wiki143 - User contributions [en]

Aaron Francisco

2025-04-05T19:59:33Z

2806:261:2480:13B7:7D13:6E99:70A0:1D74:

{{Short description|American football player (born 1983)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Aaron Francisco
| image =Aaron Francisco.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Francisco with the Cardinals in 2005
| number = 47, 43
| position = [[Safety (American football position)|Safety]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|7|3}}
| birth_place = [[Lā'ie, Hawai'i]], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lbs = 207
| high_school = [[Kahuku High & Intermediate School|Kahuku]] ([[Kahuku, Hawaii]])
| college = [[BYU Cougars football|BYU]]
| undraftedyear = 2005
| pastteams =
* [[Arizona Cardinals]] ({{NFL Year|2005}})*
* [[New York Jets]] ({{NFL Year|2005}})*
* Arizona Cardinals ({{NFL Year|2005|2008}})
* [[Indianapolis Colts]] ({{NFL Year|2009}})
* [[Carolina Panthers]] ({{NFL Year|2010}})*
* Indianapolis Colts ({{NFL Year|2010}})
* [[Detroit Lions]] ({{NFL Year|2011}})*
* [[Tennessee Titans]] ({{NFL Year|2012}})*
|highlights =
* 2× First-team All-[[Mountain West Conference|MW]] ([[2003 Mountain West Conference football season|2003]], [[2004 Mountain West Conference football season|2004]])
| statlabel1 = [[Tackle (football move)|Total tackles]]
| statvalue1 = 218
| statlabel2 = [[Fumble|Forced fumbles]]
| statvalue2 = 1
| statlabel3 = [[Pass deflections]]
| statvalue3 = 7
| statlabel4 = [[Interceptions]]
| statvalue4 = 4
| pfr = FranAa20
}}
'''Aaron Francisco''' (born July 5, 1983) is a former [[American football]] [[Safety (American football position)|safety]]. He was signed by the [[Arizona Cardinals]] as an [[undrafted free agent]] in 2005. He played [[college football]] at [[BYU Cougars football|BYU]].

He was also a member of the [[New York Jets]], [[Indianapolis Colts]], [[Carolina Panthers]], [[Detroit Lions]], and [[Tennessee Titans]].

==Early life==
Aaron Francisco attended [[Kahuku High School]] in [[Kahuku, Hawaii|Kahuku, Hawai'i]] (Oahu), and was an All State and All Oahu Interscholastic Association (OIA) selection as a senior. Francisco helped to lead Kahuku to their first State Championship in 2000.

==College career==
He recorded 88 tackles (43 solo) as a senior in 2004 at [[BYU]]. He finished his career with 330 tackles (167 solo) and seven interceptions and was named first-team All-Mountain West Conference selection as a junior in 2003.

==Professional career==
=== Arizona Cardinals ===
Francisco signed with the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2005. Francisco was famously defending Santonio Holmes on the Steelers' game winning touchdown in [[Super Bowl XLIII]], a play which made the cover of ''[[Sports Illustrated]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.azcentral.com/sports/cardinals/articles/20100202super-bowl-aaron-francisco.html|title=Former Cardinal Aaron Francisco looking for new Super Bowl memory|website=archive.azcentral.com|access-date=2017-01-31}}</ref>

=== Detroit Lions ===
Francisco signed with the [[Detroit Lions]] on August 17, 2011. He was released by the Lions on September 3, 2011.

===Tennessee Titans===
Francisco signed a one-year deal with the [[Tennessee Titans]] on July 20, 2012. He was waived by the Titans on August 31, 2012.

==NFL career statistics==
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}

===Regular season===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team
!colspan="2"| Games
!colspan="5"| Tackles
!colspan="5"| Interceptions
!colspan="4"| Fumbles
|-
! GP !! GS !! Cmb !! Solo !! Ast !! Sck !! TFL !! Int !! Yds !! TD !! Lng !! PD !! FF !! FR !! Yds !! TD
|-
! [[2005 NFL season|2005]] !! [[2005 Arizona Cardinals season|ARI]]
| 11 || 0 || 7 || 5 || 2 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2006 NFL season|2006]] !! [[2006 Arizona Cardinals season|ARI]]
| '''16''' || 2 || 49 || 41 || 8 || 0.0 || 1 || '''2''' || '''61''' || 0 || '''44''' || '''3''' || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2007 NFL season|2007]] !! [[2007 Arizona Cardinals season|ARI]]
| 10 || 3 || 31 || 27 || 4 || 0.0 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2008 NFL season|2008]] !! [[2008 Arizona Cardinals season|ARI]]
| '''16''' || 4 || 56 || '''48''' || 8 || 0.0 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || '''1''' || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2009 NFL season|2009]] !! [[2009 Indianapolis Colts season|IND]]
| 10 || 2 || 16 || 16 || 0 || 0.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2010 NFL season|2010]] !! [[2010 Indianapolis Colts season|IND]]
| 12 || '''12''' || '''59''' || 45 || '''14''' || 0.0 || '''3''' || '''2''' || 10 || 0 || 11 || '''3''' || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| !! 75 !! 23 !! 218 !! 182 !! 36 !! 0.0 !! 9 !! 4 !! 71 !! 0 !! 44 !! 7 !! 1 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0
|}

===Playoffs===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team
!colspan="2"| Games
!colspan="5"| Tackles
!colspan="5"| Interceptions
!colspan="4"| Fumbles
|-
! GP !! GS !! Cmb !! Solo !! Ast !! Sck !! TFL !! Int !! Yds !! TD !! Lng !! PD !! FF !! FR !! Yds !! TD
|-
! [[2008 NFL season|2008]] !! [[2008 Arizona Cardinals season|ARI]]
| '''4''' || '''1''' || '''9''' || '''9''' || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || '''1''' || '''27''' || 0 || '''27''' || '''2''' || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2009 NFL season|2009]] !! [[2009 Indianapolis Colts season|IND]]
| 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2010 NFL season|2010]] !! [[2010 Indianapolis Colts season|IND]]
| 1 || '''1''' || 5 || 5 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| !! 8 !! 2 !! 14 !! 14 !! 0 !! 0.0 !! 0 !! 1 !! 27 !! 0 !! 27 !! 2 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20150402105841/http://www.titansonline.com/team/roster/aaron-francisco/2b179411-afa9-468e-9ff3-8f06b3bc477f/ Tennessee Titans bio]
*[http://www.byucougars.com/Profile.jsp?ID=890 BYU Cougars football bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090208201804/http://www.byucougars.com/Profile.jsp?ID=890 |date=2009-02-08 }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Francisco, Aaron}}
[[Category:1983 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Hawaii]]
[[Category:American football safeties]]
[[Category:BYU Cougars football players]]
[[Category:Arizona Cardinals players]]
[[Category:Indianapolis Colts players]]
[[Category:Carolina Panthers players]]
[[Category:Detroit Lions players]]
[[Category:Tennessee Titans players]]
[[Category:New York Jets players]]
[[Category:Asian American players of American football]]

Neal Fort

2025-04-05T19:59:09Z

2806:261:2480:13B7:7D13:6E99:70A0:1D74:

{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1968)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{BLP sources|date=March 2010}}
{{Infobox CFL biography
| name = '''Neal Fort'''
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1968|4|12|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Warner Robins, Georgia]], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| number = 76, 73, 66
| import = yes
| position1 = Offensive tackle
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 7
| weight_lb =
| college = [[BYU Cougars football|BYU]]
| high_school = [[Central Union High School (El Centro, California)|Central Union]]
| NFLDraftedYear = 1991
| NFLDraftedRound = 6
| NFLDraftedPick = 143
| NFLDraftedTeam = [[Los Angeles Rams]]
| playing_years1 = 1991
| playing_team1 = [[Los Angeles Rams]]*
| playing_years2 = 1992
| playing_team2 = [[Atlanta Falcons]]
| playing_years3 = {{CFL Year|1994}}–{{CFL Year|1995}}
| playing_team3 = [[Baltimore Stallions]]
| playing_years4 = {{CFL Year|1996}}–{{CFL Year|2004}}
| playing_team4 = [[Montreal Alouettes]]
| career_highlights =
* 2× [[Grey Cup]] champion ([[83rd Grey Cup|1995]], [[90th Grey Cup|2002]])
| CFLAllStar = {{CFL Year|1995}}, {{CFL Year|1997}}
| CFLEastAllStar = {{CFL Year|1996}}, {{CFL Year|1997}}, {{CFL Year|2003}}
| career_footnotes = <nowiki/>*Offseason and/or practice squad member only

}}
'''Neal Fort''' (born April 12, 1968) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player. In college, he played for [[Brigham Young University]]. He was an [[offensive lineman]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) for the [[Los Angeles Rams]] and the [[Canadian Football League]] (CFL) for the [[Baltimore Stallions]] and [[Montreal Alouettes]] for most of his career.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.brainyhistory.com/events/1968/april_12_1968_134761.html|title=Neal Fort, CFL tackle, Montreal Alouettes... April 12 in History at BrainyHistory.com|website=BrainyHistory}}</ref> He is currently living in [[The Woodlands, Texas]].

==Early life==
Fort attended Central Union High School in [[El Centro, California]]. Was a 2-year Letterman in football as an offensive tackle and defensive end. He played for the late Cal Jones and gives much of his credit to Coach Jones for his belief in the type of player and person he became. Fort was a 1984 [[California Interscholastic Federation]] first team selection as an offensive lineman and 1985 first team selection as an offensive lineman and defensive line.

==College career==
Fort played left tackle for [[Brigham Young University]] under [[College Football Hall of Fame]] coach [[LaVell Edwards]]. He was instrumental in the success of prolific [[BYU]] offense in the late 80's and early 1990s. Fort for was one of the key protectors for [[College Football Hall of Fame]] [[Ty Detmer]] and his record-breaking career. Detmer went on to win the [[Heisman Trophy]] for the 1990 football season.

==Professional career==
Fort was selected by the [[Los Angeles Rams]] in the sixth round of the [[1991 NFL draft]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1991 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1991/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He made the teams developmental roster for the entire 1991 season. 1992 off-season He was assigned to the [[Orlando Thunder]] of [[NFL Europa]] in 1991, but did not play. Fort joined the Baltimore Colts in there inaugural season in 1994. In that season with the Baltimore Colts/Stallions, the team went on to play in the 1994 [[82nd Grey Cup]] in [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]]. They lost to a home town [[BC Lions]] team 26-23. He went on to win his first [[Grey Cup]] in 1995, the [[83rd Grey Cup]]. The [[Baltimore Stallions]] went on to defeat the [[Calgary Stampeders]] 37-20, led by [[Doug Flutie]]. He would win another Grey Cup in 2002 as a member of the [[Montreal Alouettes]] (by this time, the Stallions had moved to Montreal to become the current incarnation of the Alouettes). Fort is currently eligible for the [[Canadian Football Hall of Fame]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Baltimore Stallions}}
{{83rd Grey Cup}}
{{90th Grey Cup}}
{{Los Angeles Rams 1991 draft navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fort, Neal}}
[[Category:1968 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Players of Canadian football from Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Baltimore Stallions players]]
[[Category:BYU Cougars football players]]
[[Category:Canadian football offensive linemen]]
[[Category:Montreal Alouettes players]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Warner Robins, Georgia]]

Chris Farasopoulos

2025-04-05T19:58:25Z

2806:261:2480:13B7:7D13:6E99:70A0:1D74:

{{Short description|American football player (born 1949)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{multiple issues|
{{Cleanup reorganize|date=July 2014}}
{{BLP sources|date=February 2015}}
{{No footnotes|date=February 2015}}
}}

{{Infobox CFL biography
| name =
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1949|7|20|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Piraeus]], Greece
| death_date =
| death_place =
| team =
| number =
| status =
| position1 = [[Defensive back]]
| height_ft =
| height_in =
| weight_lb =
| college = [[BYU Cougars football|BYU]]
| NFLDraftedYear = 1971
| NFLDraftedRound = 3 / Pick 58
| NFLDraftedPick =
| NFLDraftedTeam =
| playing_years1 = 1971–1973
| playing_team1 = [[New York Jets]]
| playing_years2 = 1974
| playing_team2 = [[New Orleans Saints]]
| career_highlights =
| DatabaseFootball = FARASCHR01
}}

'''Chris Farasopoulos''' (born July 20, 1949) is a former [[American football]] player, [[Brigham Young College|Brigham Young alumnus]] and retired business executive.

