View source for Mel Renfro

{{Short description|American football player (born 1941)}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name          = Mel Renfro
| position      = [[Cornerback]]
| image         = Mel Renfro (1962 Oregana).png
| caption       = Renfro from 1962 ''Oregana'' yearbook
| number        = 20
| birth_date    = {{Birth date and age|1941|12|30}}
| birth_place   = [[Houston|Houston, Texas]], U.S.
| death_date    = <!--{{birth date and age|20YY|MM|DD|1941|12|30}}-->
| death_place   =
| height_ft     = 6
| height_in     = 0
| weight_lbs    = 190
| draftyear     = 1964
| draftround    = 2
| draftpick     = 17
| afldraftyear  = 1964
| afldraftround = 10
| afldraftpick  = 79
| high_school   = [[Jefferson High School (Portland, Oregon)|Jefferson]] {{nowrap|([[Portland, Oregon]])}}
| college       = [[Oregon Ducks football|Oregon]]
| pastteams     = * [[Dallas Cowboys]] ([[1964 Dallas Cowboys season|1964]]–[[1977 Dallas Cowboys season|1977]])
| highlights    = * 2× [[Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl VI|VI]], [[Super Bowl XII|XII]])
* 4× Second-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1964 All-Pro Team|1964]], [[1965 All-Pro Team|1965]], [[1969 All-Pro Team|1969]], [[1972 All-Pro Team|1972]])
* 10× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1965 Pro Bowl|1964]]–[[1974 Pro Bowl|1973]])
* [[List of National Football League season interception leaders|NFL interceptions leader]] (1969)
* [[NFL kickoff return yards leader]] (1964)
* [[Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor]]   
* Consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1962 College Football All-America Team|1962]])
* Second-team All-American ([[1963 College Football All-America Team|1963]])
* 2× First-team [[List of All-Pac-12 Conference football teams|All-PCC]] ([[1962 All-Pacific Coast football team|1962]], [[1963 All-Pacific Coast football team|1963]])
| statlabel1    = Games
| statvalue1    = 174
| statlabel2    = [[Interception]]s
| statvalue2    = 52
| statlabel3    = [[Interception]] yards
| statvalue3    = 626
| statlabel4    = [[Touchdown]]s
| statvalue4    = 3
| pfr           = RenfMe00
| HOF           = mel-renfro
| CollegeHOF    = 1895 
}}
'''Melvin Lacy Renfro''' (born December 30, 1941) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who spent his entire 14-year career as a [[cornerback]] for the [[Dallas Cowboys]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL).<ref name=ergdeion>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tklWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IusDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1997%2C6508867 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Oregon |title=Renfro was Deion of his day in ability |date=July 26, 1996 |page=1C}}</ref> He is a member of the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]].<ref name=waitfame>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uElWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IusDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5268%2C7442748 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Oregon |agency=Associated Press |title=Wait for fame is worth it |date=July 28, 1996 |page=3G }}</ref>

==Early life==
Born in [[Houston]], [[Texas]], Renfro moved with his family to [[Portland, Oregon]], and he attended its [[Jefferson High School (Portland, Oregon)|Jefferson High School]], starring as a two-way football player and [[track and field]] athlete.  As a sophomore and junior, he contributed to his team achieving a 23–0 record, including consecutive Class A-1 football state championships in 1957 and 1958. The Democrats' 1958 team is regarded as one of the greatest in Oregon prep history, which had a [[backfield]] that included him at [[Halfback (American football)|halfback]], [[quarterback]] [[Terry Baker]] ([[1962 NCAA University Division football season|1962]] [[Heisman Trophy]] winner at [[1962 Oregon State Beavers football team|Oregon State]]), [[Halfback (American football)|halfback]] [[Mickey Hergert]] (one of the leading ground gainers in the nation at [[Lewis & Clark College]]) and his brother [[Raye Renfro]] at [[Fullback (American football)|fullback]] (in 1958 he broke a Portland Interscholastic League record with 24 [[touchdown]]s).  After Baker graduated, Renfro saw playing time at [[quarterback]] as a senior in 1959 and was also an all-state selection at [[running back]], as Jefferson pursued a third consecutive title. They again advanced to the championship game, played before more than 21,000 at [[Multnomah Stadium]] in Portland, but lost 7–6 to [[North Medford High School|Medford]].<ref name=mtpsjff>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=4pF9x-cDGsoC&dat=19591128&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Oregon |last=Mullin |first=Bob |title=Medford tips Jeff 7–6 for state title |date=November 28, 1959 |page=6 }}</ref>

