Dicky Lyons
{{Short description|American football player (born 1947)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Dicky Lyons
| image =
| caption =
| position = Defensive back
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1947|8|11}}
| birth_place = Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 0
| weight_lbs = 191
| draftyear = 1969
| draftround = 4
| draftpick = 103
| high_school = St. Xavier (Louisville)
| college = Kentucky (1965–1968)
| teams =
- Atlanta Falcons ({{NFL Year|1969}})*
- Richmond Roadrunners (1969)
- New Orleans Saints ({{NFL Year|1970}})
- BC Lions ({{CFL Year|1971}})
- Birmingham Americans (1974)
| highlights =
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 4
| statlabel2 = Interceptions
| statvalue2 = 1
| pfr = L/LyonDi20
}}
Richard D. Lyons Sr. (born August 11, 1947) is an American former professional football defensive back who played for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL), the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL), and the Birmingham Americans of the World Football League (WFL). He played college football for the Kentucky Wildcats.
Early life
Richard D. Lyons was born on August 11, 1947, in Louisville, Kentucky. He attended St. Xavier High School in Louisville.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/l/lyon00400.html | title=Dicky Lyons | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=13 October 2024}}
College career
Lyons was a member of the Kentucky Wildcats football team from 1965 to 1968 as both a running back and defensive back. He was a three-year letterman from 1966 to 1968. He was named a second-team All-SEC defensive back by the Associated Press (AP) in 1966, a first-team All-SEC running back by United Press International (UPI) in 1967, and a first-team All-SEC running back by both the AP and UPI in 1968.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1774&dat=19661130&id=oJscAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0mUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5844,7489827&hl=en|title=Gators Top All-SEC|date=November 30, 1966}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2561268/the_delta_democrattimes/|work=The Delta Democrat-Times|title=Stabler Leads All-SEC Squad|author=David M. Moffit|date=November 28, 1967|page=6|accessdate=June 6, 2015|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19681126&id=DugpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dQUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5000,5962871&hl=en|title=No Gators On All-SEC|date=November 26, 1968|work=Ocala Star-Banner}}
Professional career
Lyons was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round, with the 103rd overall pick, of the 1969 NFL/AFL draft. He was later released by the team.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/transactions/l/lyon00400.html | title=Dicky Lyons NFL Transactions | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=13 October 2024}}
He then played for the Richmond Roadrunners of the Atlantic Coast Football League during the 1969 season, returning 14 punts for 260 yards and two touchdowns.
Lyons signed with the New Orleans Saints in 1970. He played in four games, starting three, in 1970, recording one interception, five punt returns for 34 yards, and one kick return for 20 yards.{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LyonDi20.htm | title=Dicky Lyons | publisher=Pro-Football-Reference | accessdate=13 October 2024}} He was released by the Saints in 1971.
Lyons played in three games for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League in 1971 as a fullback, rushing 27 times for 122 yards. He also caught four passes for 13 yards.
Lyons played for the Birmingham Americans of the World Football League in 1974 and made three interceptions.
Personal life
His son Dicky Lyons Jr. played for the Kentucky Wildcats from 2004 to 2008 and was an offseason member of the Denver Broncos in 2010.{{cite web|url=https://ukathletics.com/sports/football/roster/player/dicky-lyons-jr/|website=UK Athletics|title=Dicky Lyons Jr.|date=10 August 2017 |access-date=May 30, 2023}}{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/l/lyon00410.html | title=DICKY LYONS | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=13 October 2024}}{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/transactions/l/lyon00410.html | title=Dicky Lyons NFL Transactions | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=13 October 2024}}{{cite book | url=https://www.amazon.com/True-Blue-Dicky-Football-Legacy/dp/0979122228 | title=True Blue - The Dicky Lyons Football Legacy | publisher=Set Shot Press | author=Lyons, Leslie | year=2009}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Atlanta Falcons 1969 draft navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lyons, Dicky}}
Category:20th-century American sportsmen
Category:Players of American football from Louisville, Kentucky
Category:Players of Canadian football from Louisville, Kentucky
Category:American football return specialists
Category:American football defensive backs
Category:American football running backs
Category:Canadian football running backs
Category:Kentucky Wildcats football players
Category:Atlanta Falcons players
Category:Atlantic Coast Football League players