Dana Nafziger
{{Short description|American football player (born 1953)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL player
|name=Dana Nafziger
|number=83, 51
|position=Tight end / Linebacker
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1953|10|26}}
|birth_place=Woodstock, Illinois, U.S.
|height_ft=6
|height_in=1
|weight_lbs=220
|high_school=Anaheim (CA) Western
|college=Cal Poly
|undraftedyear=1977
|pastteams=
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers ({{NFL Year|1977}}–{{NFL Year|1982}})
|statlabel1=Receptions
|statvalue1=9
|statlabel2=Receiving yards
|statvalue2=119
|statlabel3=Fumble recoveries
|statvalue3=4
|pfr=N/NafzDa20
}}
Dana Albert Nafziger (born October 26, 1953) is an American former professional football player who played five seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL).
Early life
Nafziger was born on October 26, 1953, in Woodstock, Illinois.{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/N/NafzDa20.htm | title=Dana Nafziger | publisher=Pro Football Reference | accessdate=6 January 2025}} He attended Western High School in Anaheim, California.{{cite web |title=DANA NAFZIGER |url=http://www.profootballarchives.com/nafz00200.html |accessdate=August 18, 2014 |publisher=profootballarchives.com |archive-date=August 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819130032/http://www.profootballarchives.com/nafz00200.html |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |title=Dana Nafziger |url=http://bucpower.com/dana-nafziger.html |accessdate=August 18, 2014 |publisher=bucpower.com}}
College career
Playing college football at California Polytechnic State University, Nafziger was recognized as a skilled blocking tight end{{Cite news |date=November 19, 1976 |title=Miller Sports Award: Football Player of the Week |pages=7 |work=Mustang Daily |url=https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3497&context=studentnewspaper |access-date=September 12, 2022}} and graduated with 63 career catches for 892 yards and seven touchdowns.
Following his senior season of 1976, he earned all-conference accolades from the CCAA{{Cite news |date=January 4, 1977 |title=Eight gridders named to all-league squad |pages=5 |work=Mustang Daily |url=https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3504&context=studentnewspaper |access-date=September 12, 2022}} as well as AP Little All-America status.{{Cite news |date=December 9, 1976 |title=Poly's Nafziger picked on AP Little All-America |pages=A-11 |work=San Luis Obispo Telegram-Tribune}}
Professional career
Nafziger was signed by Tampa Bay in September 1977.{{Cite news |date=September 15, 1977 |title=Nafziger inks pact with Tampa Bay |pages=B-2 |work=San Luis Obispo Telegram-Tribune}} While originally worked out as a prospective linebacker, the Buccaneers soon moved him to tight end and also utilized him heavily on special teams.{{Cite news |last=Steers |first=Dennis |date=June 10, 1980 |title=Nafziger likes shadows of sparkling profession |pages=B-2 |work=San Luis Obispo Telegram-Tribune}} He was part of the 1979 Tampa Bay squad which advanced to the NFC Championship Game, producing two sacks and a pair of fumble recoveries for the Central Division champions that fall.
During the 1981 season, as the franchise again made the playoffs, Nafziger led the club with 22 special teams tackles for the year.{{Cite book |title=2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Media Guide |publisher=Tampa Bay Bucs |year=2020 |pages=390}}
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Nafziger, Dana}}
Category:American football tight ends
Category:American football linebackers
Category:Cal Poly Mustangs football players
Category:California Polytechnic State University alumni
Category:Tampa Bay Buccaneers players
Category:Sportspeople from Woodstock, Illinois
Category:Players of American football from McHenry County, Illinois