In track as a junior in 1959, he helped Jefferson win the team title by winning the 180-yard [[Hurdling|low hurdles]], the 120-yard [[Hurdling|high hurdles]] (breaking the state record) and the [[broad jump]] state titles. In 1960, he broke two Oregon junior AAU championship records with a 120-yard [[Hurdling|high hurdles]] of 13.9 seconds and 19.3 seconds in the 180-yard [[Hurdling|low hurdles]]. Renfro also collected 32 points outscoring every team except one, recording the state record with a  24.1 [[broad jump]] and winning the [[Hurdling|low hurdles]], [[Hurdling|high hurdles]] and the half-mile relay team.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1960/06/13/44337#&gid=ci0258c09f5001278a&pid=44337---019---image |title=Faces in the Crowd |date=June 13, 1960 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |page=13 }}</ref> He was named outstanding athlete in the [[Golden West Invitational]] track meet, which brought annually the nation's top high school seniors.  He was ''[[Track and Field News]]'' "High School Athlete of the Year" in 1960.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/component/content/article/35-stats/2114-t-fn-boys-hs-aoy |title=High School Boys Athletes of the Year |access-date=November 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810170401/https://trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/component/content/article/35-stats/2114-t-fn-boys-hs-aoy |archive-date=August 10, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 1983, Renfro was inducted into the [[Oregon Sports Hall of Fame]]. In 1995, he was inducted into the [[National High School Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=National High School Hall of Fame |url=https://assets.nfhs.org/umbraco/media/9697/hall-of-fame-30-year-anniversary-book.pdf |access-date=November 20, 2025 |website=nfhs.org}}</ref>

==College career==
In 1960, Renfro enrolled at the [[University of Oregon]] in [[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene]], where he excelled for the [[Oregon Ducks track and field|track team]] and as a two-way [[Oregon Ducks football|football]] player, an [[1963 College Football All-America Team|All-American]] [[halfback (American football)|halfback]] and [[defensive back]].<ref name=reldotw>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AhlWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BeMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5558%2C1970757 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Oregon |title=Renfro leads Oregon to win |last=Leutzinger |first=Dick |date=October 13, 1963 |page=1B }}</ref> In football, he earned All-Coast recognition three times and is one of only two two-time [[All-America]]ns ([[Steve Barnett (American football)|Steve Barnett]] is the other player) in university history. He is also the second two-sport All-American in university history, the first one was [[George Shaw (American football)|George Shaw]] in football and [[baseball]].

In 1992, Renfro was inducted into the University of Oregon Athletic Hall of Fame.

===Football===
From the start of his sophomore season, Renfro received recognition as one of the best and most complete [[running backs]] in [[college football]], being able to run inside or outside, catch, block and play [[special teams]]. In 1963, he was even named the team's backup [[quarterback]].

One of Renfro's best collegiate games took place against [[Rice Owls football|Rice]] at [[Houston]] in [[1962 NCAA University Division football season|1962]]. Renfro shone on both offense and defense, leading the Ducks to a 31–12 victory on October 13.<ref name=ergwfwlpr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=m_1VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4uIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6377%2C2383273 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Oregon |last=Strite |first=Dick |title=Webfoots wallop Rice |date=October 14, 1962 |page=1B}}</ref>  [[Rice Stadium (Rice University)|Rice Stadium]] had been a whites-only facility prior to the Ducks' visit, but university officials allowed Renfro's family to enter and sit in a special section of the stadium near the 35-yard line. According to a contemporary account in the ''[[Eugene Register-Guard|Register-Guard]]'', when Renfro left the game, he was given a loud and appreciative ovation by the Rice crowd.<ref name=ergwfwlpr/><ref name=erghclmbr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nP1VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4uIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6087%2C2820359 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Oregon |last=Strite |first=Dick |title=Highclimber |date=October 15, 1962 |page=2B}}</ref>

An Oregon sportswriter asked a Houston counterpart in the press box if an African-American had ever received such an ovation by a predominantly white crowd. The Texan enthusiastically replied, "We've never seen any player that good!" The morning after the game, a Houston paper headlined, "Renfro Runs Rice Ragged."

