Tai Streets

Tai Lamar Streets (born April 20, 1977) is a former professional American football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL).

As a sophomore in 1992–93, Streets scored 20 points and posted 12 rebounds in his first varsity basketball game for Rich South on January 22, 1993.

In 1995, he was widely regarded as the best high school athlete in the Chicago metropolitan area, winning athlete of the year awards from the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and Illinois High School Association.

He is considered to be one of the greatest three-sport athletes in the history of Illinois.

Streets led the Michigan Wolverines football team in receiving yards each season from 1996 to 1998.

As a sophomore, he played part of the season for the 1996–97 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team, which won the 1997 National Invitation Tournament, but has since vacated the championship due to the University of Michigan basketball scandal.

Streets had modest success as a professional in five seasons with the 49ers.

He began as a fourth wide receiver on a team with perennial Pro Bowl receivers Jerry Rice and Terrell Owens, but he eventually became a starter before moving on to play his final season with the Lions.

His career was highlighted by playoff performances in which he caught at least four receptions for at least 50 yards in all three playoff games.

He recorded two fourth quarter playoff touchdowns one of which was the game-winner in a 24-point comeback victory and the other of which was a game-tying touchdown in a losing effort.

Streets was born in Matteson, Illinois.

His mother, Karen Streets, named him after Olympic figure skater Tai Babilonia.

Streets' father is Clayton Streets.

His mother kept him active in sports as a youth to keep him out of trouble.

His mother describes him as a clumsy awkward youth and his father remembers him for his duck-footed stance.

However, his father says the first time he saw Tai play youth football, he outran everyone on the other team when running an end reverse.

Streets has

younger sisters named Aja and Jad.

After Streets' parents separated, he lived with his mother in Matteson.

She started him in track, which quickly supplanted baseball, which he last played at age 12.

At Rich South High School of Richton Park, Illinois he participated initially in basketball and track with basketball in his sights for professional success.

As a sophomore, Streets briefly played halfback for the football team, but he broke his ankle in a freak accident after the second game, and vowed never to return.

Rich South coach Hud Venerable, who had seen videotapes of Streets, set out to bring him back as a junior.

He attempted to recruit Streets by attending his basketball games and track meets.

He knew Streets wanted to play wide receiver.

He realized football could provide a better college opportunity than basketball, especially for a 6 ft athlete such as himself.

After he returned to football, he became widely known in all three sports.

He was the leading receiver for the national champion 1997 Michigan Wolverines football team.

In high school, he was an All-American in football and as a senior led his team to a 9–0 regular season before losing in the playoffs.

In basketball, he was an All-State selection by numerous publications and led his team past Kevin Garnett's high school team to reach the finals of the state championship playoff tournament.

Despite losing in the finals, he was the highest votegetter on the All-tournament team.

In track, he was a state long jump champion as a junior and runner-up as a senior when he also helped his school's 4 x 400 metres relay team finish third in the state.

He had two touchdown receptions in the 1998 Rose Bowl, which clinched a share of the national championship.

During his years as the primary receiver, there were quarterback controversies each year with battles among Brian Griese, Scott Dreisbach, Tom Brady and Drew Henson.

As a senior, he was voted football team MVP and All-Big Ten Conference second-team wide receiver.

That season, he posted five 100-yard games and totaled over one thousand yards.

He played in the Senior Bowl and was selected for the Hula Bowl.

He was selected with the second pick of the sixth round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers.

He was injured right before the 1999 draft causing him to slip from a projected second-round selection to a sixth-round choice.

He also played for the Detroit Lions in 2004.