Rico Labbe
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born: | June 16, 1967 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight: | 210 lb (95 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Archbishop Carroll (Washington, D.C.) |
| College: | Boston College |
| Position: | Linebacker |
| NFL draft: | 1990: 4th round, 109th pick |
| Career history | |
| |
Rico Labbe (born June 16, 1967) is an American former football safety. He played college football for Boston College, where he was a team captain and recorded over 300 tackles. Labbe was selected in the fourth round of the 1990 NFL Draft by the Washington Commanders. Though he did not play in a regular-season game, he participated in several exhibition games before transitioning to a career in television production. He currently works as a coordinating producer for ESPN.
Awards and honors
[edit]| Year | Honor |
|---|---|
| 1986 | Hall of Fame Bowl Champion – Boston College[2] |
| 1989 | Team Captain, Boston College[3] |
| 1989 | Participant, Blue–Gray All-Star Classic[4] |
| 1989 | Participant, East–West Shrine Game[5] |
| 2004 | Inducted into Boston College Varsity Club Hall of Fame[3] |
| 2015 | Inducted into Archbishop Carroll High School Hall of Fame[6] |
Early life and high school
[edit]Labbe was born in Washington, D.C., and attended Archbishop Carroll High School. He earned All-Met honors for his performance in football and was later inducted into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015.[6]
College career
[edit]Labbe played four seasons at Boston College from 1986 to 1989. A strong safety, he recorded more than 310 career tackles, four interceptions, and served as team captain in his senior season. He helped lead the team to a victory in the 1986 Hall of Fame Bowl.[7] Following his collegiate career, Labbe was selected to play in both the Blue–Gray All-Star Classic and the East–West Shrine Game. In 2004, he was inducted into the Boston College Varsity Club Hall of Fame.[3]
College statistics
[edit]| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Years active | 1986–1989 |
| Total tackles | 310+ |
| Interceptions | 4 |
| Bowl games | 1986 Hall of Fame Bowl |
| All-star games | 1989 Blue–Gray Classic, East–West Shrine Game |
Boston College Varsity Club Hall of Fame Induction
[edit]In 2004, Rico Labbe was inducted into the Boston College Varsity Club Hall of Fame in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the Eagles football program from 1986 to 1989.[8] A hard-hitting safety and emotional leader, Labbe finished his collegiate career with over 310 tackles, numerous interceptions, and a reputation as one of the most dependable defensive players of his era.
Labbe served as team captain his senior year, helping to elevate Boston College’s defense to national relevance. Known for his tenacity and leadership both on and off the field, he became a role model for younger players and an ambassador for the program.[8]
Labbe’s contributions were recognized not only through his Hall of Fame induction but also through his lasting influence on Boston College athletics and the broader football community.
Professional career
[edit]Labbe was selected by the Washington Redskins in the 4th round (109th overall) of the 1990 NFL Draft.[9] He participated in training camp and played in preseason exhibition games but was released prior to the start of the regular season. Labbe did not appear in any official NFL regular season games.
NFL exhibition performance
[edit]| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Team | Washington Redskins |
| Year | 1990 |
| Games played | 3 (preseason) |
| Tackles | 6 |
| Pass deflections | 1 |
Following his football career, Labbe transitioned into television production. He joined ESPN and eventually became a coordinating producer, contributing to coverage of the NBA Draft, NCAA Tournament, and college football programming.[10][11]
Television and film credits
[edit]Following his football career, Labbe became a successful sports television producer, known for his work with ESPN and other networks. He contributed to major broadcasts like Monday Night Football, the NFL Draft, and the NCAA Tournament Challenge, and earned multiple industry awards.
| Year | Title | Role | Network/Company | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Wide World of Sports 35th Anniversary Special | Segment Producer | ESPN | [citation needed] |
| 2004 | The Guess Who: Running Back Thru Canada | Segment Producer | CBC/ESPN Canada | [citation needed] |
| 2006 | NFL Draft Coverage | Director (Art Direction) | ESPN | "Sports Emmy Awards 2006 Nominees". Retrieved May 16, 2025. |
| 2006 | Monday Night Football | Music Director / Cinematic Tease Co-Director | ESPN | "Rico Labbe Profile". Retrieved May 16, 2025. |
| 2018 | Tournament Challenge Open | Coordinating Producer | ESPN | "Inside ESPN's Tournament Challenge Open". Retrieved May 16, 2025. |
| 2023 | Monday Night Football (Rebranding: "In the Air Tonight") | Co-Director | ESPN | "In the Air Tonight: The Rebranding of ESPN Monday Night Football". Retrieved May 16, 2025. |
Awards and recognition
[edit]- 2006 – Nominated for a Sports Emmy for Outstanding Production Design/Art Direction for the NFL Draft on ESPN[12]
- 2023 – Sports Emmy Award recipient for feature production on Monday Night Football[13]
Additional media work
[edit]Labbe has also worked as a commercial director with Victory Pictures and has contributed to ESPN’s NBA Draft and college football branding campaigns.[14][15]
Personal life
[edit]Labbe is the cousin of Randall Harris, who played offensive line for Towson University.[16]
References
[edit]- ^ "1990 NFL Draft Listing". Retrieved May 16, 2025.
- ^ "BC Football: Bowl History". Boston College Athletics. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Ricco Labbe (2004) – Varsity Club Hall of Fame". Boston College Athletics. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
- ^ "Blue–Gray Football Classic History". NFL Draft Scout. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
- ^ "East–West Shrine Bowl Past Rosters". Shrine Bowl. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
- ^ a b "Athletic Hall of Fame – Archbishop Carroll". Retrieved May 16, 2025.
- ^ "1986 Hall of Fame Bowl Recap". Boston College Athletics. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
- ^ a b "BC Varsity Club Announces Hall of Fame Class of 2004". Boston College Athletics. July 8, 2004. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
- ^ "1990 NFL Draft Listing". Retrieved May 16, 2025.
- ^ "Executive Voice: Linda Schulz Previews NBA Draft Production". Retrieved May 16, 2025.
- ^ "Inside ESPN's Tournament Challenge Open". Retrieved May 16, 2025.
- ^ "Sports Emmy Awards 2006 Nominees". Retrieved May 16, 2025.
- ^ "44th Sports Emmy Award Winners" (PDF). Retrieved May 16, 2025.
- ^ "Executive Voice: Linda Schulz Previews NBA Draft Production". Retrieved May 16, 2025.
- ^ "In the Air Tonight: The Rebranding of ESPN MNF". Retrieved May 16, 2025.
- ^ "Randall Harris – Football Roster". Retrieved May 16, 2025.