Fugett attended Cardinal Gibbons School, where he started playing football as a senior, becoming a two-way player (tight end and defensive end). He graduated in 1968 and was named the Baltimore Catholic Athlete of the Year, the first black athlete to be given the award.
He played eight seasons from 1972-1979 for the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins and was selected to the Pro Bowl after the 1977 season. He accepted a scholarship to Amherst College, because he wanted to go to a school where he could play both basketball and football. He received Little All-American honors in 1971.
Dallas Cowboys
Fugett was selected in the thirteenth round of the 1972 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys.
The Cowboys carried only two tight ends on the roster back in those years, but saw potential in the 20-year-old rookie and made an exception by adding him as the third one. The next year, Billy Joe DuPree was drafted in the first round of the 1973 NFL Draft and became an instant starter at tight education
In 1975, he started 9 games and was the team"s second leading receiver (behind Drew Pearson), with 38 receptions for 488 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also started Super Bowl X against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Washington Redskins
After the courts ruled in favor of the National Football League Players Association, a new form of free agency was briefly instituted in 1976.
Fugett signed as a free agent with the Washington Redskins and was looked upon as the replacement of former All-Pro Jerry Smith. In 1977, he registered 36 receptions for 631 yards and 5 touchdowns. At the end of the year, he was tied with the Saint Louis Cardinals" J. V. Cain in Pro Bowl votes, but edged him based on the team records.
In 1979, he was limited with a knee injury and was replaced in the starting lineup with rookie Don Warren.
He retired in 1980, after he did not receive a contract offer from the Redskins.
