Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-11
Born: April 8, 1993
Birthplace: Virginia Beach, Virginia
College: University of Virginia (VA)
Previous Club: Houston Dynamo
ERIC BIRD BIO
FC TULSA
2023
Bird inked a new deal with FC Tulsa ahead of the 2023 season, entering into his fourth season with the club.
2022
The third year in which Eric Bird sported the FC Tulsa shirt marked another terrific campaign for the pivot midfielder as he appeared in 32 of the club’s 34 matches. His lone goal was a sensational feat of precision and athleticism against Detroit City FC on September 5 and his three assists tied his previous single-season best set in 2017 with RGV Toros FC.
Bird finished the year top-three in interceptions, tackles attempted, and tackles won among his Tulsa teammates and was named the club’s Unsung Hero following the conclusion of the season. In November, Bird was also elected as the first president of the USL Players Association by its members.
2021
Bird was a steady presence in the FC Tulsa midfield in 2021. The Virginia native was a stone wall when lined up as a holding midfielder as he led the team in tackles, tackles won, and ranked fourth on the club in interceptions.
Bird also registered an assist in 2021 before being hampered with an injury towards the end of the season. He would be subbed on in FC Tulsa’s Eastern Conference Quarterfinal match at Tampa Bay, his first appearance back with the club following eight missed matches.
Due to his volunteer work and community presence both during the season and in the offseason, Bird was named the 2021 FC Tulsa Community Man of the Year.
2020
Bird signed for FC Tulsa ahead of the 2020 season and was a crucial part of the club’s midfield structure. Bird started 14 of the club’s 16 matches in 2020, netting a pair of bangers against Saint Louis FC and San Antonio FC. Bird also assisted a Darío Suárez goal against Rio Grande Valley FC Toros.
His long-distance curler against Saint Louis was the match winner in a 2-0 victory in early August, and his dramatic, last-second volley to beat San Antonio was voted FC Tulsa Goal of the Year.
2016-2019 – RIO GRANDE VALLEY FC TOROS (USL-C)
Bird has made 72 regular season appearances for RGV Toros, scoring 13 times with seven assists over his four seasons. Bird also had a goal in his lone playoff appearance for RGV against OKC Energy FC in 2016. In 2019, Bird played primarily with Rio Grande Valley FC Toros of the USL Championship on loan from Houston Dynamo, making 17 appearances while scoring two goals and adding two assists.
2018 – HOUSTON DYNAMO (MLS)
2018 saw Bird get his MLS call up, and he played in six matches during the 2018 season with the Houston Dynamo en route to the club’s U.S. Open Cup triumph. He also played four times for RGV Toros during the 2018 campaign.
2015 – HARRISBURG CITY ISLANDERS (USL-C)
Bird was the 41st overall pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft by the Philadelphia Union, but never made an appearance for the club. He played the 2015 USL Championship season with Harrisburg City Islanders, making 6 appearance and one start.
COLLEGE
Bird played college soccer at the University of Virginia from 2011-2014. He played in nine matches in his freshman season before sufferering a knee injury that sidelined him for the rest of the year. In Bird’s sophomore year, he started all 21 matches and ranked second on the team in shots (36), scoring twice and logging one assist.
Junior year, he captained the Cavaliers and started 23 of his 24 appearances. He added seven goals and five assists to his tally, best on the team. Wearing the armband again in 2014, he led his team to the NCAA Championship and scored another five goals and assisted one more.