After his graduation from [[North High School (Torrance, California)|North Torrance High School]], he was selected 79th overall in the fourth round by the [[Baltimore Orioles]] in the [[1967 Major League Baseball draft]].<ref>[https://www.prosportstransactions.com/baseball/DraftTrades/1967-1-10.htm 1967 MLB June Draft Pick Transactions, June 6 (Rounds 1–10) – Pro Sports Transactions.] Retrieved October 29, 2024.</ref> The second baseman chose not to accept the Orioles' $5,000 offer. He explained, "I might have signed except that the Orioles' scout wanted to change my name to something like Faras. That infuriated me. It was like offering to take only half of me."<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1971/09/03/archives/farasopoulos-making-it-with-jets.html Goldaper, Sam. "Farasopoulos Making It With Jets," ''The New York Times'', Friday, September 3, 1971.] Retrieved October 29, 2024.</ref> He added, "If the Orioles wanted me, they had to take all of me."<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1971/01/30/archives/-as-jets-gather-speedy-men-for-kick-returns.html Anderson, Dave. "...As Jets Gather Speedy Men for Kick Returns," ''The New York Times'', Saturday, January 30, 1971.] Retrieved October 29, 2024.</ref>{{cn|date=February 2015}}

He chose instead to accept a full and guaranteed football scholarship from [[Brigham Young University]] where he was hailed as "the Galloping Greek" by the ''[[Arizona Republic]]''. Best known{{whom|date=February 2015}} for his [[agility]] and speed at BYU, Farasopoulos played defensive back as well as punt and kickoff return. In 1968, he set a [[Western Athletic Conference]] record for average yards returned per kickoff at 27.2, a record that stood until [[Chad Owens]]'s 29.4 average yards per return years later.

After selecting [[John Riggins]] and [[John Mooring]] in the first and second rounds of the [[1971 NFL draft]], the [[New York Jets]] chose Farasopoulos in the third round with the 58th pick overall. During his rookie season, he began a lasting [[friendship]] with teammates Riggins and [[Burgess Owens]] . All three were known for the spirit they contributed to the New York Jets team.{{whom|date=May 2017}} Later in his career Farasopoulos played for the [[New Orleans Saints]].

Farasopoulos holds a BS in human performance from Brigham Young University and spent 13 years at [[Integrated Device Technology]] Inc. in various operations management positions both at IDT's Technology Center and IDT's Static RAM Division in Salinas, California. Before joining IDT, Farasopoulos held management positions at VLSI Technology Inc. and [[National Semiconductor]]. Most recently Farasopoulos was responsible for customer operations and business development as vice president with QuickSil of [[Fremont, California]].

Farasopoulos is the only son of Vasilios Farasopoulos and Theodora Farasopoulos. Farasopoulos is married, has three daughters (two of whom are [[twins]]) and lives with his family in [[California]].

==See also==
* [[List of NCAA major college yearly punt and kickoff return leaders]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Jets1971DraftPicks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Farasopoulos, Chris}}
[[Category:1949 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American football safeties]]
[[Category:Greek players of American football]]
[[Category:BYU Cougars football players]]
[[Category:New Orleans Saints players]]
[[Category:New York Jets players]]
[[Category:Greek emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Piraeus]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]

{{defensiveback-1940s-stub}}

Nick Eyre

2025-04-05T19:57:19Z

2806:261:2480:13B7:7D13:6E99:70A0:1D74:

{{Short description|American football player (1959–2018)}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| position = [[Offensive tackle]]
| number = 78
| birth_date = {{Birth date text|June 6, 1959}}
| birth_place = [[Las Vegas|Las Vegas, Nevada]], U.S.
| death_date = {{Death-date and age|November 15, 2018|June 6, 1959}}
| death_place = [[St. George, Utah]], U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 5
| weight_lb = 276
| high_school = [[Las Vegas High School|Las Vegas]]
| college = [[BYU Cougars football|BYU]]
| draftyear = 1981
| draftround = 4
| draftpick = 106
| pastteams =
* [[Houston Oilers]] ({{NFL Year|1981}})
* [[Chicago Blitz]] ({{USFL Year|1983}})
| highlights =
* Consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1980 College Football All-America Team|1980]])
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 6
| pfr = EyreNi20
}}

'''Nicholas G. Eyre''' (June 16, 1959<ref name="NFL">{{cite web |url=http://www.nfl.com/player/nickeyre/2513778/profile |title=Nick Eyre |publisher=National Football League |accessdate=January 14, 2019}}</ref> – November 15, 2018<ref name="Obit1">{{cite web |url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/deseretnews/obituary.aspx?n=nick-g-eyre&pid=190767959&fhid=16025 |title=Obituary for Nick G. Eyre |work=Desert News |accessdate=January 14, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Obit2">{{cite web |url=https://www.sundbergolpinmortuary.com/notices/Nick-Eyre |title=Obituary for Nick G. Eyre |publisher=Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary |accessdate=January 14, 2019 |archive-date=April 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416011756/https://www.sundbergolpinmortuary.com/notices/Nick-Eyre |url-status=dead }}</ref>) was an American professional [[American football|football]] player who was an [[offensive tackle]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL). Eyre played [[college football]] for the [[BYU Cougars football|BYU Cougars]], earning consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] honors in 1980. He played for the NFL's [[Houston Oilers]] for a single season in 1981.<ref>[http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/fulldraft?abbr=E&abbrFlag=1&type=alphabetical NFL Draft History: Full Draft – by Alphabetic Order]</ref>

Eyre was born in [[Las Vegas]]<ref name="NFL"/> and died in [[St. George, Utah]].<ref name="Obit1"/><ref name="Obit2"/>

Eyre attended Brigham Young University, where he played for the [[BYU Cougars football]] team from 1977 to 1980. As a senior in 1980, he was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American.

The Houston Oilers chose Eyre in the fourth round (106th pick overall) of the [[1981 NFL draft]], and he played for the Oilers in {{NFL Year|1981}}.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.nfl.com/players/nickeyre/profile?id=EYR415291 NFL.com player page]

{{1980 NCAA Division I-A College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{Houston Oilers 1981 draft navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Eyre, Nick}}
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:2018 deaths]]
[[Category:All-American college football players]]
[[Category:American football offensive tackles]]
[[Category:BYU Cougars football players]]
[[Category:Houston Oilers players]]
[[Category:Chicago Blitz players]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Nevada]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from the Las Vegas Valley]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]

{{offensive-lineman-1950s-stub}}

Ben Cahoon

2025-04-05T19:54:42Z

2806:261:2480:13B7:7D13:6E99:70A0:1D74:

{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1972)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox Canadian Football League biography
|team=
|image=Ben Cahoon.jpg
|image_upright=1.0
|caption=Cahoon with the Montreal Alouettes in 2007
|import=No
|position1=Slotback
|number=86
|College=[[BYU Cougars football|BYU]]
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1972|7|16}}
|birth_place=[[Orem, Utah]], U.S.
|Height_ft=5
|Height_in=9
|Weight_lb=185
|CFLDraftedYear=1998
|CFLDraftedRound=1
|CFLDraftedPick=6
|CFLDraftedTeam=[[Montreal Alouettes]]
|CFLAllStar={{CFL Year|1999}}, {{CFL Year|2004}}, {{CFL Year|2008}}
|CFLEastAllStar={{CFL Year|1999}}, {{CFL Year|2000}}, {{CFL Year|2002|2009}}
|Awards=2× [[CFL Most Outstanding Canadian]] (2002, 2003)
|Honours=3× Grey Cup Champion (2002, 2009, 2010)
|Records=Receptions in a career in the CFL, Receptions by a Canadian receiver in a career, Receptions by a Canadian receiver in a season, Touchdowns by an Alouette, Receiving yards in a career in Grey Cup games, Receptions in a career in Grey Cup Games, Receptions in a career (1,017).
|CFL-archive=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512003232/http://www.cfl.ca/roster/show/id/92
|playing_years1={{CFL Year|1998|2010}}
|playing_team1=[[Montreal Alouettes]]
| CFHOF = ben-cahoon
|CFHOFYear=2014
}}
'''Ben Cahoon''' (born July 16, 1972) is a Canadian-American former professional [[Canadian football|football]] [[slotback]] who spent his entire career with the [[Montreal Alouettes]] of the [[Canadian Football League]] (CFL). He won the award for the [[CFL Most Outstanding Canadian|Most Outstanding Canadian]] in the CFL two years in a row in 2002 and 2003.

At the time of his retirement after the [[2010 CFL season|2010 season]], Cahoon ranked sixth overall in career receiving yards with 13,301 yards and the all-time leader overall in pass receptions with 1,017. He is also the all-time leading receiver in [[Grey Cup]] history with 46 receptions and 658 receiving yards.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cfl.ca/uploads/assets/CFL/PDF_Docs/Records_2011_Grey_Cup.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2011-08-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110911082722/http://www.cfl.ca/uploads/assets/CFL/PDF_Docs/Records_2011_Grey_Cup.pdf |archive-date=2011-09-11 }}</ref>

==Early life==
Cahoon spent part of his childhood in [[Cardston, Alberta]], and is therefore considered a non-import under the [[Canadian Football League#Players and compensation|CFL's import/non-import ratio rule]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/teams/story/?id=242402&hubname=cfl-blue_bombers|title=Cahoon to return in backup role as Alouettes face Bombers|author=The Canadian Press|date=2008-07-03|publisher=TSN.ca|access-date=2009-03-24}}</ref>

Cahoon was born in Utah but qualified as a Canadian in the CFL because his parents were Canadian and he spent time as a youth in Alberta. Throughout his career Cahoon steadfastly maintained he felt he was Canadian despite being born in the U.S. and attending both high school and college in Utah.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2011/01/26/ben-cahoon-calls-it-a-career/|title=Bidding adieu: Ben Cahoon calls it a career – CFL.ca|date=26 January 2011}}</ref>

Cahoon played his high school sports at [[Mountain View High School (Utah)|Mountain View High School]] in [[Orem, Utah]], where he earned All-Region and All-State honors in football, basketball, and soccer. He was named Mountain View's Athlete of the Year in 1990.

==College career==
Cahoon played two seasons (1993–94) at Ricks College, now known as [[Brigham Young University–Idaho]], in Rexburg, Idaho. He set school records for most receptions and most receiving yards in a single season and in a career. In 1994, he ranked second in the nation in receiving and was named Junior College [[All-American]]. He transferred to [[Brigham Young University]] in [[Provo, Utah]]. He played in every game for the Cougars in 1996, when BYU became the first Division I-A team in NCAA history to win 14 games in a single season. In his senior year (1997), Cahoon became BYU's top receiver with 84 catches. He averaged 84.6 receiving yards per game during that season including an 8-catch, 217-yard performance in the Cougars' 13–10 win at Arizona State University.

