View source for Dick Anderson

{{Short description|American football player (born 1946)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}

{{for-multi|the American football coach|Dick Anderson (American football, born 1941)|other people}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name          = Dick Anderson
| image         = Dick Anderson at 2014 MIFF.jpg
| image_size    =
| alt           = 
| caption       = Anderson in 2014
| position      = [[Safety (football position)|Safety]]
| number        = 40
| birth_date    = {{Birth date and age|1946|2|10|mf=y}}
| birth_place   = [[Midland, Michigan]], U.S.
| death_date    = 
| death_place   = 
| height_ft     = 6
| height_in     = 2
| weight_lbs    = 196
| high_school   = [[Boulder High School|Boulder]] ([[Boulder, Colorado]])
| college       = [[Colorado Buffaloes football|Colorado]] (1965-1967)
| draftyear     = 1968
| draftround    = 3
| draftpick     = 73
| afldraftyear  = 
| afldraftround = 
| afldraftpick  = 
| teams         =
* [[Miami Dolphins]] ([[1968 AFL season|1968]]–{{NFL Year|1977}})
| highlights    =
* 2× [[Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl VIII|VIII]], [[Super Bowl VII|VII]])
* [[AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year|NFL Defensive Player of the Year]] ([[1973 NFL season|1973]])
* [[American Football League Rookie of the Year|AFL co-Defensive Rookie of the Year]] ([[1968 NFL season|1968]])
* 2× First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1972 All-Pro Team|1972]], [[1973 All-Pro Team|1973]])
* Second-team All-Pro ([[1974 All-Pro Team|1974]])
* 3× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1973 Pro Bowl|1972]]–[[1975 Pro Bowl|1974]])
* [[List of National Football League season interceptions leaders|NFL interceptions co-leader]] ([[1973 NFL season|1973]])
* [[NFL 1970s All-Decade Team]]
* [[Miami Dolphins Honor Roll]]
* [[Miami Dolphins#The Miami Dolphins 50 Greatest Players|Dolphins Walk of Fame]] (2018)
* Consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1967 College Football All-America Team|1967]])
* First-team All-[[Big Eight Conference|Big Eight]] ([[1967 All-Big Eight Conference football team|1967]])
;NFL record
* Most passes intercepted in a single game: 4 (tied)
| statlabel1    = [[Interception]]s
| statvalue1    = 34
| statlabel2    = Interception return yards
| statvalue2    = 792
| statlabel3    = [[Touchdown]]s
| statvalue3    = 3
| pfr           = AndeDi00
| HOF           = 
| CollegeHOF    = 1881 
}}

'''Richard Paul Anderson''' (born February 10, 1946) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[safety (football position)|safety]] for the [[Miami Dolphins]] of the [[American Football League]] (AFL) and [[National Football League]] (NFL) for nine seasons during the 1960s and 1970s.  He played [[college football]] for the [[Colorado Buffaloes football|Colorado Buffaloes]] and was recognized as a consensus [[1967 College Football All-America Team|All-American]].  He was selected in [[1968 NFL/AFL draft#Round three|third round]] of the [[1968 NFL/AFL draft]], and he played for his entire professional career for the Dolphins.

Anderson made an immediate impact with the Dolphins during his rookie year of 1968 with 8 interceptions (his first of three seasons where he recorded at least 8 interceptions), which resulted in him winning the [[American Football League Rookie of the Year|AP AFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award]] along with [[George Atkinson (safety)|George Atkinson]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/awards_1968.htm | title=1968 Awards Voting | website=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com]] }}</ref> In 1970, with the addition of drafting safety [[Jake Scott]], the two would make up one of the most dynamic safety tandems in the NFL throughout the 1970s, on the Miami Dolphins famed "No-Name Defense". He won back-to-back [[Super Bowl]] championships in [[1972 Miami Dolphins season|1972]] during Miami's "[[perfect season]]", and the following year in [[1973 Miami Dolphins season|1973]]. During their 1973 Super Bowl championship run, Anderson was voted the [[NFL Defensive Player of the Year]] where he recorded another 8 interceptions, including a record 4 in one game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Anderson finished his career as Miami's 2nd all-time leading interceptor with 34 career interceptions (one behind Jake Scott's 35). He was a three-time [[Pro Bowl]] selection, a three-time first (2) or second (1) team [[All-Pro]], and was also selected to the [[National Football League 1970s All-Decade Team|NFL 1970s All-Decade Team]].

In 1993, Anderson was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]]. Despite numerous NFL accolades, Anderson has yet to make the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]]. It's possibly due to his short tenure, only playing 10 seasons.

