Mike Dowdle
{{Short description|American football player (1937–1993)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| image =
| caption =
| position = Linebacker / Fullback
| number = 30, 53
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1937|12|6|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Eliasville, Texas, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1993|12|05|1937|12|6}}
| death_place = Harris County, Texas, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 3
| weight_lbs = 215
| draftyear = 1960
| draftround = 15
| draftpick = 179
(by the San Francisco 49ers)
| afldraftyear = 1960
| afldraftround = 2
Pick: First Selections
(by the Denver Broncos)
| high_school = Graham (TX)
| college = Texas
| teams =
- San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|1960}})*
- Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|1960}}–{{NFL Year|1962}})
- San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|1963}}–{{NFL Year|1966}})
| statlabel1 = Games played - started
| statvalue1 = 81 - 43
| statlabel2 = Interceptions
| statvalue2 = 6
| statlabel3 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue3 = 4
| pfr = DowdMi20
}}
Don Michael Dowdle (December 6, 1937{{spaced ndash}}December 5, 1993) was an American football fullback and linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers. He played college football at the University of Texas.
Early years
Dowdle attended Graham High School,{{cite web | title= Graham High School Football Stars | url= http://texashsfootball.com/board/thsfpedia/index.php/Graham | url-status= dead | archiveurl= https://archive.today/20120717072508/http://texashsfootball.com/board/thsfpedia/index.php/Graham | archivedate= 2012-07-17 }} where he practiced football and track.
He accepted a football scholarship from the University of Texas, becoming a starter at fullback and the team's leader in rushing yards (429 yards) as a sophomore. He was a two-way player and was also a starting linebacker. As a senior, he was moved to halfback.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19591127&id=1PBNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nooDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6956,4159556&hl=es | title=Longhorns Beat Aggies, Get Cotton Bowl Berth | accessdate=February 3, 2018}}
Professional career
=San Francisco 49ers (first stint)=
Dowdle was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifteenth round (179th overall) of the 1960 NFL draft. He was tried at fullback and eventually waived on September 13.
=Dallas Cowboys=
In 1960, he was claimed off waivers by the Dallas Cowboys and was used for returning kickoffs. In 1962, he was switched to linebacker and became the starter at outside linebacker for the last 6 games of the season. The next year, he started 14 games at strongside linebacker.
On April 30, 1963, he was traded to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for defensive back Jim Ridlon.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1979&dat=19630501&id=VTAvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PKoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5577,2496825&hl=es | title=Jim Ridlon Traded | accessdate=February 3, 2018}} He was replaced in the starting lineup with Dave Edwards.
=San Francisco 49ers (second stint)=
Dowdle was the San Francisco 49ers' starting middle linebacker for three seasons, until 1966 when he was passed on the depth chart by Ed Beard.
On May 18, 1967, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a draft choice (not exercised),{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19670611&id=REsqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pE8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=7515,4379914&hl=es | title=Steeler Vet Martin Goes For Draft Pick | accessdate=February 3, 2018}} but he refused to report to the team.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1906&dat=19670808&id=U9gfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LtkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4318,5000906&hl=es | title=Big-Man Attack Is Possible for Steelers | accessdate=February 3, 2018}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Find a Grave|47490792}}
{{49ers1960DraftPicks}}
{{1960 Dallas Cowboys}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dowdle, Mike}}
Category:People from Young County, Texas
Category:Players of American football from Young County, Texas
Category:American football linebackers
Category:American football fullbacks
Category:Texas Longhorns football players