==Professional career==
After going undrafted at the [[1998 NFL draft]], Cahoon tried out for the [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] before being released.<ref>{{cite news|author=Doug Robinson| title=Former Cougar Ben Cahoon becomes Canadian Football League's leading receiver|url= https://www.deseret.com/2010/10/20/20147835/former-cougar-ben-cahoon-becomes-canadian-football-league-s-leading-receiver| work=[[Deseret News]]|date=October 19, 2010|accessdate=May 10, 2021}}</ref> He was drafted by the [[Montreal Alouettes]] in the first round (sixth overall) in the [[1998 CFL Draft]]. He won the [[90th Grey Cup]], [[97th Grey Cup]] and [[98th Grey Cup]] with Montreal in 2002, 2009 and 2010. He was named [[Grey Cup Most Valuable Canadian]] in both 2002 and 2009. His number with the [[Montreal Alouettes]] is 86. His jersey was retired on July 29, 2016, at Percival Molson Stadium in Montréal.

In 2004, Cahoon was part of a CFL precedent with four receivers on one team reaching the 1000-yard mark in one season: Cahoon with 1183 yards, Jeremaine Copeland with 1154 yards, Thyron Anderson with 1147 yards, and Kwame Cavil with 1090 yards. The 2005 Montreal Alouettes would repeat this feat, with Cahoon the only player repeating: the four receivers consisted of Kerry Watkins (1364 yards), Terry Vaughn (1113 yards), Cahoon (1067 yards), and Dave Stala (1037 yards).

On August 2, 2007, Cahoon kicked a game winning 22-yard field goal in overtime in a 30–27 victory over the [[Toronto Argonauts]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJfGJKPmy20 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/wJfGJKPmy20 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=CFL TOR at MTL- August 2, 2007|last=CFL|date=3 August 2007|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He replaced [[Damon Duval]], who had been ejected from the game.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/story/?id=215345|title=Cahoon kicks Als past Argos in overtime|author=The Canadian Press| date=2007-08-03 |publisher=TSN.ca |access-date=2009-03-24}}</ref>

Ben Cahoon stands only 5'9, but is able to bench press 225 lbs 19 times. He is also considered to be one of the greatest slotbacks ever, and was nominated with [[Anthony Calvillo]] for the CFL Greatest QB-WR Combo of All Time.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} He was named an East Division All-Star in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. He has also been named a CFL All Star on numerous occasions. In 2008, Cahoon broke [[Peter Dalla Riva]]'s record for most touchdowns ever by an Alouette receiver. He has had nine 1,000 yard receiving seasons, including a streak of eight straight.

On December 15, 2008, Cahoon re-signed with the Alouettes, where the deal called for a one-year contract with an option. This enabled him to play his 12th CFL season, all of them with the Montreal Alouettes. On May 14, 2010, Cahoon confirmed his return for the 2010 season.

On October 11, 2010, in a home game against the [[Calgary Stampeders]], Cahoon became the CFL's all-time reception leader, catching his 1,007th career pass from [[Anthony Calvillo]] in the 4th quarter. The previous record of 1,006 was held by [[Terry Vaughn]].

On January 26, 2011, Cahoon announced his retirement.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Call |first=Jeff |date=2011-01-26 |title=BYU football: Ben Cahoon retires from CFL; next stop Provo? |url=https://www.deseret.com/2011/1/26/20169754/byu-football-ben-cahoon-retires-from-cfl-next-stop-provo |access-date=2022-12-04 |website=Deseret News}}</ref>

In 2014, Cahoon was inducted into the [[Canadian Football Hall of Fame]]. On July 29, 2016, his number 86 was retired by the [[Montreal Alouettes]] in a ceremony during half-time of their game against the [[Saskatchewan Roughriders]].

==Coaching career==
On February 1, 2011, Brigham Young University head football coach, [[Bronco Mendenhall]], announced Cahoon would join the BYU coaching staff as the wide receivers coach.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700106074/BYU-football-Ben-Cahoon-hired-as-wide-receivers-coach.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203163158/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700106074/BYU-football-Ben-Cahoon-hired-as-wide-receivers-coach.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 3, 2011|title=BYU football: Ben Cahoon hired as wide receivers coach|first=Jeff|last=Call|website=[[Deseret News]] |date=1 February 2011}}</ref> He served in that role through the end of the 2012 season, after which the school re-hired its former offensive coordinator [[Robert Anae]], leading to Cahoon being released on January 15, 2013.<ref name=Call>{{cite news|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865570718/BYU-football-Ben-Cahoon-and-Joe-DuPaix-out-Max-Hall-interviews-for-QB-coach-job-Brandon-Domans.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130118162919/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865570718/BYU-football-Ben-Cahoon-and-Joe-DuPaix-out-Max-Hall-interviews-for-QB-coach-job-Brandon-Domans.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 18, 2013 |title=BYU football: Ben Cahoon and Joe DuPaix out, Max Hall interviews for QB coach job, Brandon Doman's future uncertain |first=Jeff |last=Call |newspaper=[[Deseret News]] |date=January 15, 2013 |access-date=November 1, 2013}}</ref> Cahoon returned to the coaching staff for the 2016 season under new head coach [[Kalani Sitake]] and offensive coordinator [[Ty Detmer]] for 2 seasons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://byucougars.com/m-football/cfl-hall-famer-ben-cahoon-hired-byu-receivers-coach |title=Official Home Of The BYU Cougars |publisher=Byucougars.com |access-date=2018-10-07}}</ref>

==Statistics==
{| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:65%; text-align:center;"
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
! colspan="2" | Receiving
! rowspan="99" style="background:#fff;"|  
! colspan="6" | Regular season
! rowspan="99" style="background:#fff;"|  
! colspan="6" | Playoffs
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
! Year
! Team
! Games
! Catch
! Yards
! Avg
! Long
! TD
! Games
! No.
! Yards
! Avg
! Long
! TD
|- style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;"
| [[1998 CFL season|1998]]
| [[1998 Montreal Alouettes season|MTL]]
| 18
| 33
| 471
| 14.3
| 36
| 3
| 2
| 0
| 0
| 0.0
| 0
| 0
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[1999 CFL season|1999]]
| [[1999 Montreal Alouettes season|MTL]]
| 18
| 52
| 846
| 16.1
| 48
| 2
| 1
| 5
| 67
| 13.4
| 23
| 0
|- style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;"
| [[2000 CFL season|2000]]
| [[2000 Montreal Alouettes season|MTL]]
| 18
| 71
| 1,022
| 14.4
| 73
| 5
| 1
| 3
| 95
| 31.7
| 59
| 1
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[2001 CFL season|2001]]
| [[2001 Montreal Alouettes season|MTL]]
| 18
| 56
| 809
| 14.4
| 68
| 1
| 1
| 2
| 29
| 14.5
| 20
| 0
|- style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;"
| [[2002 CFL season|2002]]
| [[2002 Montreal Alouettes season|MTL]]
| 18
| 75
| 1,060
| 14.2
| 52
| 6
| 2
| 5
| 62
| 12.2
| 15
| 0
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[2003 CFL season|2003]]
| [[2003 Montreal Alouettes season|MTL]]
| 18
| 112
| 1,561
| 13.9
| 66
| 13
| 2
| 11
| 182
| 16.5
| 69
| 2
|- style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;"
| [[2004 CFL season|2004]]
| [[2004 Montreal Alouettes season|MTL]]
| 16
| 93
| 1,183
| 12.7
| 60
| 6
| 1
| 7
| 109
| 15.6
| 25
| 0
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[2005 CFL season|2005]]
| [[2005 Montreal Alouettes season|MTL]]
| 14
| 73
| 1,067
| 14.6
| 73
| 9
| 3
| 21
| 288
| 13.7
| 52
| 1
|- style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;"
| [[2006 CFL season|2006]]
| [[2006 Montreal Alouettes season|MTL]]
| 17
| 99
| 1,190
| 12.0
| 51
| 4
| 2
| 14
| 174
| 12.4
| 25
| 0
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[2007 CFL season|2007]]
| [[2007 Montreal Alouettes season|MTL]]
| 17
| 90
| 1,127
| 12.5
| 97
| 5
| 1
| 2
| 30
| 15.0
| 19
| 0
|- style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;"
| [[2008 CFL season|2008]]
| [[2008 Montreal Alouettes season|MTL]]
| 17
| 107
| 1,231
| 11.5
| 29
| 7
| 2
| 13
| 183
| 14.1
| 35
| 0
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[2009 CFL season|2009]]
| [[2009 Montreal Alouettes season|MTL]]
| 18
| 89
| 1,031
| 11.6
| 30
| 2
| 2
| 7
| 76
| 10.9
| 18
| 1
|- style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;"
| [[2010 CFL season|2010]]
| [[2010 Montreal Alouettes season|MTL]]
| 17
| 67
| 703
| 10.5
| 29
| 2
| 2
| 6
| 58
| 9.7
| 17
| 0
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
! colspan="3" | [[Canadian Football League|CFL]] totals
! 224
! 1017
! 13,301
! 13.1
! 97
! 65
! 23
! 92
! 1353
! 14.7
! 69
! 5
|}

==Honors==
*Grey Cup Most Outstanding Canadian: 2003, 2009
*CFL Most Outstanding Canadian: 2002, 2003
*East Division Most Outstanding Canadian: 2002, 2003, 2008, 2009
*Alouettes' Most Outstanding Player: 2006, 2007
*Alouettes' Most Outstanding Canadian: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
*CFL All-Star: 1999, 2004, 2008
*East Division All-Star: 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
*CFLPA All-Star: 2002
*CFLPA East Division All-Star: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
*No. 86 [[Montreal Alouettes#Retired numbers|retired by Montreal Alouettes]]: July 29, 2016

Cahoon had caught at least one pass in 202 of his last 203 games and at least one pass in each of his last 144 games.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Alouettes vow not to let up against struggling Bombers|last=Beacon|first=Bill|date=2009-09-19|publisher=The Canadian Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.montrealalouettes.com/article/ben-cahoon-record-watch|title=Ben Cahoon record watch|publisher=Montreal Alouettes Football Club|access-date=2010-10-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100717143602/http://en.montrealalouettes.com/article/ben-cahoon-record-watch|archive-date=2010-07-17|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Cahoon was owner of Power Pad Insoles, LLC, a company that sells performance enhancing insoles.

Cahoon and his wife, Kimberli, have four daughters. As a result of his marriage, he is the son-in-law of former [[Utah]] [[Governor]] [[Gary R. Herbert]].