Renfro led Oregon in rushing three straight seasons (1961–63), finishing with a career total 1,540 yards and 23 touchdowns. He still holds the university's career record for highest average per play at 6.01 yards. Renfro also had 41 catches for 644 yards and five touchdowns,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/mel-renfro-1.html |title=Players: Mel Renfro |website=sports-reference.com |access-date=November 20, 2021}}</ref> very impressive numbers in an era when running backs usually did not catch more than 10 passes during a season.

In 1986, Renfro was enshrined in the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] and is a member of [[The Pigskin Club of Washington, D.C.]], a National Intercollegiate All-American Football Players Honor Roll. He is considered to be the best [[running back]] in the history of the University of Oregon, other than [[LaMichael James]].

===Track and field===
From 1960 through 1965, the Oregon's men's track and field team led by coach [[Bill Bowerman]] was one of the best in the United States. In 1962, Renfro contributed to the university's first [[NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships|NCAA team championship]] by finishing second behind teammate [[Jerry Tarr]] in the {{convert|120|yd|adj=on}} high hurdles with a 13.8 time and third in the [[long jump]] with a 25'-11¼" (7.905 m) leap.<ref name=bbkoust>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EUJYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hvkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1060%2C3469841 |newspaper=Bend Bulletin |location=Oregon |last=Thompson |first=Bill |title=Oregon new king of U.S. track |date=June 18, 1962 |page=3 }}</ref>

That year, Renfro was part of a world-record-setting 440-yard relay team with a time of 40.0 seconds; his running mates were Tarr, [[Mike Gaechter]] and [[Harry Jerome]].  At the end of the year, he was named to the All-American track and field team in the [[Hurdling|high hurdles]] and the [[broad jump]].

In 1963, Renfro injured his knee on a foul [[broad jump]] in the NCAA Championships. In the same meet at Albuquerque, despite the injury, he entered the [[Hurdling|high hurdles]] but failed to qualify.<ref name=scltdor>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MxdZAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FOMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6922,2721771 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Oregon |last=Strite |first=Dick |title=Southern Cal likely to dethrone Oregon |date=June 14, 1963 |page=2B }}</ref>

==Professional career==
[[File:1986 Jeno's Pizza - 32 - Earl Morrall (Mel Renfro crop).jpg|thumb|Renfro in [[Super Bowl V]] in January 1971]]
Renfro was drafted in the second round of the [[1964 NFL draft]], 17th overall, by the [[1964 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]. The selection delayed the draft for six hours, while the Cowboys sent a doctor to check an injury he suffered on his wrist.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brandt |first=Gil |author-link=Gil Brandt |date=April 9, 2014 |title=1964 draft left lasting impact on Dallas Cowboys, NFL |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/1964-draft-left-lasting-impact-on-dallas-cowboys-nfl-0ap1000000340099 |access-date=November 20, 2021 |website=NFL.com}}</ref>

Although Renfro had won many accolades as a [[running back]] and at the time, teams put their best athletes on the offensive side of the ball, [[Tom Landry]], looking to build a dominating defense, decided to start him at [[Safety (American and Canadian football position)|safety]]. As a rookie, Renfro had an impressive season by leading the team with seven interceptions, the NFL in both punt return and kickoff return yardage (including a franchise-record 273 total return yards against the [[Green Bay Packers]]) and culminated his great campaign with an invitation to the [[Pro Bowl]]. The 30 yards per kick-off return average he posted in his second year ([[1965 Dallas Cowboys season|1965]]) still remains a franchise record.

In [[1966 Dallas Cowboys season|1966]], despite Renfro coming off  an [[All-Pro]] season at [[Safety (American and Canadian football position)|safety]], the Cowboys named him their starting [[Halfback (American football)|halfback]] in an effort to improve its offense. He was injured in the opening game against the [[1966 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] and replaced by [[Dan Reeves]], who was so impressive that Renfro was moved back to defense when he returned to action and would end up being named to the [[All-Pro]] team again.