==Early life==
Anderson was born on February 10, 1946, in [[Midland, Michigan]]. He attended [[Boulder High School]] in [[Boulder, Colorado]].

==College career==
Anderson was named a consensus first-team [[1967 College Football All-America Team|All-American]] in his [[1967 Colorado Buffaloes football team|senior season]] at the [[Colorado Buffaloes football|University of Colorado]], and set a school record with 14 career interceptions.

==Professional career==
===Miami Dolphins===
Anderson was selected by the Dolphins in the 1968 NFL/AFL Draft, and was named the AFL defensive rookie of the year. He was a three-time [[Pro Bowl]]er in 1972, 1973 (in which he was [[NFL Defensive Player of the Year]]), and 1974, in which he was one of the leaders of the Dolphins well known ''No Name'' Defense. Anderson was also the president of the [[National Football League Players Association]] from 1975 until he retired.

Although primarily a safety, he also served as the team's backup [[punter (football)|punter]].<ref name=griese>{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-09-06|newspaper=Ft. Lauderdale News|date=December 9, 1972|title=Griese activated for Giants' game|author=Schwebel, Mike|page=4C|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109070648/fort-lauderdale-news/}}</ref>  In 1969 Miami's regular punter separated his shoulder late in the season and Anderson took over the punting duties for the Dolphins' last game of the season against the [[New York Jets]].<ref name=griese/><ref>{{cite web|title=Dick Anderson Game Logs 1969|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/AndeDi00/gamelog/1969/|publisher=Sports Reference|work=Pro Football Reference|accessdate=2022-09-06}}</ref> In Miami's undefeated season of 1972, Seiple injured his knee in a late season game against the Jets and Anderson had to punt late in that game.<ref name=griese/><ref name=log72>{{cite web|title=Dick Anderson Game Logs 1972|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/AndeDi00/gamelog/1972/|publisher=Sports Reference|work=Pro Football Reference|accessdate=2022-09-06}}</ref>  The Dolphins signed punter [[Billy Lothridge]], who punted the next two games, but the Dolphins had to deactivate Lothridge for their next to last game against the [[New York Giants]] in order to activate quarterback [[Bob Griese]], who had missed much of the season with an injury, and so Anderson had to take over the punting duties for that game.<ref name=griese/><ref name=log72/>  Seiple returned for the Dolphins' last game of the season and for the playoffs.<ref>{{cite web|title=Larry Seiple Game Logs 1972|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SeipLa20/gamelog/1972/|publisher=Sports Reference|work=Pro Football Reference|accessdate=2022-09-06}}</ref>

In his nine AFL/NFL seasons, Anderson recorded 34 interceptions, which he returned for 792 yards and 3 touchdowns.  He also recovered 15 fumbles, returning them for 100 yards and a touchdown.  On special teams, he gained 430 yards returning kickoffs and punted the ball nine times for 335 yards.

After retirement, Anderson became a successful businessman and a Florida state senator.  In 1993, he was enshrined in the [[College Football Hall of Fame]]. His brother is [[Bobby Anderson (American football)|Bobby Anderson]], an [[1969 College Football All-America Team|All-American]] running back at [[1969 Colorado Buffaloes football team|Colorado]] and the eleventh overall pick of the [[1970 NFL draft]], selected by the [[1970 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]]. His son, Blake Anderson, played wide receiver for the University of Colorado.

On December 3, 1973, Anderson had perhaps his greatest personal effort in his career, becoming the 7th player to intercept 4 passes in a single game in NFL history in the Dolphins 30–26 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Since that date, another six players have tied that mark.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/abcsports/mnf/s/greatestmnf/pitmia1973.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021231085643/http://espn.go.com/abcsports/mnf/s/greatestmnf/pitmia1973.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 31, 2002 |title=Monday Night Football - Dec. 3, 1973 - Pittsburgh at Miami |publisher=Espn.go.com |date=2002-09-19 |access-date=2012-08-06}}</ref>

On December 3, 2006, Anderson was inducted into the [[Miami Dolphins Honor Roll]] during halftime of the Dolphins-[[Jacksonville Jaguars|Jaguars]] game. He is one of two players inducted that year, the other being [[Richmond Webb]], who was inducted December 25 against the [[New York Jets|Jets]]. Anderson was the first individual defensive back inducted into the Honor Roll. The entire [[1972 Miami Dolphins season|1972 Dolphins]] roster is a part of the Honor Roll, including Anderson.

