Terrell Buckley was a 5'10" defensive back out of Florida State University. He is FSU's all time leader with 21 interceptions, and the career NCAA record holder with 501 interception return yards. He was a first-team All-American in 1991 as a junior, finishing seventh in the Heisman trophy voting.
Buckley was selected in the first round of the 1992 NFL Entry Draft by the Green Bay Packers, with the fifth overall pick. In three seasons with Green Bay, he started 44 of 46 games, intercepting 10 passes for 102 yards and a touchdown, making 139 tackles, recovering five fumbles, and returning 32 punts for 287 yards and another touchdown. He is also credited by Jim Rome in this time for inventing the "Lambeau Leap."
Buckley joined the Dolphins in 1995, appearing in all 16 games, and starting the last four for an injured J.B. Brown. He registered an interception in a week three 23-10 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, returning it for 16 yards, and finished out the season with 26 tackles. The team qualified for a wildcard spot with a 9-7 record, but lost to the Buffalo Bills, 37-22.
In 1996, Buckley started all 16 games at left cornerback, intercepting six passes for an NFL best 164 return yards and one touchdown. This included a two interception game in a week two 38-10 victory over the Arizona Cardinals and a 91 yard interception return touchdown in a week six 21-7 victory over the Buffalo Bills. He recorded 53 tackles, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries as the Dolphins posted an 8-8 record, missing out on the dance.
1997 would see Buckley again hold down the left cornerback position, making all 16 starts. He finished the year with 85 tackles, second only to Zach Thomas on the Dolphins. He intercepted four passes, including two in a week 14 victory over the Detroit Lions, 33-30. He also returned a fumble for a touchdown. The team again snuck into the playoffs with a 9-7 record as a wildcard, but could not advance against the New England Patriots, losing 17-3.
In 1998, Buckley again started all 16 games, intercepting an NFL second best eight interceptions for 157 yards and a touchdown. He also made 51 tackles, forced two fumbles and recovered two more. He picked off two passes for 33 return yards and a touchdown in a week one victory over the Indianapolis Colts, 24-15. He also returned 29 punts for 354 yards, his 12.2 return average good for seventh best in the NFL. The Dolphins went 10-6, beating the Buffalo Bills in the Wildcard round, 24-17 before losing to the Denver Broncos in the AFC Divisional Playoff game, 38-3.
Buckley started 11 of 16 games for Miami in 1999, intercepting three passes and making 35 tackles. The team made the wildcard round with a 9-7 record, beating the Seattle Seahawks, 20-17. Buckley picked off one pass for six yards. The team was famously trounced by the Jacksonville Jaguars, 62-7 the following week.
Buckley joined the Denver Broncos in 2000, intercepting six passes. He then played for the New England Patriots for two seasons, intercepting seven passes in 31 games in 2001 and 2002.
The Dolphins would again retain Buckley's services in 2003, as he started five of 16 games in the defensive secondary. He recovered four fumbles and two interceptions for 75 return yards and a touchdown, also recording 50 tackles. Miami finished with a respectable 10-6 record, but missed out on the playoffs.
Buckley went on to play two more seasons, one with the New York Jets and one with the New York Giants before retiring. He remains the only NFL player in history to intercept at least 50 passes and never appear in a Pro Bowl.
Buckley is currently the cornerbacks coach for the University of Akron, under head coach Terry Bowden.