still playing for the Dallas Cowboys, he made a surprise appearance in the game and earned Most Valuable Player honors after recording 18 points.

“I’m a basketball fan at heart,’’ Terrell said in a 2017 interview. “My passion isn’t football, but a lot of people don’t know that.’’