Dave Edwards (linebacker)
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| Position: | Linebacker | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: |
December 14, 1939 Columbia, Alabama | ||||||||||||
| Died: |
December 6, 2016 (aged 76) Laguna Park, Texas | ||||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 225 lb (102 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Abbeville (AL) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Auburn | ||||||||||||
| AFL draft: | 1962 / Round: 25 / Pick: 194 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
David Monroe Edwards (December 14, 1939 – December 6, 2016) was an American football linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He played college football at Auburn University.
Early years
Edwards attended Abbeville High School, where he played football and basketball. He accepted a football scholarship from Auburn University. He was a two-way player who was used as an offensive end and defensive end. As a senior, he was named to the All-SEC team.[1]
He played in the 1962 Senior Bowl, where Tom Landry coached the opposing team (North). In 1987, he was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.[2]
Professional career
Edwards was selected by the Denver Broncos in the 25th round (194th overall) of the 1962 AFL Draft, but chose to sign with the NFL's Dallas Cowboys as a free agent in 1963. He started out as an offensive end in the taxi squad and was later converted to outside linebacker, after he grew from 205 to 230 lbs.
He started in 1963, when Chuck Howley was moved from strongside linebacker to weakside linebacker, because Edwards had more upper-body strength for the position. During an era of ironman football and combined with legends Chuck Howley and Lee Roy Jordan, they formed one of the most fearsome corps of linebackers in NFL history as part of the 'Doomsday Defense'.
Lovingly referred to as "Fuzzy" by his teammates, Edwards was strong, tough and steady throughout his twelve-year career. His strength made him a force against the run and he rarely made mistakes that could hurt the team. He thrived against opposing tight ends, so much so that then Oakland Raiders linebackers coach John Madden, instructed his linebackers to study Edwards' technique in stopping the run while jamming the tight end.[3]
He was a key component in the Cowboys' defensive dominance during the late 1960s and early 1970s; although overshadowed by Howley and Jordan, he was a great player for many years. "The best thing you can say about Edwards is that he's a pro", asserted Cowboys defensive coach Ernie Stautner. "He plays while he's hurt and he still does an outstanding job. That's what a pro is".[4]
Edwards missed only one game in his 12 NFL seasons, while starting 135 games. He helped the Cowboys win three NFC Championships and one Super Bowl. He played in Super Bowls V, VI and X.
Personal life
He was a talented painter whose work was displayed in several shows. He died in his sleep on December 6, 2016, the day he was scheduled to undergo tests at a Waco hospital.[5] Edwards' son, Chris, planned on burying both of his parents' ashes together. However, his house was robbed on March 20, 2017, and his mother Gail's ashes were taken by the burglar.[6] He also has another son Mike.
References
- ↑ "All-Southeast 1961". Retrieved December 8, 2016.
- ↑ "Six added to Alabama Sports Hall of Fame". Retrieved December 8, 2016.
- ↑ "Dallas Cowboy Great Dave Edwards Shares His Memories". Retrieved December 8, 2016.
- ↑ "Great, But Unnoticed ... One Players Story". Retrieved December 8, 2016.
- ↑ "Abbeville native and former NFL great Dave Edwards dies". Retrieved December 8, 2016.
- ↑ Eiserer, Tanya (March 29, 2017). "Burglars steal 'jewelry box' containing ashes of former Dallas Cowboy's wife". WFAA. Retrieved November 22, 2017.