:Dave Ahrens
{{Short description|American football player (born 1958)}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Dave Ahrens
| number = 58, 57, 50
| position = Linebacker
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1958|12|05}}
| birth_place = Cedar Falls, Iowa, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 3
| weight_lb = 238
| high_school = Oregon {{avoid wrap|(Oregon, Wisconsin)}}
| college = Wisconsin
| draftyear = 1981
| draftround = 6
| draftpick = 143
| pastteams =
- St. Louis Cardinals ({{NFL Year|1981|1984}})
- Indianapolis Colts ({{NFL Year|1985|1987}})
- Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|1988}})
- Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|1989}})
- Seattle Seahawks ({{NFL Year|1990}})
| highlights =
- 2× Second-team All-Big Ten (1979, 1980)
| statlabel1 = Sacks
| statvalue1 = 3.0
| statlabel2 = Interceptions
| statvalue2 = 1
| statlabel3 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue3 = 4
| pfr = AhreDa20
}}
Dave Ahrens (born December 5, 1958) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL)."{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20101121193350/http://databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=AHRENDAV01 Dave Ahrens]}}", databasefootball.com, retrieved 2010-10-08 The Cedar Falls, Iowa native played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers.
Early life
Ahrens played high school at Oregon High School in Oregon, Wisconsin, where he played fullback and linebacker and was named All-State by the Associated Press his senior year.{{Cite web|url=http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/UW/UW-idx?type=turn&entity=UW.Football1977.p0010&id=UW.Football1977&isize=text|title=The University of Wisconsin Collection: Wisconsin football 1977: Wisconsin football 1977|website=digicoll.library.wisc.edu|language=en-US|access-date=2017-05-11}} Ahrens started out at the University of Wisconsin–Madison playing fullback but switched to linebacker and was captain{{Cite news|url=http://host.madison.com/wsj/sports/college/football/badgers-football-seen-and-heard-at-camp-randall-stadium/article_829762b6-5007-5340-8246-2e9409552a82.html|title=Badgers football: Seen and heard at Camp Randall Stadium|first=Jason|last=Galloway|work=madison.com|access-date=2017-05-11|language=en}} and Team MVP of the 1980 Badgers team.{{Cite web|url=http://www.badgermaniac.com/top50badgers.html|title=The Top Badgers Since 1975|website=www.badgermaniac.com|access-date=2017-05-11}}
Professional career
= St. Louis Cardinals =
Ahrens was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the sixth round (143rd overall) of the 1981 NFL draft.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eNThHqwUK7kC&q=dave+ahrens+football&pg=PA371|title=The USA Today College Football Encyclopedia|last1=Boyles|first1=Bob|last2=Guido|first2=Paul|date=2009-01-01|publisher=Skyhorse Publishing Inc.|isbn=9781602396777|language=en}} He recorded his only interception his rookie year, which was returned for a touchdown.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/AhreDa20.htm|title=Dave Ahrens Stats|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|language=en|access-date=2017-05-11}} Ahrens played in all the games and started ten his rookie season, but his playing time diminished and after four years he was traded to the Indianapolis Colts{{Cite news|url=http://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/08/28/Wednesdays-Sports-Transactions/6618494049600/|title=Wednesday's Sports Transactions|work=UPI|access-date=2017-05-11|language=en}} for a tenth-round pick in the 1986 NFL draft.{{Cite web|url=https://www.prosportstransactions.com/football/DraftTrades/Years/1986.htm|title=1986 NFL Draft Pick Transactions|website=www.prosportstransactions.com|access-date=2017-05-11}}
= Indianapolis Colts =
Ahrens was traded to the Indianapolis Colts before the 1985 season. He did not start a single game in 1985 but had arguably his best NFL season in 1986, starting ten games,{{Cite web|url=http://www.profootballarchives.com/playera/ahre00200.html|title=Dave Ahrens - The Pro Football Archives|website=www.profootballarchives.com|access-date=2017-05-11|archive-date=May 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508193034/https://www.profootballarchives.com/playera/ahre00200.html|url-status=dead}} and registering two quarterback sacks,{{Cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/player/daveahrens/2508263/profile|title=Dave Ahrens|website=NFL.com|language=en|access-date=2017-05-11}} one of them helping the Colts secure their first win of the year late in the season against the Atlanta Falcons.{{Cite web|url=http://www.colts.com/?campaign=ind:fanshare:facebook|title=Indianapolis Colts Football |access-date=2017-05-11}}
= Detroit Lions =
Ahrens spent 1988 with the Detroit Lions but only played in half the games and was left unprotected.{{Cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1989/04/03/players-who-cashed-in-on-their-chance-to-move/|title=Players Who Cashed In On Their Chance To Move|work=tribunedigital-chicagotribune|access-date=2017-05-11|language=en}}
= Miami Dolphins =
Ahrens was signed by the Miami Dolphins before 1989{{Cite web|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1989/04/03/page/A13/article/free-agency-helped-lesser-players-and-hurt-the-bears|title=Free agency helped lesser players and hurt the Bears (April 3, 1989)|access-date=2017-05-11}} and recorded one sack with the team. Due to salary concerns, the Dolphins released him but he did sign a Plan B contract.{{Cite news|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1990-08-30/sports/9002110463_1_jackie-cline-lorenzo-hampton-bonus|title=Plan B: It Pays Not To Succeed So-so Players Find How To Get Ahead Without Really Vying|work=tribunedigital-sunsentinel|access-date=2017-05-11|language=en}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
= Seattle Seahawks =
Ahrens signed with the Seattle Seahawks in free agency before the 1990 season.{{Cite news|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1990-04-02/sports/9002010700_1_marino-couldn-t-trade-marino-s|title=Deal For Marino Seen As Unlikely|work=tribunedigital-sunsentinel|access-date=2017-05-11|language=en}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} He was cut during final cuts{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1990/08/28/roundup/d3e6867d-bc30-4255-9dc3-ba3ed7ffcbc7/|title=ROUNDUP|date=1990-08-28|work=The Washington Post|access-date=2017-05-11|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286}} only to be re-signed by the team. Ahrens was placed on injured reserve following a broken leg against the Denver Broncos late in the season.{{Cite web|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19901224/1111137/woods-survives-return-to-lb|title=Sports {{!}} Woods Survives Return To Lb|website=community.seattletimes.nwsource.com|access-date=2017-05-11}}
Later life
Ahrens spent the 1991 season with the Colts as an assistant coach.{{Cite web|url=http://www.coachtrees.com/SearchCoach.aspx?CoachId=4604|title=Dave Ahrens Coaching History - CoachTrees.com|website=www.coachtrees.com|access-date=2017-05-11|archive-date=2016-12-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222093711/http://coachtrees.com/SearchCoach.aspx?CoachId=4604|url-status=dead}} He was part of a large group of Colts players named in a 2011 concussion lawsuit against the NFL.{{Cite news|url=http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nfl/colts/2013/08/29/nfl-reaches-concussion-settlement-with-former-players-including-about-136-former-colts/2727629/|title=NFL reaches concussion settlement with former players, including about 136 former Colts|work=Indianapolis Star|access-date=2017-05-11|language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{St. Louis Cardinals 1981 draft navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ahrens, Dave}}
Category:American football linebackers
Category:Detroit Lions players
Category:Indianapolis Colts coaches
Category:Indianapolis Colts players
Category:Miami Dolphins players
Category:Seattle Seahawks players
Category:St. Louis Cardinals (football) players
Category:Wisconsin Badgers football players
Category:Sportspeople from Cedar Falls, Iowa
Category:People from Oregon, Wisconsin
Category:Players of American football from Dane County, Wisconsin