Doug Wilkerson
{{Short description|American football player (1947–2021)}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Doug Wilkerson
| image = Doug Wilkerson.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Wilkerson with the Chargers {{circa}} 1976
| number = 63
| position = Guard
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1947|3|27|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Fayetteville, North Carolina, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2021|2|21|1947|3|27}}
| death_place = Encinitas, California, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 3
| weight_lb = 253
| high_school = E. E. Smith (Fayetteville)
| college = North Carolina College (1966–1969)
| draftyear = 1970
| draftround = 1
| draftpick = 14
| pastteams =
- Houston Oilers ({{NFL Year|1970}})
- San Diego Chargers ({{NFL Year|1971|1984}})
- Graz Giants (1987)
| highlights =
- First-team All-Pro (1982)
- 2× Second-team All-Pro (1979, 1980)
- 3× Pro Bowl (1980–1982)
- Los Angeles Chargers Hall of Fame
- San Diego Chargers 50th Anniversary Team
- San Diego Chargers 40th Anniversary Team
- Austrian Football League champion (1987)
- First-team Little All-American (1969)
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 204
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 = 195
| statlabel3 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue3 = 9
| pfr = WilkDo00
}}
Douglas Wilkerson (March 27, 1947 – February 21, 2021) was an American professional football player who was a guard in the National Football League (NFL) for the Houston Oilers and San Diego Chargers. Named to the Pro Bowl three times, he was also a three-time All-Pro, including a first-team selection in 1982. He was inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame. He also played one season in the Austrian Football League for the Graz Giants in 1987.
Early life and college
Wilkerson was born on March 27, 1947, in Fayetteville, North Carolina.{{cite web|title=On this Date 1947 - HOF Doug Wilkerson Born|publisher=North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame|url=https://www.ncshof.org/news_article/show/901880|access-date=January 9, 2023|archive-date=January 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109103855/https://www.ncshof.org/news_article/show/901880|url-status=dead}} He grew up in a military family in Fayetteville, where he attended E. E. Smith High School. He was recruited by many of the college football powerhouses, including Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Duke and Wake Forest.{{cite news|first=Dave|last=Distel|title=Wilkerson Takes Pride in Playing Heads-Up Games|date=October 2, 1981|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|at=Part III, p. 4|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72006348/|access-date=February 2, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}} Initially, Wilkerson accepted a scholarship to play at Michigan State under coach Duffy Daugherty. However, E.E. Smith's principal, E.E. Miller, stripped him of the scholarship as punishment for a school incident. A student egged Wilkerson into a foot race; Wilkerson capitulated and won the race. The challenger refused to settle the wager, prompting Wilkerson to knock him to the ground. Miller's punishment could have been ignored, as no NCAA rules were broken, but Miller was both respected and feared. Daugherty did not try to get involved, nor did Wilkerson ask him to.{{cite web|first=Tom|last=Shanahan|title=Air Coryell legend Doug Wilkerson's path to NFL was supposed to ride Duffy's Underground Railroad|date=February 23, 2021|work=The Shanahan Report|url=https://tomshanahan.report/2021/02/air-coryell-legend-doug-wilkersons-path-to-nfl-was-supposed-to-ride-duffys-underground-railroad/|access-date=February 25, 2021}}
Wilkerson decided to attend the historically black college North Carolina Central University (NCCU), known then as North Carolina College,{{cite news|first=Jerry|last=Magee|title='Moosey' didn't care if moniker didn't fit|date=February 19, 2005|newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune|page=D-1}} where some of his former classmates were also enrolled. At NCCU, Wilkerson earned national honors as a lineman on both offense and defense. As a junior in 1968, he was named to the small college Little All-American team on defense as a middle guard by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).{{cite news|title=Small College Elite Names|date=December 17, 1968|newspaper=Orlando Sentinel|page=3-C|agency=UPI|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71930293/|access-date=February 24, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}} The following year, the AFCA selected him to the team as a defensive tackle,{{cite news|title=Elon's McGeorge Named To Kodak All-America|date=December 16, 1969|newspaper=The Daily Times-News|page=2-B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71930129/|access-date=February 24, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|title=Dave Hill Winner on Vardon Trophy|date=December 17, 1969|newspaper=The Charlotte News|page=4C|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71930107/|access-date=February 24, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}} while the Associated Press named him as an offensive tackle.{{cite news|title=Future Pros Fill All-America Team|date=December 4, 1969|newspaper=The High Point Enterprise|page=6D|agency=AP|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71930063/|access-date=February 24, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
North Carolina Central retired Wilkerson's No. 63 in 1970. He was inducted into the North Carolina Central University Hall of Fame and the Black College Football Hall of Fame.{{cite web|title=Doug Wilkerson|website=BlackCollegeFootballHOF.org|url=https://www.blackcollegefootballhof.org/inductees/doug-wilkerson|access-date=February 26, 2021}}
Professional career