A devout member of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], Cahoon said he disliked playing football on Sunday, which he believed should be reserved for rest and prayer.<ref name="Zurkowsky">{{cite web|url=https://montrealgazette.com/sports/Sundays+sacred+Cahoon/2011083/story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090926121021/http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/Sundays%2Bsacred%2BCahoon/2011083/story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 26, 2009|title=Sundays sacred to Als' Cahoon|last=Zurkowsky|first=Herb|date=September 19, 2009|work=Montreal Gazette|publisher=Canwest|access-date=2009-09-20}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130501050711/http://en.montrealalouettes.com/roster/show/id/4317 Montreal Alouettes bio]
* [http://byucougars.com/staff/m-football/ben-cahoon BYU bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127071035/http://byucougars.com/staff/m-football/ben-cahoon |date=2013-01-27 }}

{{90th Grey Cup}}
{{97th Grey Cup}}
{{98th Grey Cup}}
{{CFL Most Outstanding Canadians}}
{{Dick Suderman Trophy}}
{{Canadian Football Hall of Fame members}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cahoon, Ben}}
[[Category:1972 births]]
[[Category:American emigrants to Canada]]
[[Category:Latter Day Saints from Utah]]
[[Category:BYU Cougars football coaches]]
[[Category:BYU Cougars football players]]
[[Category:Canadian Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Canadian Football League Most Outstanding Canadian Award winners]]
[[Category:Canadian football slotbacks]]
[[Category:Canadian Latter Day Saints]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Montreal Alouettes players]]
[[Category:Naturalized citizens of Canada]]
[[Category:Players of Canadian football from Alberta]]
[[Category:Ricks Vikings football players]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Orem, Utah]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Utah]]
[[Category:Players of Canadian football from Utah]]
[[Category:American football wide receivers]]
[[Category:Coaches of American football from Utah]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Alberta]]

Clay Brown (American football)

2025-04-05T19:53:37Z

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{{Short description|American football player (born 1958)}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Clay Brown
| number = 88, 85, 89, 99
| position = [[Tight end]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1958|09|20}}
| birth_place = [[Los Angeles, California]], U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 3
| weight_lb = 223
| high_school = [[San Gabriel High School|San Gabriel (CA)]]
| college = [[BYU Cougars football|BYU]]
| draftyear = 1981
| draftround = 2
| draftpick = 42
| pastteams =
* [[Denver Broncos]] ({{NFL Year|1981}})*
* [[Atlanta Falcons]] ({{NFL Year|1982}})
* Denver Broncos ({{NFL Year|1983}})
* [[Arizona Wranglers]] ({{USFL Year|1984}})
| highlights =
* Second-team [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1980 College Football All-America Team|1980]])
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 4
| statlabel2 = Games [[Starting lineup|started]]
| statvalue2 = 0
| statlabel3 = [[Touchdown]]s
| statvalue3 = 0
| pfr = B/BrowCl20
}}

'''Clayton Lee Brown''' (born September 20, 1958) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[tight end]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL). Brown played [[college football]] for the [[BYU Cougars football|BYU Cougars]] and he was selected by the [[Denver Broncos]] in the second round of the [[1981 NFL draft]].

==External links==
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070929104809/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=BROWNCLA02 https://web.archive.org/web/20070929104809/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=BROWNCLA02]}}
{{Broncos1981DraftPicks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brown, Clay}}
[[Category:1958 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:American football tight ends]]
[[Category:BYU Cougars football players]]
[[Category:Atlanta Falcons players]]
[[Category:Denver Broncos players]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from San Gabriel, California]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]

{{Tightend-1950s-stub}}

Lou Andrus

2025-04-05T19:49:07Z

2806:261:2480:13B7:7D13:6E99:70A0:1D74:

{{Short description|American football player (born 1943)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| image =
| caption =
| position = [[Linebacker]]
| number = 84
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1943|07|10}}
| birth_place = [[Murray, Utah]], U.S.
| death_date =
| draftyear =
| draftround =
| draftpick =
| afldraftyear = 1967
| afldraftround = 11
| afldraftpick = 269
| suppdraftyear =
| suppdraftround =
| undraftedyear =
| college = [[Brigham Young Cougars football|BYU]]
| pastteams =
* [[Denver Broncos]] (1967)
* [[Winnipeg Blue Bombers]] ({{CFL Year|1970}}–{{CFL Year|1971}})
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 8
| pfr =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 6
| weight_lbs = 265
}}

'''Louis John Andrus''' (born July 10, 1943<ref name=players>{{cite web| url = http://www.nfl.com/players/profile?id=AND790062 | title = Players | accessdate = January 1, 2011 | website = [[NFL.com]]}}</ref>) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[linebacker]] in the [[American Football League]] (AFL). He played one season for the [[Denver Broncos]] (1967).<ref name=players/> He played [[college football]] at [[Brigham Young University]].<ref name=players/>

==See also==
* [[List of American Football League players]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Broncos1967DraftPicks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Andrus, Lou}}
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American football linebackers]]
[[Category:Players of Canadian football from Utah]]
[[Category:BYU Cougars football players]]
[[Category:Denver Broncos (AFL) players]]
[[Category:Winnipeg Blue Bombers players]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Murray, Utah]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Salt Lake County, Utah]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]

{{linebacker-1940s-stub}}

George Atkinson (safety)

2025-04-05T18:56:30Z

2806:261:2480:13B7:7D13:6E99:70A0:1D74:

{{Short description|American football player (born 1947)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = George Atkinson
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| number = 43, 47
| position = [[Safety (gridiron football position)|Safety]] [[Return specialist]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1947|1|4}}
| birth_place = [[Savannah, Georgia]], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 0
| weight_lb = 180
| high_school = [[Johnson High School (Savannah, Georgia)|Sol C. Johnson]] (Savannah)
| college = [[Morris Brown College#Athletics|Morris Brown]] (1964–1967)
| draftyear = 1968
| draftround = 7
| draftpick = 190
| pastteams =
* [[Oakland Raiders]] ([[1968 American Football League season|1968]]–{{NFL Year|1977}})
* [[Denver Broncos]] ({{NFL Year|1979}})
| highlights =
* [[List of Super Bowl champions|Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl XI|XI]])
* Second-team [[American Football League All-League Team|All-AFL]] ([[1969 All-AFL Team|1969]])
* 2× [[American Football League All-Star game|AFL All-Star]] (1968, 1969)
* [[American Football League Rookie of the Year|AFL co-Defensive Rookie of the Year]] (1968)
| statleague = AFL/NFL
| statlabel1 = [[Interception]]s
| statvalue1 = 30
| statlabel2 = Interception yards
| statvalue2 = 448
| statlabel3 = [[Fumble]] recoveries
| statvalue3 = 13
| statlabel4 = Defensive [[touchdown]]s
| statvalue4 = 4
| statlabel5 = Return yards
| statvalue5 = 3,140
| statlabel6 = Return touchdowns
| statvalue6 = 3
| pfr = AtkiBu00
}}

'''George Henry Atkinson II'''<ref name=pfr>{{Cite pro-football-reference|name=George Atkinson|id=A/AtkiBu00|access-date=December 4, 2019}}</ref><ref name="peterson_12032019"/> (born January 4, 1947)<ref name=pfr/> is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[Safety (gridiron football position)|safety]] and [[return specialist]] for the [[Oakland Raiders]] of the [[American Football League]] (AFL) and [[National Football League]] (NFL) from 1968 to 1977.<ref name="nytimes">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/08/sports/football/08rhoden.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1285297242-JNv7rseOBn4kevznwRmTrw |title=An Old Raider's Old-School Values |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 7, 2009 |access-date=September 23, 2010}}</ref> He played [[college football]] at [[Morris Brown College|Morris Brown]] and was selected by the Raiders in the seventh round (190th overall) of the [[1968 NFL/AFL draft]].

==Playing career==
Atkinson started his career in 1968 with the Raiders as a cornerback / kick returner. Facing the [[Buffalo Bills]] on September 15, he scored the first touchdown of the game on a punt return for 86 yards. He returned five total punts during the game for 205 yards, an NFL Record at the time. (along with one kick for 25 yards) in the win.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196809150buf.htm| title = Oakland Raiders at Buffalo Bills - September 15th, 1968 {{!}} Pro-Football-Reference.com}}</ref> On offense for the season, he returned 36 punts for 490 yards and two touchdowns (all AFL highs) while returning 32 kicks for 802 yards. On defense, he picked four passes off for 66 yards and a touchdown. He would do returns on and off for the next seven years to go with his defense, although never as much as before; he returned 112 punts and 44 kicks combined in the years after 1968 for one total touchdown and 2,323 yards.

He made the Pro Bowl that year along with the following season. In that one, he had two interceptions along with one for a touchdown. He would average around three interceptions in every season he played, having as many as 4 (1971, 1972, 1974–1975) and as little as 2 (1969, 1977). In 1974 he had 3 interceptions against Cleveland, a Raiders record at the time. He ranks fifth on the Raiders all-time [[interception]] list with 30.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/rai/career-defense.htm| title = Las Vegas/LA/Oakland Raiders Career Defense Leaders {{!}} Pro-Football-Reference.com}}</ref>

In a regular-season game in 1976 vs. the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]], the Raiders' arch-rival, Atkinson hit an unsuspecting [[Lynn Swann]] in the back of the head with a forearm smash, even though the ball had not been thrown to Swann. The hit rendered Swann unconscious with a [[concussion]].<ref name="nytimes"/> Atkinson had also hit Swann in a similar manner in the previous season's [[NFL playoffs, 1975–76#AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers 16, Oakland Raiders 10|AFC Championship game]], which also gave Swann a concussion.<ref name="nytimes"/> After the second incident, Steelers' coach [[Chuck Noll]] referred to Atkinson as part of the "criminal element" in football. Atkinson subsequently filed a $2 million defamation lawsuit against Noll and the Steelers, which Atkinson lost.<ref name="nytimes"/>

==Broadcasting career==
Atkinson currently works as a Raiders [[Sports presenter|broadcaster]], doing the pre-game and post-game shows. He also hosts a [[television]] program called ''Behind the Shield''. Since 2008, Atkinson has been a major spokesperson for "The Clothing Broker", a warehouse-style clothing store in Oakland, California. He also appears regularly on NFL Network "Top 10" shows that involve the Raiders, providing insight and his perspective on the many "controversial" calls made against the Oakland Raiders. Some examples are: 1) Perhaps the most controversial call - the [[Immaculate Reception]] - Atkinson contends that it was a dead ball because of the "double touch" rule (i.e., a Steelers player came into contact with the football while the pass was in the air), that the football also touched the ground before being scooped up by Steelers' Franco Harris and thus the play should have been ruled as an incomplete pass, and because Raiders' linebacker, Phil Villapiano, was illegally blocked ("clipped") during Harris's resulting game clinching touchdown run; 2) Atkinson stated that the [[Tuck rule (American football)|Tuck Rule]] had never been used until it was used against the Raiders in the 2001 AFC divisional playoff game (it actually came into play during an earlier game, also involving the Patriots, that same 2001 season) and never used again (the Tuck Rule was abolished on March 20, 2013).

==Personal life==
Atkinson's twin sons, [[George Atkinson III|George III]] and Josh, played college football for [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish football|Notre Dame]]. George III went on to become an NFL [[running back]].

Both George III and Josh died prematurely; Josh died by suicide on December 25, 2018,<ref>{{Cite web |title=George Atkinson III Opened Up About 'Pain' He Felt Over Brother's Suicide Just Before Death |url=https://people.com/sports/george-atkinson-iii-opened-up-guilt-over-brothers-suicide/ |access-date=2023-09-21 |website=Peoplemag |language=en}}</ref> and George III died of unannounced causes (following a [[suicide attempt]] shortly after Josh's death) on December 2, 2019.<ref name="peterson_12032019">{{cite news|last=Peterson|first=Gary|title=George Atkinson III, former Raider and son of team legend, dead at 27|date=December 3, 2019|newspaper=The Mercury News|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/12/03/george-atkinson-iii-former-raiders-kick-returner-and-son-of-team-legend-dead-at-27/|access-date=December 4, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-12-03 |title=Ex-Oakland Raiders running back George Atkinson III dies at 27 |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/raiders/ex-oakland-raiders-running-back-george-atkinson-iii-dies-at-27-1905315/ |access-date=2023-09-21 |website=Las Vegas Review-Journal |language=en-US}}</ref> George's death was later also ruled a suicide.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bracken |first=Kassie |last2=Branch |first2=John |last3=Laffin |first3=Ben |last4=Lieberman |first4=Rebecca |last5=Ward |first5=Joe |date=2023-11-17 |title=They Started Playing Football as Young as 6. They Died in Their Teens and Twenties With C.T.E. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/11/16/us/cte-youth-football.html |access-date=2023-11-22 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Column: A terrible new national epidemic — ‘post-football death’ |url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/opinion/columns/2019/12/14/column-terrible-new-national-epidemic/2085575007/ |access-date=2023-11-22 |website=The Columbus Dispatch |language=en-US}}</ref>

