Outside The Spotlight Wednesday, August 7, 2013 Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Darnell Autry is a former American football player, who played college football at Northwestern University and professionally with the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles. Autry was a Heisman trophy finalist his sophomore year, Sports Illustrated cover star, and received All American honors both sophomore and junior years. Darnell helped lead the Northwestern Wildcats to two Big Ten Titles, a Rose Bowl berth, and the Citrus Bowl. Autry elected to leave college his junior year and was an NFL draft pick by the Chicago Bears. He spent his first season with the Bears before signing with the Philadelphia Eagles. Months later, Autry left the NFL to pursue his passion for the entertainment business. After struggling for almost a year Autry returned to the NFL. He missed almost two full seasons before earning a spot back on the Philadelphia roster. That season, Autry contributed to a team that lost in the first round of the NFC playoffs. After being cut for a second time, Darnell decided to go back to Los Angeles and pursue his acting career and appeared in several episodes of The WB’s “What I like about You,” as well as “The District,” and a national commercial for “Tylenol 8 Hour.” After two years, Autry returned to Northwestern University and graduated with a double major in theater and communication. This show, Outside the Spotlight, discusses the passions and hobbies of athletes, entertainers, and artists when they aren’t “in the spotlight.”