Wilkerson was selected by the Houston Oilers in the first round of the 1970 NFL draft with the 14th overall pick.{{cite web|first=Kyle|last=Serba|title=NCCU CENTENNIAL SPORTS HISTORY: DID YOU KNOW?|date=May 3, 2010|publisher=North Carolina Central University Athletics|url=https://nccueaglepride.com/news/2010/5/3/050310aaa_55|access-date=February 23, 2021}} The first offensive lineman drafted that year, he is North Carolina Central's highest overall NFL draft selection. As a rookie in 1970, Wilkerson also played as a defensive end.{{cite news|title=Colts, Oilers In Showdown|date=October 11, 1970|newspaper=The Odessa American|agency=AP|page=6-B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71847104/|access-date=February 23, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|first=Karl|last=O'Quinn|title=Morning Line|date=October 7, 1970|newspaper=San Antonio Express|page=1-D|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71847086/|access-date=February 23, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}} After the season, he was traded to the San Diego Chargers for tight end Willie Frazier.{{cite news|title=Frazier Goes, Wilkerson Joins Chargers|date=December 23, 1970|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|agency=AP|page=B7|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71847025/|access-date=February 23, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
Playing 14 seasons with San Diego, Wilkerson was named the team's Lineman of the Year seven times, including four straight from 1974 through 1977.{{cite news|first=Clark|last=Judge|title=Was Wilkerson forced to hang 'em up?|date=August 8, 1985|newspaper=Evening Tribune|page=D-3}} The Chargers struggled in his first seven seasons before Don Coryell became their head coach mid-season in 1978. They reached the playoffs from 1979 through 1982, finishing in the top-4 in the NFL in points each season, twice leading the league. San Diego won three straight AFC West division titles and played in back-to-back AFC Championship Games.{{cite news|title=Chargers legend Doug Wilkerson passes away at 73|date=February 22, 2021|website=NFL.com|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/chargers-legend-doug-wilkerson-passes-away-at-73|access-date=February 24, 2021}} Their Hall of Fame quarterback, Dan Fouts, in appreciation of the offensive line's critical role in the success of their Air Coryell offense, treated his blockers to dinner before each game.{{cite news|first=Tom|last=Krasovic|title=Ex-Chargers guard Doug Wilkerson, "Air Coryell" mainstay, dies at 73|date=February 22, 2021|newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/chargers-rams/story/2021-02-22/chargers-doug-wilkerson-air-coryell-blocker-dies-alzheimers|access-date=February 23, 2021}} Playing on one of the NFL's most prolific offenses, Wilkerson was named to three straight Pro Bowls starting in 1980.{{cite news|first1=Tim|last1=Weaver|first2=Thomas|last2=Neumann|title=Homegrown Legends: Carolina's greatest products come home as virtual Panthers|date=September 8, 2020|newspaper=USA Today|url=https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/lists/homegrown-legends-best-nfl-players-from-north-south-carolina/|access-date=February 24, 2021}} He earned second-team All-Pro honors in 1979 and 1980 before being named to the first-team in 1982. In 1984, Wilkerson was named the co-winner of the Chargers' Lineman of the Year. Two and a half weeks into training camp in 1985, he announced his retirement.{{cite news|first=Jay|last=Posner|title=Another surprise: Wilkerson retires|date=August 7, 1985|newspaper=Times-Advocate|page=C1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71928779/|access-date=February 24, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
In 15 NFL seasons, Wilkerson played in 204 regular-season games, starting 195. He ended his Chargers career with 195 games played, the second most in franchise history behind former teammate and fellow lineman Russ Washington. Wilkerson did not miss a game with San Diego until his ninth season there and missed just eight games total in 14 years.{{cite news|first1=Gavino|last1=Borquez|first2=Thomas|last2=Neumann|title=NFL 100: Best players in Chargers history|date=August 29, 2019|newspaper=USA Today|url=https://chargerswire.usatoday.com/2019/08/29/nfl-100-best-players-in-chargers-history/9/|access-date=February 24, 2021}} He was named to the Chargers Hall of Fame, as well as their 40th and 50th anniversary teams. He was also inducted into San Diego's Breitbard Hall of Fame.
In 1987, Wilkerson came out of retirement, signing and playing for the Graz Giants of the Austrian Football League. He was the Giants' first NFL player and helped them win the Austrian Bowl for the league championship.{{cite web|title=Giants History|website=GrazGiants.at|url=https://www.grazgiants.at/verein/history/|access-date=February 23, 2021|language=German|quote=Die Giants sind dabei federführend: Neben den ersten Field-Goal-Stangen holt man 1987 auch erstmals einen NFL-Profi (Doug Wilkerson) nach Graz}}
In his later years, Wilkerson was the strength and conditioning coach for the Los Angeles Raiders (1990–1994) and
player relations executive for the St. Louis Rams (1995–1996).{{cite news|first=Jim|last=Thomas|title=Will Rams' Camp Be A 'Hit' With Veteran Players|date=July 16, 1995|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|page=10F|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72010389/|access-date=February 25, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|title=Pro Football Report|date=October 20, 1990|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|page=C18|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72011179/|access-date=February 25, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news|first=Jim|last=Thomas|title=Sweep! Vermeil Cleans House|date=January 24, 1997|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|page=1D|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72010621/|access-date=February 25, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
Personal life
References
{{reflist}}
{{1970 NFL Draft}}
{{TitansFirstPick}}
{{Houston Oilers 1970 draft navbox}}
{{50Chargers}}
{{Los Angeles Chargers Hall of Fame}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilkerson, Doug}}
Category:American football offensive linemen
Category:North Carolina Central Eagles football players
Category:Houston Oilers players
Category:Los Angeles Raiders coaches
Category:San Diego Chargers players
Category:American Conference Pro Bowl players
Category:Players of American football from Fayetteville, North Carolina
Category:St. Louis Rams executives
Category:American expatriate players of American football
Category:American expatriate sportspeople in Austria