Atkinson's former significant other, Michelle Martin, the mother of George III and Josh, had severe mental illness as well and was institutionalized during the twins' childhood. She died October 24, 2018, shortly before Josh died, from complications of [[Crohn's disease]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-10-24 |title=Michelle Martin |url=https://www.cherokeememorial.com/services-obituaries/2018/10/29/michelle-martin |access-date=2023-09-21 |website=Cherokee Memorial Park & Funeral Home |language=en-US}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of American Football League players]]
* [[List of family relations in American football]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Raiders1968DraftPicks}}
{{Super Bowl XI}}
{{American Football League Rookie of the Year}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Atkinson, George}}
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American football safeties]]
[[Category:American football return specialists]]
[[Category:American Football League All-Star players]]
[[Category:American Football League players]]
[[Category:American sports announcers]]
[[Category:Denver Broncos players]]
[[Category:Morris Brown Wolverines football players]]
[[Category:Oakland Raiders players]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Savannah, Georgia]]

Phil Villapiano

2025-04-05T18:54:33Z

2806:261:2480:13B7:7D13:6E99:70A0:1D74:

{{Short description|American football player (born 1949)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Phil Villapiano
| image = Phil Villapiano (20960113189) (cropped).jpg
| position = [[Linebacker]]
| number = 41
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1949|2|26}}
| birth_place = [[Long Branch, New Jersey]], U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lbs = 225
| draftyear = 1971
| draftround = 2
| draftpick = 45
| high_school = [[Ocean Township High School|Ocean Township]] {{nowrap|([[Ocean Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey|Ocean Township, New Jersey]])}}
| college = [[Bowling Green Falcons football|Bowling Green]] (1967–1970)
| teams =
* [[Oakland Raiders]] ({{NFL Year|1971}}–{{NFL Year|1979}})
* [[Buffalo Bills]] ({{NFL Year|1980}}–{{NFL Year|1983}})
| highlights =
* [[Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl XI|XI]])
* 2× First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1975 All-Pro Team|1975]], [[1976 All-Pro Team|1976]])
* 4× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1974 Pro Bowl|1973]]–[[1977 Pro Bowl|1976]])
| statlabel1 = [[Interception]]s
| statvalue1 = 11
| statlabel2 = [[Touchdown]]s
| statvalue2 = 1
}}

'''Philip James Villapiano''' (born February 26, 1949) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[linebacker]] for 13 seasons in the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He played [[college football]] for the [[Bowling Green Falcons football|Bowling Green Falcons]].

==Early life==
Villapiano played [[high school football]] at both [[Asbury Park High School]] and [[Ocean Township High School]] in [[Ocean Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey|Monmouth County, New Jersey]]. He played college football at [[Bowling Green State University]], and while there was selected as Mid-America Conference Player of the Year.<ref>Phil Villapiano, {{Cite web |url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=VILLAPHI01 |title=Phil Villapiano Past Stats, Statistics, History, and Awards - databaseFootball.com |access-date=2007-12-16 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007033750/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=VILLAPHI01 |archive-date=2008-10-07 }}, database Football. Accessed December 15, 2007.</ref><ref>Harvin, Al. [https://www.nytimes.com/1973/01/12/archives/an-offseason-game-new-jersey-sports.html "An Offseason Game; New Jersey Sports"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', January 12, 1973. Accessed November 16, 2008. "Some of the other Jersey residents on the team, according to Davis, are Bob Tucker, the New York Giants' tight end from Lincroft; Phil Villapiano, Oakland Raider linebacker from Ocean Township, and Ron Johnson, Giant running back, now a resident of Fort Lee."</ref>

==Career==
Villapiano was known for his pass coverage and his long friendship with Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Fame inductee [[Franco Harris]] and was a defender in one of the top plays in the history of the NFL, in 1972, a play known as the "[[Immaculate Reception]]". Villapiano was the linebacker assigned to cover Franco Harris during that play on December 23, 1972.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2012/09/23/Phil-Villapiano-No-whining-from-him/stories/201209230246 |title=Phil Villapiano: No whining from him |author=Bouchette, Ed |date=September 23, 2012 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |access-date=25 January 2019}}</ref>

One of the fastest linebackers of his era, Villapiano specialized in making big plays - none bigger than his momentum changing goal-line tackle against the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl XI, where he forced the fumble that was recovered by Willie Hall.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nj.com/sports/index.ssf/2017/02/one_raiders_star_walked_the_walk_with_the_gift_of.html |title=One Raiders star walked the walk with the gift of his Super Bowl ring |author=Izenberg, Jerry |date=February 4, 2017 |newspaper=The Star-Ledger |access-date=25 January 2019}}</ref>

In March 2018, Villapiano was inducted into the Reese's Senior Bowl Hall of Fame. The next month Phil was voted as the Jersey Shore's Greatest Sports Personality Winner. Phil Villapiano was also selected as a 2019 Senior Class candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

==Personal life==
Phil has three children; Andrea, Phil, and Michael. Michael was a quarterback at Brown University.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://brownbears.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=2510 |title=#17: Michael Villapiano |date=2016 |publisher=Brown University Athletics |access-date=25 January 2019}}</ref> Phil's wife, Susan, died of breast cancer on November 22, 2016.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://madison.com/news/local/obituaries/villapiano-susan-penrod/article_21a3bf57-afac-5c2f-95a6-c0344fe25176.html |title=Villapiano, Susan Penrod |date=November 25, 2016 |newspaper=Madison.com |access-date=25 January 2019}}</ref>

His nephew Joe Villapiano is a college football coach and has been the offensive coordinator at [[Cornell University]] since 2017.

==Activities after playing career==

In January 2018, Phil was recognized as a candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH. Later, in March 2018, Phil was named to the Hall of Fame for the College Senior Bowl in Mobile, AL. Later in the summer of 2018, Phil was named as the greatest sports personality for the Jersey Shore in a month long contest that included some of the most prolific names in New Jersey's outstanding sports history. As a 2019 Senior Class candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Villapiano has achieved acknowledgement as a solid finalist and is considered a strong candidate for future induction.

In March 2018, Villapiano joined with former NFL stars [[Harry Carson]] and [[Nick Buoniconti]] to support a parent initiative called Flag Football Under 14, which recommends no tackle football below that age out of a concern for the brain health of the young players. He said, "At some point, those of us who have had success in this game must speak up to protect both football players and the future of the game, and supporting 'Flag Football Under 14' is our best way to do that."<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2018/01/18/health/nfl-no-tackle-football-kids/index.html Former NFLers call for end to tackle football for kids], CNN, Nadia Kounang, March 1, 2018.</ref>

Phil was inducted into the Italian Hall of Fame and is a candidate for induction into the NJ State Hall of Fame.

The Villapiano Fan Club consists of members all across the country run by his family and close friends, are always hosting events during Raiders season.

Phil has also been actively involved in many philanthropic causes such as Save the Jersey Shore post [[Hurricane Sandy]], an executive in the Jimmy V foundation, and numerous programs in his local community of Rumson, NJ and at his alma mater, Bowling Green State University. In recognition of the 100th anniversary of Bowling Green State University Football, Villapiano and nine other former BGSU football players were inducted into the university's Cast of Honor, recognizing the "Best of the Best" by hanging their names and numbers in [[Doyt Perry Stadium|Doyt L. Perry Stadium]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{commons category}}

==External links==
* {{cite web |url=https://jimjax4.wordpress.com/2018/04/30/oakland-raiders-great-phil-villapiano-a-hall-of-fame-man-living-a-hall-of-fame-life/ |title=Oakland Raiders great Phil Villapiano; a Hall of Fame man, living a Hall of Fame Life |author=Jax, Jim |date=April 30, 2018 |website=jimjax4 [blog]}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.niashf.org/inductees/phil-villapiano/ |title=Phil Villapiano |website=National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame}}
* {{cite interview |url=https://www.silverandblackpride.com/2018/3/23/17157836/in-interview-with-raider-great-phil-villapiano |title=Interview with Raiders Great, new Senior Bowl Hall of Famer Phil Villapiano |interviewer=((Linebacker41)) |subject=Phil Villapiano |website=Silver and Black Pride [blog]}}

{{Raiders1971DraftPicks}}
{{Super Bowl XI}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Villapiano, Phil}}
[[Category:1949 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:American football linebackers]]
[[Category:Bowling Green Falcons football players]]
[[Category:Buffalo Bills players]]
[[Category:Oakland Raiders players]]
[[Category:American Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:Asbury Park High School alumni]]
[[Category:Ocean Township High School alumni]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Long Branch, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Ocean Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey]]

Bill Pickel

2025-04-05T18:53:37Z

2806:261:2480:13B7:7D13:6E99:70A0:1D74:

{{Short description|American football player (born 1959)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{BLP sources|date=January 2015}}
{{No footnotes|date=January 2015}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Bill Pickel
| number = 71
| position = [[Defensive tackle]] [[Defensive end]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1959|11|5}}
| birth_place = [[New York, New York]], U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 5
| weight_lb = 265
| high_school = [[St. Francis Preparatory School|St. Francis]] ([[Brooklyn|Brooklyn, New York]])
| college = [[Rutgers Scarlet Knights football|Rutgers]] (1979–1982)
| draftyear = 1983
| draftround = 2
| draftpick = 54
| pastteams =
* [[Los Angeles Raiders]] ({{NFL Year|1983|1990}})
* [[New York Jets]] ({{NFL Year|1991|1994}})
| highlights =
* [[Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl XVIII|XVIII]])
* First-team [[All-Pro]] (1986)
* [[PFWA All-Rookie Team]] ([[PFWA All-Rookie Team#1983|1983]])
| statlabel1 = [[Tackle (football move)|Tackles]]
| statvalue1 = 576
| statlabel2 = [[Quarterback sack|Sacks]]
| statvalue2 = 56.0
| statlabel3 = [[Fumble]] recoveries
| statvalue3 = 11
| pfr = PickBi20
}}

'''William George Pickel''' (born November 5, 1959) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[defensive tackle]] for 12 seasons in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) with the [[Los Angeles Raiders]] from 1983 to 1990 and [[New York Jets]] from 1991 to 1994. Pickel attended [[St. Francis Prep]]. He played [[college football]] for the [[Rutgers Scarlet Knights football|Rutgers Scarlet Knights]]. As a second-round draft pick of the Raiders in [[1983 NFL draft|1983]], Pickel overcame injuries to win a [[Super Bowl]] as a [[rookie]], and was a [[Quarterback sack|sack]] threat during the early part of his career with the Raiders, making the 1985 [[All-Pro]] team. He is currently 98th in career sacks with 56. A standout player, Pickel played nearly every Raider defensive snap in 1984 and 1985. He had a distinctive 4-point stance, placing two hands down instead of the usual one, as was the case with other quick defensive tackles such as [[Bob Lilly]] and [[Tom Keating (American football)|Tom Keating]].

Pickel guest starred in a 1994 episode of ''[[Home Improvement (TV series)|Home Improvement]]''[https://web.archive.org/web/20070929023021/http://www.hiarchive.co.uk/episode.php?s=3&e=18]. He is noted for his volunteer work with the [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928083456/http://www.joshuafrase.org/events02.html Joshua Frase Foundation], a [[non-profit]] group that supports research for [[centronuclear myopathy]].