Renfro was switched to [[cornerback]] in his fifth season. The speedy Renfro (4.65 40-yd dash{{citation needed|date=December 2021}}) became an exceptional threat to [[wide receivers]], leading the NFL with 10 interceptions in [[1969 NFL season|1969]]. Renfro was selected to the [[Pro Bowl]] in each of his first ten seasons in the league, including five [[All-Pro]] selections in [[1964 NFL season|1964]], [[1965 NFL season|1965]], [[1969 NFL season|1969]], [[1971 NFL season|1971]] and [[1973 NFL season|1973]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?player_id=179 |title=Player: Mel Renfro |publisher=Pro Football Hall of Fame |website=profootballhof.com |access-date=November 20, 2021}}</ref> He was named the offensive MVP of the [[1971 Pro Bowl]] for his two punt return [[touchdown]]s.<ref name=GameRecap>{{cite news|title=Renfro's runs pace Nationals' 27–6 win |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=831IAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DG0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6922%2C1470920 |access-date=January 18, 2012 |newspaper=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]] |date=January 25, 1971 |agency=[[Associated Press|AP]] |page=20}}</ref>

In his 14 seasons, Renfro [[interception|intercepted]] 52 passes, returning them for 626 yards and three touchdowns. He also returned 109 punts for 842 yards and one touchdown, 85 kickoffs for 2,246 yards and two touchdowns, along with recording 13 fumble recoveries, which he returned for 44 yards. In the [[1970–71 NFL playoffs|1970]] [[NFC Championship Game]], Renfro had a key interception that led to the Cowboys' game-winning touchdown over the [[1970 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]] that helped them get to [[Super Bowl V]], where they lost to the [[1970 Baltimore Colts season|Baltimore Colts]], 16–13. In an enduring image from the game after [[Jim O'Brien (American football)|Jim O'Brien]]'s game-winning kick, Renfro put his face in his hands in disappointment. Dallas returned in [[Super Bowl VI|Super Bowls VI]], [[Super Bowl X|X]], and [[Super Bowl XII|XII]], Renfro's last NFL game, a Cowboys' 27–10 victory over the [[1977 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]]. He remains the Cowboys' all-time leader in interceptions with 52 (In [[1969 NFL season|1969]] he led the NFL in interceptions with 10) and in career kickoff-return average (26.4 yards). His 14 seasons with the team ties him for second place in franchise history.

Renfro joined the [[Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor]] in 1981 and was elected to the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] in 1996.<ref name=waitfame/> During his time with the Cowboys, even though one of his teammates was former Olympic gold medalist and one-time world's fastest man [[Bob Hayes]], many experts still considered him the best athlete on the team.

==Personal life==
In [[1984 USFL season|1984]], Renfro coached the defensive secondary under [[John Hadl]] with the [[Los Angeles Express (USFL)|Los Angeles Express]] of the [[United States Football League]] (USFL). In [[1986 NFL season|1986]] he was part of [[Gene Stallings]] [[St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)|St. Louis Cardinals]] coaching staff as his [[defensive backs]] coach.

In the early 1980s, Renfro had financial and legal challenges.<ref name=ergmrjld>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AxVWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SuIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3454%2C3182470 |newspaper=Eugene REgister-Guard |location=Oregon |title=Mel Renfro jailed on support charge |date=March 11, 1981 |page=3D }}</ref> He currently works as a motivational speaker. Renfro has four children. He was married to Patricia Renfro through his entire career.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.melrenfro.com}}
* {{Profootballhof|id=179|name=Mel Renfro}}
* {{College Football HoF|id=1895|name=Mel Renfro}}
* {{Footballstats |nfl=Mel-Renfro
|espn= |cbs= |yahoo= |si= |pfr=RenfMe00 |dbf=RENFRMEL01 }}

{{1962 College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{Oakland Raiders 1964 AFL draft picks}}
{{Dallas Cowboys 1964 NFL draft picks}}
{{Super Bowl VI}}
{{Super Bowl XII}}
{{Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor}}
{{NFL annual interceptions leaders}}
{{NFL annual kickoff return yards leaders}}
{{1996 Football HOF}}
{{Pro Football Hall of Fame members}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Renfro, Mel}}
[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American football cornerbacks]]
[[Category:American football safeties]]
[[Category:Dallas Cowboys players]]
[[Category:Dallas Cowboys scouts]]
[[Category:Oregon Ducks football players]]
[[Category:Oregon Ducks men's track and field athletes]]
[[Category:St. Louis Cardinals (football) coaches]]
[[Category:Los Angeles Express coaches]]
[[Category:All-American college football players]]
[[Category:College Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Eastern Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Jefferson High School (Portland, Oregon) alumni]]
[[Category:Track and field athletes from Houston]]
[[Category:Track and field athletes from Portland, Oregon]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Portland, Oregon]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Houston]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:21st-century American sportsmen]]