IRVING FRYAR

Biography

Born in Mt. Holly, NJ on September 28, 1962, Dr. Fryar attended and graduated from Rancocas Valley Regional High School. After high school, he attended the University of Nebraska on a 4-year football scholarship where he was a consensus All-American. Dr. Fryar has earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies from The South Florida Bible College and Theological Seminary and a Bachelor’s degree in Theology from the North Carolina College of Theology. He also has earned a Master’s degree in Theology and a Doctorate in Theology from the North Carolina College of Theology, and Ph.D. in Philosophy in Theology from the North Carolina Theological Seminary. He was drafted as the NFL’s number one pick over all in 1984 by the New England Patriots where he served for 9 years. In addition, he played 3 years with the Miami Dolphins, 3 years with the Philadelphia Eagles, and 2 years with the Washington Redskins for a total of 17 years in the NFL. Dr. Fryar was a 3-time MVP with the Patriots, a 2-time MVP with the Dolphins, and a 2- time MVP with the Eagles. He retired from the NFL in 2001 after completing 17 NFL seasons. During his time in the NFL, he caught 851 passes for 12,785 yards and 84 touchdowns along with one rushing and three punt return touchdowns. He also gained 242 rushing yards, earning him 15,594 all-purpose yards. He holds an NFL Record for having touchdowns receptions fro 19 different passers and having at least two touchdown receptions in 16 consecutive seasons. Dr. Fryar also became the first player to record a touchdown reception in 17 consecutive seasons. Along with many other awards, Dr. Fryar was voted “True Value Man of the Year” from 1994 through 1997 and has also been presented with the prestigious “Bart Starr Award” as the NFL player who best exemplified outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field, and in the community. Dr. Fryar finished his NFL career as the 5th best wide receiver in NFL history. In addition to winning an Emmy Award for his weekly feature, “My Slant on Sunday”, on Philadelphia’s ABC affiliate, Dr. Fryar also had a featured role in the Oliver Stone movie “On Any Given Sunday” and is the author of the book Sunday Is My Day, which is a biographical sketch of his life from childhood until the time he accepted his call into the ministry.

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Dr. Fryar is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated. He has also served as a member of the Board of Directors and Official Spokesperson for S.C.A.N., Stop Child Abuse Now; the largest non-profit organization in the state of Pennsylvania. Through the South Jersey Youth Alliance as well as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Dr. Fryar has reached out and spoken to young people on the importance of academics, life skills, and athletics. He has also affiliated himself with the Family Success Center in Mt. Holly, NJ, whose mission is to help families find their way back into homes and jobs and on December 3, 2009, he was the first African American to receive the Lloyd Ritter Community Service Award by the Volunteer Center of Burlington County. On April 22nd, 2013 Dr. Fryar was awarded the prestigious “Jefferson Award” for his commitment to youth and community. Dr. Fryar is a former NFL Ambassador who visited and instructed High School and College football teams and their coaching staffs about the importance of education and the proper use of social media. Dr. Fryar has also worked for the NFL as a Transitional Coach whose job is to aide and assist NFL players in their transition out of the sport into everyday life. Dr. Fryar was formerly a counselor at "Opportunities For All," a reentry program in Hamilton, N.J. Designed to enable and empower convicted felons with the tools to reconnect them with society so they can live productive lives. Dr. Fryar is the Sr. Elder, Pastor, and Founder of The New Jerusalem in Mt. Holly, New Jersey. The New Jerusalem’s first worship service was on June 8, 2003 and less than three years later they moved into their own building on Sunday, April 2, 2006. Under Dr. Fryar’s leadership, The New Jerusalem has quickly become recognized as a place of refuge, solace, and restoration for those in need of spiritual guidance, healing, and peace. Dr. Fryar currently saves as the Assistant Pastor at Christ Care Unit Missionary Baptist Church and Cathedral under the leadership of Bishop Robert F. Hargrove, Sr. in Sicklerville, New Jersey and serves as Overseer of the Sate of New Jersey and Episcopal Secretary for the Christ Care Covenant Fellowship of Churches. Dr. Fryar also works as a football analyst with Green Legion Radio and hosts his own podcast every Friday at 12 noon EST called “The Fryar Place,” which can be seen on You Tube and the Fryar Media channel on Flux Fusion TV and NFL Alumni Media. Dr. Fryar is also the co-host of “Vetted” with Irving Fryar and Hollis Thomas, an Eagles focused podcast that airs on A2D Radio every Thursday at 5 pm EST and co-hosts Wide Out’s World with former NFL wide receivers Michael Timpson and Fred Barnett every Wednesday evening at 7 pm EST on Millions.Co and the Wide Out’s World channel on Your Tube. On November 2, 2023 Overseer Fryar was inducted into the Philly Sports Hall of Fame. While Dr. Fryar has achieved many accomplishments during and after his athletic career, his goal in life is to be a great witness of the Gospel by letting his life be a living example of Jesus Christ.