==See also==
*[[List of Rutgers University people]]

==External links==
*[http://www.nfl.com/players/billpickel/profile?id=PIC498348 NFL.com player page]
*{{YouTube|XfOpFPznuVU|Highlight video}}

{{Raiders1983DraftPicks}}
{{Super Bowl XVIII}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pickel, Bill}}
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Queens, New York]]
[[Category:American football defensive tackles]]
[[Category:Rutgers Scarlet Knights football players]]
[[Category:Los Angeles Raiders players]]
[[Category:New York Jets players]]
[[Category:St. Francis Preparatory School alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]

{{defensive-lineman-1950s-stub}}

Henry Lawrence (American football)

2025-04-05T18:51:38Z

2806:261:2480:13B7:7D13:6E99:70A0:1D74:

{{Short description|American football player (born 1951)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{BLP sources|date=March 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Henry Lawrence
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| number = 70
| position = [[Tackle (gridiron football position)|Offensive tackle]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1951|9|26}}
| birth_place = [[Danville, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lb = 272
| high_school = [[Lincoln Memorial High School|Lincoln Memorial]] ([[Palmetto, Florida]])
| college = [[Florida A&M Rattlers football|Florida A&M]] (1970–1973)
| draftyear = 1974
| draftround = 1
| draftpick = 19
| pastteams =
* [[Oakland Raiders|Oakland]] / [[Los Angeles Raiders]] ({{NFL Year|1974|1986}})
| highlights =
* 3× [[List of Super Bowl champions|Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl XI|XI]], [[Super Bowl XV|XV]], [[Super Bowl XVIII|XVIII]])
* 2× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1984 Pro Bowl|1983]], [[1985 Pro Bowl|1984]])
* Second-team [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1973 College Football All-America Team|1973]])
* First-team [[Little All-America college football team|Little All-American]] ([[1973 Little All-America college football team|1973]])
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 187
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 = 148
| statlabel3 = [[Fumble]] recoveries
| statvalue3 = 9
| pfr = L/LawrHe00
}}
'''Henry Lawrence''' (born September 26, 1951) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was an [[Tackle (gridiron football position)|offensive tackle]] for 13 seasons with the [[Oakland Raiders|Oakland]] / [[Los Angeles Raiders]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He played [[college football]] for the [[Florida A&M Rattlers football|Florida A&M Rattlers]]. Twice selected to the [[Pro Bowl]], he won three [[Super Bowl]]s with the Raiders.<ref>[http://www.athletesforhearts.com/guest-celebrities-2009.html 2009 Guest Celebrities] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110627085457/http://www.athletesforhearts.com/guest-celebrities-2009.html |date=2011-06-27 }}</ref>

==Biography==
Lawrence played in [[Super Bowl XI]] and was a [[Starting lineup|starter]] in [[Super Bowl XV]] and [[Super Bowl XVIII]] for the Raiders earning three Super Bowl Championship Rings. Lawrence is a member of [[Alpha Phi Alpha]] fraternity. At the 2010 Alpha Phi Alpha Convention, Henry was the recipient of the [[Jesse Owens]] Achievement Award for his athletic excellence.

Lawrence features in the documentary film ''Through the Tunnel'' about [[Lincoln Memorial High School]] in [[Palmetto, Florida]]. He and his coach, Eddie Shannon, made the transition to [[Manatee High School]] in the wake of desegregation.

Lawrence has five children: Ishmael Lawrence, Isaac Lawrence, Juliet Lawrence, Itanza Lawrence and Portia Whitaker.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.nfl.com/players/henrylawrence/profile?id=LAW361120 NFL.com player page]

{{1974 NFL Draft}}
{{Raiders1974DraftPicks}}
{{Super Bowl XI}}
{{Super Bowl XV}}
{{Super Bowl XVIII}}
{{RaidersFirstPick}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lawrence, Henry}}
[[Category:1951 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Montour County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:American football offensive tackles]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Florida A&M Rattlers football players]]
[[Category:Oakland Raiders players]]
[[Category:Los Angeles Raiders players]]
[[Category:American Conference Pro Bowl players]]

Rod Martin

2025-04-05T18:38:00Z

2806:261:2480:13B7:7D13:6E99:70A0:1D74:

{{Short description|American football player (born 1954)}}
{{about|the American football player|the professor of psychology|Rod A. Martin|other uses|Rodney Martin (disambiguation)|and|Roderick Martin (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Rod Martin
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| number = 53
| position = [[Linebacker]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1954|4|7|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Welch, West Virginia]], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lb = 218
| high_school = [[Alexander Hamilton High School (Los Angeles)|Alexander Hamilton]] ([[Los Angeles]], California)
| college = [[Los Angeles City Cubs football|Los Angeles City]] (1973–1974) [[USC Trojans football|USC]] (1975–1976)
| draftyear = 1977
| draftround = 12
| draftpick = 317
| pastteams =
* [[Oakland Raiders|Oakland]] / [[Los Angeles Raiders]] ({{NFL Year|1977|1988}})
| highlights =
* 2× [[List of Super Bowl champions|Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl XV|XV]], [[Super Bowl XVIII|XVIII]])
* First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1984 All-Pro Team|1984]])
* Second-team All-Pro ([[1983 All-Pro Team|1983]])
* 2× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1984 Pro Bowl|1983]], [[1985 Pro Bowl|1984]])
* First-team [[List of All-Pac-12 Conference football teams|All-Pac-8]] ([[1976 All-Pacific-8 Conference football team|1976]])
| statlabel1 = [[Quarterback sack|Sacks]]
| statvalue1 = 33.5
| statlabel2 = [[Safety (gridiron football score)|Safeties]]
| statvalue2 = 1
| statlabel3 = [[Interception]]s
| statvalue3 = 14
| statlabel4 = Interception yards
| statvalue4 = 225
| statlabel5 = [[Fumble]] recoveries
| statvalue5 = 10
| statlabel6 = Defensive [[touchdown]]s
| statvalue6 = 6
| pfr = MartRo00
}}
'''Roderick Darryl Martin''' (born April 7, 1954) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[linebacker]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) for the [[Oakland Raiders|Oakland]] / [[Los Angeles Raiders]] from 1977 to 1988. He is best known for his record three [[interception]]s in [[Super Bowl XV]], which put him on the cover of ''[[Sports Illustrated]]''.<ref name=sivogm>{{cite news |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1981/02/02/825317/this-was-the-time-for-one-good-man-given-all-the-time-in-the-world-to-throw-jim-plunkett-formidably-came-to-the-aid-of-his-team-passing-for-three-touchdowns-as-the-oakland-raiders-routed-the-philadelphia-eagles-in-super-bowl-xv |magazine=Sports Illustrated |last=Zimmerman |first=Paul |title=This was the time for one good man |date=February 2, 1981 |page=18}}</ref>

==Early life==
Martin went to [[Alexander Hamilton High School (Los Angeles)|Hamilton High School]] class of 1972; two years ahead of NFL [[Pro Football Hall of Fame|hall of fame]] quarterback [[Warren Moon]] (c/o 1974).

==College career==
Before his NFL career, Martin played [[college football]] for the [[USC Trojans football|USC Trojans]] (USC), where he was a 1976 All-[[Pacific-10 Conference|Pac-10]] selection. Prior to USC, Martin played at [[Los Angeles City College]].

==Professional career==
Martin was one of the top linebackers in the NFL during his 12 seasons and made the [[Pro Bowl]] twice during his career, in 1983 and 1984. Selected in the twelfth round of the [[1977 NFL draft]], Martin was initially a {{convert|210|lb|abbr=on}} tweener, undersized for a Linebacker and slow for a Safety, but eventually bulked up to 220–225. In [[1978 Oakland Raiders season|1978]], his second year, Martin started 8 games, filling in at Inside Linebacker<ref>[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/rai/1978_roster.htm Pro-football-reference.com]</ref> By [[1979 Oakland Raiders season|1979]], he settled in at the weak-side LB spot, becoming a mainstay on the Raider defense, assisting the Silver & Black to two Super Bowl victories ([[1980 Oakland Raiders season|1980]], [[1983 Los Angeles Raiders season|1983]] seasons) and having an outstanding performance in each one. In [[Super Bowl XV]], Martin recorded a Super Bowl record three interceptions from [[1980 Philadelphia Eagles season|Philadelphia Eagles]] quarterback [[Ron Jaworski]], and returned them for 44 yards.<ref name=sivogm/> His interceptions were not only a Super Bowl record, but they also tied linebacker [[Chuck Howley]]'s record for career Super Bowl interceptions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/nfl/super/superbowl-xv-plays.htm |title=Super Bowl XV play-by-play |publisher=[[USA Today]] |date=2002-01-11 |access-date=2009-08-28}}</ref> Among these players, Martin is the only one to record all 3 of his interceptions in one game. In [[Super Bowl XVIII]], Martin broke up a third down pass on his own 7-yard line in the second quarter, sacked [[Joe Theismann]] once, tackled [[Washington Redskins]] Hall of Fame running back [[John Riggins]] for no gain on a fourth down and one conversion attempt deep in Raiders territory on the last play of the third quarter, and recovered a fumble in the final period.<ref name="superbowlXVIII">{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/nfl/super/superbowl-xviii-plays.htm |title=Super Bowl XVIII play-by-play |publisher=USA Today |date=2002-01-11 |access-date=2009-08-28}}</ref>

In his 12 NFL seasons, Martin recorded 14 interceptions, which he returned for 225 yards and 4 touchdowns, along with 10 fumble recoveries, which he returned for 122 yards and two touchdowns. He also recorded 33 and a half official sacks (sacks were not an official statistic until 1982, Martin's 5th season).

==Personal life==
{{More citations needed|section|date=February 2024}}
Martin has returned to work at USC, where he is a programmer and manager of technical and user support services in the [[Information Sciences Institute]]. Martin has two daughters: Jessica, who played volleyball at [[Bethune-Cookman University]], and Jade, a softball player who attended [[Morgan State University]].

According to the 2003 [[Tampa Bay Devil Rays]] media guide, [[Al Martin]] is a nephew of Rod Martin.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Berardino |first1=Mike |title=No signs of All-Star |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113572905/no-signs-of-all-star/ |access-date=24 November 2022 |work=[[South Florida Sun Sentinel]] |date=22 June 2003 |page=7C}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Raiders1977DraftPicks}}
{{Super Bowl XV}}
{{Super Bowl XVIII}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Martin, Rod}}
[[Category:1954 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Alexander Hamilton High School (Los Angeles) alumni]]
[[Category:American football linebackers]]
[[Category:Los Angeles Raiders players]]
[[Category:Oakland Raiders players]]
[[Category:USC Trojans football players]]
[[Category:American Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:Los Angeles City College alumni]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Welch, West Virginia]]
[[Category:Players of American football from West Virginia]]

Dan Conners

2025-04-05T18:36:05Z

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{{Short description|American football player (1942–2019)}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Dan Conners
| image =Dan Conners, 1963.png
| caption =Conners in 1963
| number = 60, 55
| position = [[Linebacker]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1942|2|6}}
| birth_place = [[St. Marys, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2019|4|28|1942|2|6}}
| death_place = [[San Luis Obispo, California]], U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lb = 230
| high_school = St. Mary's (St. Marys, Pennsylvania)
| college = [[Miami Hurricanes football|Miami (FL)]] (1960–1963)
| draftyear = 1964
| draftround = 5
| draftpick = 70
| afldraftyear = 1964
| afldraftround = 2
| afldraftpick = 15
| pastteams =
* [[Oakland Raiders]] ([[1964 American Football League season|1964]]–{{NFL Year|1974}})
| highlights =
* [[American Football League playoffs|AFL champion]] ([[1967 American Football League Championship Game|1967]])
* 3× [[American Football League All-Star game|AFL All-Star]] (1967–1969)
* [[American Football League All-Time Team|AFL All-Time Second Team]]
| statleague = AFL/NFL
| statlabel1 = [[Quarterback sack|Sacks]]
| statvalue1 = 12
| statlabel2 = [[Interception]]s
| statvalue2 = 15
| statlabel3 = Interception yards
| statvalue3 = 232
| statlabel4 = [[Fumble]] recoveries
| statvalue4 = 16
| statlabel5 = Defensive [[touchdown]]s
| statvalue5 = 5
| pfr = C/ConnDa00
}}

'''Daniel Joseph Conners''' (February 6, 1942 – April 28, 2019) was an American professional [[American football|football]] [[linebacker]] who played 11 seasons for the [[Oakland Raiders]] of the [[American Football League]] (AFL) from 1964 through 1969 and later in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) from 1970 through 1974. He played [[college football]] for the [[Miami Hurricanes football|Miami Hurricanes]] and is enshrined in their Hall of Fame.

