Ron Cox (American football)

{{Short description|American football player (born 1968)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}

{{Use American English|date=May 2024}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Ron Cox

| number = 54

| position = Linebacker

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1968|3|29}}

| birth_place = Fresno, California, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 2

| weight_lb = 235

| high_school = Washington Union
(Easton, California)

| college = Fresno St.

| draftyear = 1990

| draftround = 2

| draftpick = 33

| pastteams =

| highlights =

| statlabel1 = Tackles

| statvalue1 = 272

| statlabel2 = Sacks

| statvalue2 = 8

| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles

| statvalue3 = 3

| pfr = CoxxRo20

}}

Ronald Eugene Cox (born February 2, 1968) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers. He started as middle linebacker for the champion Packers in Super Bowl XXXI as they beat the New England Patriots. In 2001, Cox was inducted into the Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fresnoahof.org/current-past-inductees|title=Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame {{!}} Home|website=Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame {{!}} Home|access-date=2017-02-02|archive-date=2017-07-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731195939/https://www.fresnoahof.org/current-past-inductees|url-status=dead}}

College career

As a senior, Cox was a finalist for the 1989 Butkus Award, which was won by Percy Snow.{{Cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1989/12/06/butkus-award-to-michigan-sts-snow/|title=Butkus Award To Michigan St.'s Snow|newspaper=tribunedigital-chicagotribune|language=en|access-date=2017-01-18|archive-date=2017-01-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131184650/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1989-12-06/sports/8903150896_1_ron-cox-dick-butkus-award-linebacker-in-college-football|url-status=live}} Cox had 28 sacks that senior season.{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-10-19-sp-498-story.html|title=Only a Few Can Keep Him in Line : Blitz King: Rushing the quarterback is a specialty of Fresno State linebacker Ron Cox, who already has 14 sacks this season.|last=NORWOOD|first=ROBYN|date=1989-10-19|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035|access-date=2017-01-18|archive-date=2017-01-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131185607/http://articles.latimes.com/1989-10-19/sports/sp-498_1_team-fresno-state|url-status=live}} He was also an All-American and the Big West Conference Defensive MVP.{{Cite news|url=http://www.gobulldogs.com/news/2009/11/16/Bulldogs_Welcome_Back_1989_Football_Team.aspx|title=Bulldogs Welcome Back 1989 Football Team|language=en|access-date=2017-01-18|archive-date=2017-01-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170119054210/http://www.gobulldogs.com/news/2009/11/16/Bulldogs_Welcome_Back_1989_Football_Team.aspx|url-status=live}}

Professional career

= Chicago Bears =

Cox was selected by the Chicago Bears in the second round (33rd overall) of the 1990 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=1990 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1990/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |archive-date=2019-04-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412043905/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1990/draft.htm |url-status=live }} His rookie year, 1990, was his best year in terms of sacks, with three.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/player/roncox/2500222/profile|title=Ron Cox|website=NFL.com|language=en|access-date=2017-01-18|archive-date=2017-01-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131190518/http://www.nfl.com/player/roncox/2500222/profile|url-status=live}} After a dip in productivity in 1991, Cox saw a career year in 1992, with 56 tackles, a sack, a fumble recovery, and three games started. Recording his first interception in 1995,{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CoxxRo20.htm|title=Ron Cox Stats {{!}} Pro-Football-Reference.com|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|language=en|access-date=2017-01-18|archive-date=2017-06-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170622140713/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CoxxRo20.htm|url-status=live}} Cox left in free agency to go to the Green Bay Packers. He returned to the team in 1997 but retired to spend time with his family.

= Green Bay Packers =

In the 1996 offseason, the Green Bay Packers signed Cox to a three-year contract worth $3.9 million.{{Cite web|date=1996-04-05|title=Bears Won't Match Packers' Offer to Ron Cox|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4340038.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119065949/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4340038.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2018-11-19|website=Highbeam.com}} He was pushed into the starting lineup for Super Bowl XXXI after an injury to George Koonce.{{Cite news|url=http://www0.nfl.packers.com/news/stories/2006/07/24/1/|title=Packers.com {{!}} News {{!}} Stories {{!}} July 24, 2006: Cox Would Like To Make Lambeau Field Return A Permanent One|access-date=2017-01-18|archive-date=2017-01-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131184530/http://www0.nfl.packers.com/news/stories/2006/07/24/1/|url-status=live}}

Coaching career

Cox serves as a defensive coach for Division III Lake Forest College. He has turned down offers to be on the coaching staff from Ron Rivera of the Carolina Panthers and Leslie Frazier of the Minnesota Vikings.{{Cite news|url=http://patch.com/illinois/elmhurst/former-bears-linebacker-ron-cox-visits-football-camp-1848775085|title=Former Bears Linebacker Ron Cox Visits Football Camp at Elmhurst College|date=2011-07-20|newspaper=Elmhurst, IL Patch|language=en-US|access-date=2017-01-18|archive-date=2017-01-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131184330/http://patch.com/illinois/elmhurst/former-bears-linebacker-ron-cox-visits-football-camp-1848775085|url-status=live}}

Personal life

Cox graduated with a degree in electrical engineering. After retiring, he worked in the building industry. He and his wife Michelle have three kids, Kelsey, Caitlin, and Ron Jr., and they live in Lake Forest, Illinois.

References