In 2018, the [[Professional Football Researchers Association]] named Anderson to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.profootballresearchers.org/hall-of-very-good-2018.html |title=PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2018 | access-date=September 20, 2019}}</ref> He is noted for being one of four players from the [[National Football League 1970s All-Decade Team|NFL All-Decade team from the 1970s]] to not eventually have been inducted into the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]].

==NFL career statistics==
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"|
| Led the league
|-
| style="background:#00ffff; width:3em;"|
| [[National Football League Defensive Player of the Year Award|NFL Defensive Player of the Year]]
|-
| style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|
| Won the [[Super Bowl]]
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}

===Regular Season===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="2"| Games
! colspan="4"| Interceptions
! colspan="4"| Fum
|-

! GP !! GS !! Int !! Yards !! TD !! Lng !! Fmb !! FR !! Yards !! TD 
|-

! [[1968 NFL season|1968]] !! [[1968 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
| '''14 '''|| 12 || '''8 '''||style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;" |''' 230 '''|| 1 || '''96 '''||''' 1 '''|| 1 || 13 || 0
|-

! [[1969 NFL season|1969]] !! [[1969 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
| '''14 '''|| '''14 '''|| 3 || 106 || 0 || 40 ||''' 1 '''|| 3 || 0 || 0
|-

! [[1970 NFL season|1970]] !! [[1970 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
| '''14 '''|| '''14 '''||''' 8 '''||style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;" | 191 || 0||style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| 86 || '''1 '''|| 2 || 0 || 0
|-

! [[1971 NFL season|1971]] !! [[1971 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
| '''14 '''||''' 14 '''|| 2 || 33 || 0 || 33 || '''1 '''|| 4 || 16 || 0
|-

! [[1972 NFL season|1972]] !! style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|[[1972 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
| '''14 '''|| '''14 '''|| 3 || 34 || 0 || 22 ||''' 1 '''||style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''5 '''|| 35 ||style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''1'''
|-

! style="background:#00ffff; width:3em;"| [[1973 NFL season|1973]] !! style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|[[1973 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
| '''14 '''|| '''14 '''||style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''8 '''|| 163 ||style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''2 '''|| 36 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-

! [[1974 NFL season|1974]] !! [[1974 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
| '''14 '''|| '''14 '''|| 1 || 3 || 0 || 3 || 0 || 1 || '''36 '''|| 0
|-

! [[1975 NFL season|1975]] !! [[1975 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
| 0 || 0 || colspan="12"| Did not play due to injury - (Knee)
|-

! [[1976 NFL season|1976]] !! [[1976 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
| 9 || 0 || 1 || 32 || 0 || 32 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-

! [[1977 NFL season|1977]] !! [[1977 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
| '''14 '''|| 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/AndeDi00.htm Career] !! 121 !! 100 !! 34 !! 792 !! 3 !! 96 !! 5 !! 16 !! 100 !! 1 
|}

==Personal life==
Anderson has competed at the [[American Century Championship]], an annual golf competition to determine the best players among American sports and entertainment celebrities. He won the tournament in 1994 and has a total of 11 top ten finishes.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://tahoecelebritygolf.com/tournamentstats/topten.html |title = American Century Championship Top Ten Performances|publisher = Tahoe Celebrity Golf.com| access-date =July 16, 2010}}</ref> The tournament, televised by NBC in July, is played at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in [[Lake Tahoe]], [[Nevada]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.edgewoodtahoe.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=45:the-golf-course&catid=34:the-golf-course&Itemid=11|title = The Golf Course |publisher = Edgewood Tahoe.com| access-date =July 16, 2010}}</ref>

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

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{cfbhof|id=1881|name=Dick Anderson}}

{{1967 NCAA Division I FBS College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{Dolphins1968DraftPicks}}
{{American Football League Rookie of the Year}}
{{NFL DPOYs}}
{{Super Bowl VII}}
{{Super Bowl VIII}}
{{NFL season interception leaders}}
{{NFL1970s}}
{{DolphinsHonorRoll}}
{{Walter Camp Man of the Year}}
{{NFLPA presidents}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, Dick}}
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:All-American college football players]]
[[Category:American Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:American football safeties]]
[[Category:Boulder High School alumni]]
[[Category:College Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Colorado Buffaloes football players]]
[[Category:Florida state senators]]
[[Category:Miami Dolphins players]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Midland, Michigan]]
[[Category:National Football League Players Association presidents]]
[[Category:American Football League players]]
[[Category:Trade unionists from Florida]]
[[Category:NFL Defensive Player of the Year winners]]