==Early years==

Born in [[Clearfield, Pennsylvania]], Conners was raised in [[St. Marys, Pennsylvania]], and was a 1959 graduate of St. Marys high school. He led the Flying Dutchmen to undefeated seasons in 1957 and 1958 as a fullback and center while also earning varsity letters in wrestling and baseball.

That got the attention of the [[University of Miami]] (Fla.) where Conners began his college career as a center on the freshman team. He then moved to offensive tackle and then started to make a significant impact on the defensive side of the ball at tackle.

The eventual University of Miami Hall of Famer was 6-foot-2, 240 pounds by his senior year and broke the season record for tackles at that time with 57 tackles and 38 assists in 1962. In 1963, Conners was named an All-American defensive tackle.

==Pro career==

In the spring of 1964, Conners was drafted twice — by the [[Chicago Bears]] in the fifth round (70th pick) in the NFL draft and by the Raiders in the second round (15th overall) of the AFL draft.

Conners signed with the Raiders and started an 11-year career that continued through 1974. Conners moved to middle linebacker and helped anchor the defensive unit that helped lead the team to the playoffs in seven of his 11 seasons, 13 games in all.

In 1967, Conners and the Raiders reached the Super Bowl after going 13–1 in the AFL and beating the [[Houston Oilers]], 40–7, for the league title as Conners had a fumble recovery. Against the powerful NFL champion [[Green Bay Packers]] in the second-ever Super Bowl, the Raiders lost 33–14.

The next year, the Raiders reached the AFL title game before losing to the eventual Super Bowl champion [[New York Jets]], 27–23. During the regular season, Conners played in the infamous "[[Heidi Bowl]]" in which the Raiders scored two touchdowns in the final minute of a 43–32 win. However, NBC pre-empted the fantastic finish to go to its regular-scheduled feature film Heidi, causing predictable outrage.

The Raiders reached the AFL title game again in 1969 and lost to another eventual Super Bowl champion, this time hated rival [[Kansas City Chiefs]], 17–7. Conners recovered a fumble in the loss. In 1970, after the merger of the NFL and AFL, the Raiders lost the American Football Conference championship game 17–7 to the [[Baltimore Colts]], again the eventual Super Bowl champion.

Oakland missed the playoffs in 1971 and reached the postseason again in 1972, winning the AFC West with a 10-3-1 record. In the first round of the playoffs, the Raiders locked up with an emerging power and arch-rival in the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] at [[Three Rivers Stadium]]. In what was dubbed the [[Immaculate Reception]] game, it was Conners and the Raiders losing 13–7 on the final play of the game when [[Franco Harris]] grabbed a deflected pass out of the air and rambled into the end zone for the miracle finish. The Steelers wound up losing to the eventual unbeaten Super Bowl champion Miami Dolphins the next week.

Back again in 1973, the Raiders won the AFC West, avenged the loss to the Steelers in the first round of the playoffs, and lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion Dolphins in the conference final, 27–10.

Conners' final season of 1974 saw the Raiders win the AFC West once again with a 12–2 mark, the best record in the NFL. After beating the defending champion Dolphins 28–26 in the first round in the famous "Sea of Hands" game, the Raiders lost at home to another eventual Super Bowl champion as the Steelers, down 10-3 going into the fourth quarter, outscored the Raiders 21–3 in the final quarter to win 24–13. The Steelers went on to win their first Super Bowl, beating the Vikings, 16–6.

Conners appeared in 141 games with the Raiders, 110 of them as a starter. While tackles weren't considered an official statistic until much later, Conners had 15 interceptions, returning three of them for touchdowns, and he recovered 16 fumbles, returning two for scores.

Conners made several postseason All-Pro teams, mostly during a stretch from 1967 through 1969. He was a second-team all-AFL pick in 1967 by the Associated Press, United Press International and The Sporting News. In 1968, he earned first-team All-AFL honors by UPI and Pro Football Weekly and second-team by the AP. In 1969, he was a first-team All-AFL pick by The Sporting News and second-team by the AP.

Conners was named as one of the six linebackers on the AFL Hall of Fame All-1960s Team, joining the likes of [[Bobby Bell]], [[Nick Buoniconti]], [[George Webster (American football)|George Webster]], [[Larry Grantham]], and [[Mike Stratton]]. The Chiefs' Bell and the Dolphins' Buoniconti are Pro Football Hall of Famers.

In Conners' 11 seasons, the Raiders won seven division titles and compiled a 105-38-11 regular-season record (.718 winning percentage). He was a foundational piece of the Raiders' defense over that period. Two years after he retired, the Raiders won their first Super Bowl title against the Vikings in 1976.

==Later years==

After his retirement, Conners remained in football as an assistant coach for the [[San Francisco 49ers]] then as a scout for the [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] before returning to the Raiders as a scout. Upon retiring from the organization after 25 years, he lived in the San Luis Obispo area, frequenting McCarthy's Irish Pub and the local Elks Lodge on a daily basis. He died on April 28, 2019 at the age of 77.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Petrochko |first1=Kevin |title=A former super bowl champion with local roots has died |url=https://www.wearecentralpa.com/news/a-former-super-bowl-champion-with-local-roots-has-died/1975051522 |access-date=2 May 2019 |publisher=wearecentralpa.com}}</ref><ref>[https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/smdailypress/obituary.aspx?n=daniel-joseph-conners&pid=192788663&fhid=5290 Daniel Joseph Conners]</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of American Football League players]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Bears1964DraftPicks}}
{{Raiders1964DraftPicks}}
{{1967 Oakland Raiders}}
{{AFL1960s}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Conners, Dan}}
[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:2019 deaths]]
[[Category:American football linebackers]]
[[Category:Miami Hurricanes football players]]
[[Category:Oakland Raiders players]]
[[Category:American Football League All-Star players]]
[[Category:American Football League All-Time Team]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:People from St. Marys, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:American Football League players]]

Howie Long

2025-04-05T18:32:19Z

2806:261:2480:13B7:7D13:6E99:70A0:1D74:

{{Short description|American football player, actor, and sports analyst (born 1960)}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Howie Long
| image = Howie Long 2022 (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Long in 2022
| number = 75
| position = [[Defensive end]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1960|1|6}}
| birth_place = [[Somerville, Massachusetts]], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 5
| weight_lb = 265
| high_school = [[Milford High School (Massachusetts)|Milford]] {{avoid wrap|([[Milford, Massachusetts]])}}
| college = [[Villanova Wildcats football|Villanova]] (1977–1980)
| draftyear = 1981
| draftround = 2
| draftpick = 48
| pastteams =
* [[Oakland Raiders|Oakland]] / [[Los Angeles Raiders]] ({{NFL Year|1981|1993}})
| highlights =
* [[List of Super Bowl champions|Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl XVIII|XVIII]])
* [[Newspaper Enterprise Association NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award|''NEA'' NFL co-Defensive Player of the Year]] (1985)
* 2× First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1984 All-Pro Team|1984]], [[1985 All-Pro Team|1985]])
* Second-team All-Pro ([[1983 All-Pro Team|1983]])
* 8× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1984 Pro Bowl|1983]]–[[1988 Pro Bowl|1987]], [[1990 Pro Bowl|1989]], [[1993 Pro Bowl|1992]], [[1994 Pro Bowl|1993]])
* [[NFL 1980s All-Decade Team]]
* First-team All-[[Big East Conference|East]] ([[1980 All-East football team|1980]])
| statlabel1 = [[Quarterback sack|Sacks]]
| statvalue1 = 84
| statlabel2 = [[Fumble]] recoveries
| statvalue2 = 10
| statlabel3 = [[Interception]]s
| statvalue3 = 2
| statlabel4 = Interception yards
| statvalue4 = 84
| pfr = LongHo00
| HOF = howie-long
}}

'''Howard Matthew Moses Long''' (born January 6, 1960)<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.upi.com/Top_News/2019/01/06/UPI-Almanac-for-Sunday-Jan-6-2019/8591546568650/ |title= UPI Almanac for Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019|work=[[United Press International]]|date=January 6, 2019|access-date=September 10, 2019|archive-date=September 11, 2019 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20190911222236/https://www.upi.com/Top_News/2019/01/06/UPI-Almanac-for-Sunday-Jan-6-2019/8591546568650/|url-status=live|quote= Hall of Fame football player/actor/broadcaster Howie Long in 1960 (age 59)}}</ref> is an American former professional [[American football|football]] [[defensive end]] who played in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) for 13 seasons with the [[Oakland Raiders|Oakland]] and [[Los Angeles Raiders]]. He played [[college football]] for the [[Villanova Wildcats football|Villanova Wildcats]] and was selected by the Raiders in the second round of the [[1981 NFL draft]]. Long received eight [[Pro Bowl]] and three first-team [[All-Pro]] selections while helping the team win [[Super Bowl XVIII]]. He was inducted into the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] in 2000.

After retiring, Long pursued a career in acting and broadcasting and serves as a studio analyst for [[Fox Sports]]' NFL coverage.

==Early life==

Born in [[Somerville, Massachusetts]], Long was raised in [[Charlestown, Boston]],<ref>{{cite web|last1=Doherty|first1=Bob|title=The Somerville Times Historical Fact of the Week – January 8|url=http://www.thesomervilletimes.com/archives/45620#more-45620|website=[[The Somerville Times]]|access-date=November 15, 2016|date=January 8, 2014}}</ref> primarily by his uncles and maternal grandmother.<ref name=sivpz85>{{cite magazine |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1985/07/22/the-long-way-up |magazine=Sports Illustrated |last=Zimmerman |first=Paul |author-link=Paul Zimmerman (sportswriter)|title=The long way up |date=July 22, 1985 |page=60}}</ref>

He attended [[Milford High School (Massachusetts)|Milford High School]] in [[Milford, Massachusetts|Milford, Worcester County, Massachusetts]],<ref name=sivpz85/> and is a member of the Milford Hall of Fame. Long was an all-around athlete, playing football (lettered three years and was named to the Scholastic Coach All-America team as a senior, although he had never played football until age 15), basketball (lettered three years as a forward), and track (lettered three years, competing in the [[shot put]], [[discus]], and javelin). Long also set state records in the shot put and discus.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}

==College career==
Long played [[college football]] for the [[Villanova Wildcats football|Villanova Wildcats]] near [[Philadelphia]] and earned a degree in communications. A four-year letterman for the [[Villanova Wildcats football|Wildcats]], he was selected to play in the [[Blue–Gray Football Classic]] and was named the MVP in 1980. As a freshman, Long started every game and had 99 tackles. As a sophomore in 1978, Long led Villanova in sacks with five and recorded 78 tackles. The next season, Long sustained a thigh injury, missed three games, and ended the season with 46 tackles. As a senior in 1980, Long again led the Wildcats with four sacks and had 84 tackles. He began as a [[tight end]] but was moved to the defensive line, playing mostly nose guard his first two seasons. After moving to defensive end, he earned All-East honors and was honorable mention [[1980 College Football All-America Team|All-American]] in his senior year.<ref>1982 [[Los Angeles Raiders]] [[Media Guide]]</ref> Long also boxed at Villanova and was the Northern Collegiate Heavyweight Boxing Champion.{{citation needed|date = November 2013}}

==Professional career==
Selected in the second round of the [[1981 NFL draft]] by the [[1981 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]], Long played 13 seasons for the club, wearing the number 75. On the Raiders defensive line, Long earned eight [[Pro Bowl]] selections.

