James Willis had a knack for making key defensive plays during his football career. It began with his stellar collegiate career at Auburn University, where he was a defensive playmaker at the linebacker position from 1990-1992, recording 344 career tackles. He was ultimately voted to Auburn's All-Decade team.

However, on Nov. 3, 1996, the 6-foot-2, 250-pound Willis made a play as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles that will forever live at the top of his professional football resume.

On this day, Willis and his teammates were visiting the much hated Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium in a key NFC East divisional matchup. The Cowboys were looking for the season series sweep, having already defeated the Eagles earlier in the year at Veterans Stadium. With just seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, the Eagles were leading 24-21, but the Cowboys had momentum as they lined up for a 3rd-and-goal play deep in Eagles territory. 

Willis is congratulated on the sideline after the game-sealing interception in 1996

"The Cowboy had a great offense and I had man coverage against the tight end, Tyji Armstrong. After seeing the play action, I just broke on the ball and got the interception. Looking back on it, I should have taken a knee in the end zone, but I saw a lot of green in front of me and so I just started running. Then, as I started to get tired, I instinctively pitched the ball to Troy Vincent and the rest is history."

Although the victory in Dallas aided the Eagles to a second consecutive playoff appearance during the Ray Rhodes era, what Willis most fondly recalls about his time in Philadelphia is the brotherly bond he had with all his teammates: especially those guys on the defensive side of the ball. In his eyes, they were led by their catalyst and fan favorite, outside linebacker William Thomas, who was the heart and soul of the Eagles defense. Willis had very high praise for Thomas, who was voted the Eagles defensive MVP by his teammates consecutively from 1995-97.

"William Thomas was Philadelphia. He was the granddad left over from all those defensive end Reggie White-led defenses. However, No. 51 was a genius! He was tall, athletic and rangy. I hope he gets inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame or the Eagles Honor Roll, because he was a special player and always was a great person too. He took me under his wing in Philadelphia, and I tried to do the same for (younger Eagles linebackers) Jeremiah Trotter, James Darling and Ray Farmer."

However, a professional football career simply cannot last forever. But for James Willis, the transition to a regular life after a seven-year NFL career was extremely difficult for him to bear.

"It was very tough for me because you play football your whole life; it is your livelihood and suddenly, it gets taken away. I became depressed and I couldn't even watch football. It felt like a divorce after 30 years of marriage."

After playing one season in the league known formerly as the XFL as a member of the Birmingham Bolts and after dabbling in a few business ventures, he visited the place where he once enjoyed tremendous success: Auburn University.

"Because I left Auburn after my junior season (Willis was selected in the 5th round of the 1993 draft by the Green Bay Packers), I went back to finish my degree and got a chance to work as both a student assistant coach (2001-02) and then helped out the linebackers as a defensive graduate assistant (2003), before getting an assistants job at Rhode Island, then later getting an opportunity at Temple."

Yet, the coaching career for Willis can be summed up pretty simply: You can take the man off the Auburn campus, but you can not take Auburn campus out of the man! Willis explained how he began his current occupation: "When (Auburn University Head Coach) Tommy Tuberville offered me a spot on his staff coaching the linebackers, I knew it was a perfect fit for me having played here and getting a chance to compete in the SEC is a great challenge every week."

Willis, in his first year on the staff in 2006, helped Auburn earn a No. 7 ranking nationally in scoring defense.

When the 35-year-old is not out on a recruiting trip, or going over defensive techniques, schemes and game plans with his players, the resident of Auburn, Al., spends time with his wife Shalane, and their two kids: Jade,12, and Jalen, 6. Just like that great Sunday in 1996, James Willis is still building his resume, and he loves what he sees everyday.