Chris Doleman facts for kids
Doleman in 2013
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| Position: | Defensive end | ||||||||||||||||
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| Born: | October 16, 1961 Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
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| Died: | January 28, 2020 (aged 58) Duluth, Georgia, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 289 lb (131 kg) | ||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||
| High school: | William Penn (York, Pennsylvania) |
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| College: | Pittsburgh (1981–1984) | ||||||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1985 / Round: 1 / Pick: 4 | ||||||||||||||||
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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Christopher John Doleman (born October 16, 1961 – died January 28, 2020) was an amazing American football player. He played as a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). Chris spent most of his career with the Minnesota Vikings. He also played for the Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers. Chris Doleman was chosen for the Pro Bowl eight times. He was also named a first-team All-Pro three times. He made an incredible 150.5 sacks during his career. In 2012, he was honored by being added to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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Chris Doleman's Early Life and College Years
Chris Doleman grew up in York, Pennsylvania. He went to William Penn Senior High School and finished in 1980. After high school, he spent a year at Valley Forge Military Academy.
Playing Football in College
Chris played college football at the University of Pittsburgh. He was a star player for the Pitt Panthers from 1981 to 1984. He played as a linebacker and defensive end. By the time he left Pitt, he had 25 sacks. This was one of the highest totals in the school's history.
Chris Doleman's NFL Career
The Minnesota Vikings picked Chris Doleman in the first round of the 1985 NFL Draft. He was the 4th player chosen overall. He started his NFL journey as an outside linebacker.
Switching Positions and Becoming a Star
In 1987, the Vikings changed their defense. This meant Chris moved to play as a defensive end. This change was great for him! In the 1989 season, he made 21 sacks. This was the most sacks by any player that year. It was also the fourth-highest number of sacks ever recorded in a single season at that time. His 21 sacks set a new record for the Vikings. This record stood until 2011.
Playing for Other Teams
After playing many years with the Vikings, Chris joined the Atlanta Falcons. He played there for two seasons. Then, he moved to the San Francisco 49ers for three seasons. In 1999, he returned to the Minnesota Vikings for his final year before retiring.
Awards and Honors
Chris Doleman was recognized as one of the best players in the NFL.
- He was named a first-team All-Pro in 1987, 1989, and 1992.
- He was also a second-team All-Pro in 1990 and 1993.
- In 2012, Chris Doleman was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This is one of the highest honors for a football player.
Chris Doleman's Personal Life
In 2018, Chris Doleman had brain surgery. He was later diagnosed with a serious illness called glioblastoma. Sadly, Chris passed away from this illness on January 28, 2020. He was 58 years old. Just five days after he passed, he was honored before the start of Super Bowl LIV.
