Mel Gray is a former American football player who played as a wide receiver and kick returner. He was born on December 2, 1964, in Houston, Texas. Gray attended Purdue University, where he played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers from 1982 to 1984.
Gray began his professional football career in the United States Football League (USFL) in 1984, playing for the Memphis Showboats. He played for the Showboats for two seasons before the league folded in 1986. Gray then joined the National Football League (NFL) and was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the sixth round of the 1986 NFL Draft.
Gray played for the Saints for four seasons from 1986 to 1989. He was primarily used as a kick returner during his time with the team, but he also played as a wide receiver. Gray had his best season with the Saints in 1989, when he returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and caught 26 passes for 496 yards and three touchdowns.
In 1990, Gray was traded to the Detroit Lions, where he played for seven seasons from 1990 to 1996. He was a key player for the Lions during his time with the team, and he was named to the Pro Bowl four times as a kick returner. Gray set an NFL record in 1994 when he returned four kickoffs for touchdowns in a single season. He also led the NFL in kickoff return yards in 1991 and 1994.
Gray finished his NFL career with the Houston Oilers in 1997. He played in 14 games for the team, primarily as a kick returner. Gray retired from professional football after the 1997 season.
Throughout his career, Gray was known for his speed and agility as a kick returner. He was one of the most dangerous return men in the NFL during his time, and he set several records and earned numerous accolades for his performance. Gray was inducted into the Purdue Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.
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