Tony Dorsett’s identify ought to all the time be included in conversations relating to the best working backs in soccer historical past. Dorsett, in any case, gained a Heisman Trophy, a nationwide title and a Super Bowl title over a two-year span. He is a member of each the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The No. 2 total choose within the 1977 NFL Draft, Dorsett spent 11 of his 12 NFL seasons with the Cowboys. He retired with 12,739 speeding yards and 77 touchdowns. Dorsett additionally caught 398 passes for 3,554 yards and 13 touchdowns in 173 common season video games. In 17 playoff video games, Dorsett ran for 1,383 yards and 9 touchdowns and caught 46 passes for 403 yards an an extra landing. He is one among simply 91 Hall of Famers who had been inducted of their first yr of eligibility.
In honor of Dorsett’s 69th birthday (he was born on April 7, 1954), listed below are 5 quick details in regards to the speedy halfback.
Member of 6,000/6,000 membership
Dorsett is one among simply three gamers who ran for over 6,000 yards in each school and within the NFL. The different two: Ricky Williams and DeAngelo Williams.
A standout on the University of Pittsburgh, Dorsett ran for a then-NCAA Division 1 document 6,526 yards. He gained the Heisman Trophy in 1976 after speeding for two,150 yards (which was on the time the NCAA”s single season document) and 22 touchdowns whereas main the Panthers to a nationwide title.
Rookie of the Year
Dorsett rapidly proved to be the lacking piece to the Cowboys’ championship puzzle. Despite enjoying behind veteran Preston Pearson for many of the 1977 season, Dorsett nonetheless gained NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors after speeding for 1,007 yards and 12 touchdowns in 14 video games. He authored the NFL’s longest run of the season when he scampered 84 yards in a late-season win over the Eagles.
History-making backfield
Dorsett’s rookie season was capped off by a 27-10 win over the Broncos in Super Bowl XII. Dorsett, who scored a landing in that recreation, made historical past together with quarterback Roger Staubach. They grew to become the primary backfield duo to win the Super Bowl after profitable Heisman Trophies. Staubach had gained his Heisman Trophy 14 years earlier at Navy. He stays the final participant from a army academy to win the Heisman Trophy.
The duo helped the Cowboys make it again to the Super Bowl one yr later. But regardless of three landing passes from Staubach and 140 whole yards from Dorsett, the Cowboys fell by 4 factors to the Steelers in Super Bowl XIII.
Championship historical past
Dorsett is the primary participant to win a nationwide title and a Super Bowl in consecutive seasons. Dorsett gained each titles in New Orleans’ Superdome. Against Georgia within the 1977 Sugar Bowl, Dorsett ran for 202 yards and a rating within the Panthers’ 27-3 win. A yr later, he had 77 whole yards and a rating in Dallas’ win over Denver in Super Bowl XII.
99-yard run
On January 1, 1983, Dorsett set an NFL document that can by no means be crushed. With the Cowboys backed up on their very own 1-yard-line, Dorsett raced 99 yards for a landing whereas setting the document for the longest run in NFL historical past.
Dorsett stood alone within the historical past books earlier than Derrick Henry joined him 35 years later. Henry matched Dorsett’s feat along with his 99-yard landing run towards the Jaguars on December 6, 2018.