He had high aspirations early in his career. He told'' [[Football Digest]]'' in 1986 that he wanted "Financial security, and I want to be President. That's my goal. And I'd like to win a few more Super Bowls."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usd.edu/~jhenriqu/web/howie/digest.html |title=Football Digest, June, 1986 |publisher=Usd.edu |access-date=May 1, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070909112927/http://www.usd.edu/~jhenriqu/web/howie/digest.html |archive-date=September 9, 2007}}</ref> Along the way, he was also named first-team All-Pro three times (in [[1983 All-Pro Team|1983]], [[1984 All-Pro Team|'84]], and [[1985 All-Pro Team|'85]]) and second-team All-Pro twice (in [[1986 All-Pro Team|1986]] and [[1989 All-Pro Team|1989]]). He was selected by [[John Madden]] to the [[John Madden#All-Madden|All-Madden]] teams in 1984 and 1985 and was named to the 10th Anniversary All-Madden team in 1994.{{citation needed|date=November 2013}}

Long was voted the [[NFL Alumni]] Defensive Lineman of the Year and the [[NFLPA]] AFC Defensive Lineman of the Year in 1985. He capped off a stellar 1985 season earning the [[Newspaper Enterprise Association NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award|George Halas Trophy]] for having been voted the NEA's co-NFL Defensive Player of the Year (along with [[Andre Tippett]]). He was also named the Seagrams' Seven Crown NFL Defensive Player of the year. The following year, Long was voted the Miller Lite NFL Defensive Lineman of the Year. Both those awards were taken by polls of NFL players. In 1986, Long was voted to his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl and was key in helping the Raiders record 63 sacks and being the number one defense in the AFC.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorystats?tabSeq=2&defensiveStatisticCategory=GAME_STATS&conference=ALL&role=OPP&season=1986&seasonType=REG&d-447263-s=TOTAL_YARDS_GAME_AVG&d-447263-o=1&d-447263-n=1 |title=NFL.com |website=[[NFL.com]] |access-date=May 1, 2013}}</ref> From 1983 to 1986 the Raiders defense recorded 249 sacks, which tied with the Chicago Bears for tops in the NFL over that span.{{citation needed|date=November 2013}}

Long collected 91{{frac|2}} sacks during his career (7{{frac|2}} are not official, as sacks were not an official statistic during his rookie year).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?player_id=133 |title=Pro Football Hall of Fame.com |publisher=Profootballhof.com |access-date=May 1, 2013}}</ref> His career high was in 1983 with 13 sacks, including a career-high five against the Washington Redskins on October 2, 1983. He also intercepted two passes and recovered 10 fumbles during his 13-year career. At the time of his retirement, he was the last player still with the team who had been a Raider before the franchise moved to Los Angeles. He won the [[Super Bowl XVIII]] title as the left defensive end with the Raiders (1983 season), beating the [[Washington Commanders|Washington Redskins]], as he outplayed the opposing offensive tackle, [[George Starke]]; the vaunted Washington running game led by [[John Riggins]] had only 90 yards in 32 rush attempts.

Long's signature defensive move was the "rip," which employed a quick, uppercut-like motion designed to break an opposing blocker's grip.{{citation needed|date = November 2013}}

[[Pro Football Weekly]] (PFW) named Long as one of the ends on its All-time 3–4 defensive front, along with [[Lee Roy Selmon]], [[Curley Culp]], [[Lawrence Taylor]], [[Andre Tippett]], [[Randy Gradishar]], and [[Harry Carson]]. PFW based its "Ultimate 3–4" team on the vote of over 40 former NFL players, coaches, and scouts.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.profootballweekly.com/NR/rdonlyres/ewxay3cliypdlcaw755aavhd5xhtrpmjsh7j7vbw6quayxvpvziksis5yyhd6hgu2e4xnyx6rxcpckurbbvnfywxycf/V22Iss29.pdf |title=Hard-Nosed|journal=[[Pro Football Weekly]] |volume=22 |issue=29 |date=January 21, 2008|page=16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080229103814/http://www.profootballweekly.com/NR/rdonlyres/ewxay3cliypdlcaw755aavhd5xhtrpmjsh7j7vbw6quayxvpvziksis5yyhd6hgu2e4xnyx6rxcpckurbbvnfywxycf/V22Iss29.pdf|archive-date=February 29, 2008|issn=0032-9053|last=Borges|first=Ron|author-link=Ron Borges}}</ref>

==After football==
After his retirement from the [[National Football League|NFL]] following the [[1993 NFL season|1993]] season, Long pursued an acting career, focused mainly on [[action film]]s—including ''[[Firestorm (1998 film)|Firestorm]]'', a 1998 feature in which he starred. He also appeared as a co-star in the suspense movie ''[[Broken Arrow (1996 film)|Broken Arrow]]'', alongside star [[John Travolta]]. He played a minor role in the movie ''[[3000 Miles to Graceland]]'' alongside [[Kevin Costner]], [[Kurt Russell]] and [[Courteney Cox]]. In ''[[That Thing You Do!]]'', Long appears as Mr. White's (Tom Hanks) "partner" Lloyd in the extended cut of the movie, released on DVD in 2007. Long's part was entirely cut from the theatrical release.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/28059/that-thing-you-do-the-directors-cut/ |title=DVD Talk.com |publisher=DVD Talk.com |access-date=May 1, 2013}}</ref>

Long also made numerous [[cameo appearance]]s on [[television series|TV shows]] and [[television commercials|commercials]]. Long was a spokesman for [[Radio Shack]], making commercials with actress [[Teri Hatcher]]. He has also been featured in many other national commercials and advertising campaigns including those of [[Coors Brewing Company|Coors]] Light, [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]], [[Campbell Soup Company|Campbell's Chunky Soup]], [[Hanes]], [[Frito Lay]], [[The Coca-Cola Company|Coca-Cola]], [[PepsiCo|Pepsi]], [[Pizza Hut]], [[Taco Bell]], [[Nabisco]], [[Kraft Foods|Kraft]], the [[Bud Bowl]] campaign, [[Honda]], and currently for [[Chevrolet]].{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

In March 1986, Long told ''[[Inside Sports]]'': <blockquote>"When I'm finished playing, I'd like to stay in touch with football, through broadcasting. I'm qualified to give a certain perspective and I'm articulate enough to handle it."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usd.edu/~jhenriqu/web/howie/inside.html |title=Inside Sports, March, 1986 |publisher=Usd.edu |access-date=May 1, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070909113332/http://www.usd.edu/~jhenriqu/web/howie/inside.html |archive-date=September 9, 2007}}</ref></blockquote>

After his retirement, Long began as a studio analyst for the [[Fox NFL Sunday|Fox Network's NFL coverage]], where he often plays the "[[double act|straight man]]" to the comic antics of co-host [[Terry Bradshaw]], as well as writing a column for [[Foxsports.com]].<ref>[http://msn.foxsports.com/writer/archive?authorId=92 Foxsports column archive] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012061024/http://msn.foxsports.com/writer/archive?authorId=92 |date=October 12, 2007}}</ref> In addition, he hosts an annual award show on Fox, ''Howie Long's Tough Guys'', which honors the NFL players whom he deems the toughest and gives "the toughest" a [[Chevrolet]] truck. Long won a [[Sports Emmy Award]] in 1996 as "Outstanding Sports Personality/Analyst".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywood.com/celebrity/Howie_Long/187420 |title=Howie Long biography |publisher=Hollywood.com |access-date=May 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120907202454/http://www.hollywood.com/celebrity/187420/Howie_Long |archive-date=September 7, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Long is also the author of ''Football for Dummies'', a book to help average fans understand the basics of professional football; it is part of the ''[[For Dummies]]'' series by Wiley Publishing. He is an alumnus of, and volunteers his time for, the [[Boys and Girls Clubs of America]]. He was named the 2000 [[Walter Camp Man of the Year]] by the [[Walter Camp Foundation]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Man of the Year – Walter Camp Football Foundation |url=https://waltercamp.org/man-of-the-year/ |website=waltercamp.org |access-date=6 June 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

After his football career, Long became known for his use of a popular stock sound effect in the movie ''[[Broken Arrow (1996 film)|Broken Arrow]]''. During his death scene, the sound effect is used, which became known as the [[Howie scream]].{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}

* ''In'N Out'' (1984) – Groom
* ''[[Broken Arrow (1996 film)|Broken Arrow]]'' (1996) – Kelly
* ''[[Firestorm (1998 film)|Firestorm]]'' (1998) – Jesse
* ''[[Dollar for the Dead]]'' (1998) – Reager
* ''[[3000 Miles to Graceland]]'' (2001) – Jack

==Personal life==
Long met his future wife Diane Addonizio during his freshman year at Villanova; they married in 1982,<ref name=sivpz85/> and they have three sons. The eldest, [[Chris Long|Chris]], is a retired [[defensive end]], who played for the [[St. Louis Rams]], [[New England Patriots]], and [[Philadelphia Eagles]], winning two [[Super Bowl]]s in his own right. The middle son, [[Kyle Long|Kyle]], is a [[Guard (gridiron football)|guard]] who played for the [[Chicago Bears]], and played one season for the Kansas City Chiefs after signing with them in March 2021.<ref>{{cite web|last=Farrar|first=Doug|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/chicago-bears-select-oregon-ot-kyle-long-20th-023204368--nfl.html|title=Chicago Bears select Oregon OT Kyle Long with the 20th overall pick|publisher=[[Yahoo! Sports]]|date=April 25, 2013|access-date=April 25, 2013}}</ref> His youngest, Howie Jr., works in player personnel for the Raiders.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.raiders.com/team/administration.html|title=Oakland Raiders - Administrative Staff|website=raiders.com}}</ref> Long is a [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]].<ref>{{cite news | first=Jerry | last=Ratcliffe | date=April 16, 2011 | url=http://www.dailyprogress.com/sports/long-and-bradshaw-a-bond-strong-as-brothers/article_351990ea-61ad-55f2-b477-1da8aec83170.html | title=Long and Bradshaw: A bond strong as brothers | work=[[The Daily Progress]] | location=[[Charlottesville, Virginia]] | access-date=May 2, 2013}}</ref>

==Awards and honors==
'''NFL'''
*[[Super Bowl XVIII]] champion
*Three-time First-Team [[All-Pro]]
*Eight-time [[Pro Bowl]] selection
*[[NFL 1980s All-Decade Team]]

'''[[Sports Emmy Awards]]'''
*1996 - [[Outstanding Sports Personality, Studio and Sports Event Analyst|Studio Analyst]]

'''Halls of Fame'''
*[[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] (2000)

==Further reading==
* Long, Howie (2007) ''Football for Dummies, 3rd edition.'' New York: Wiley. {{ISBN|978-0-470-12536-6}}.

==References==
{{Reflist|3}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* {{Profootballhof|id=133|name=Howie Long}}
* {{IMDb name|id=0518989|name=Howie Long}}

{{Navboxes
| title =
| list1 =
{{Raiders1981DraftPicks}}
{{Super Bowl XVIII}}
{{NFL1980s}}
{{2000 Football HOF}}
{{Pro Football Hall of Fame members}}
{{Walter Camp Man of the Year}}
{{Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Analyst}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Long, Howie}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:American football defensive ends]]
[[Category:American television sports announcers]]
[[Category:Catholics from Massachusetts]]
[[Category:College football announcers]]
[[Category:Fox Sports 1 people]]
[[Category:Long family (American football)]]
[[Category:Los Angeles Raiders players]]
[[Category:NFL announcers]]
[[Category:NFL Europe broadcasters]]
[[Category:Oakland Raiders players]]
[[Category:People from Charlestown, Boston]]
[[Category:People from Milford, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Boston]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Worcester County, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Sports Emmy Award winners]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Somerville, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Villanova Wildcats football players]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Middlesex County, Massachusetts]]