Danny Lockett facts for kids

Dannie Key "Danny" Lockett (born July 11, 1964) is a former American football player. He was a linebacker who played for several teams. These included the Detroit Lions in the National Football League (NFL). He also played for the London Monarchs in the World League of American Football (WLAF). Later, he joined teams in the Arena Football League (AFL).

Early Life and College Football

Dannie Key Lockett was born on July 11, 1964. His hometown was Fort Valley, Georgia. He went to Peach County High School there.

After high school, Danny played college football. In 1983, he played at the College of the Sequoias. From 1984 to 1986, he played for the Arizona Wildcats. This team is part of the University of Arizona. He was a key player in 1985 and 1986. In his senior year (1986), he was named second-team All-Pac-10. This was a big honor for college players in his conference.

Professional Football Career

Danny Lockett had a long career playing professional football. He played in the NFL, WLAF, and AFL.

Playing in the NFL

The Detroit Lions picked Danny in the 1987 NFL draft. He was the 148th player chosen overall. He officially joined the team on July 25, 1987. During the 1987 season, he played in 13 games. He made one sack and recovered one fumble. He missed a few games that year because of a player strike. In 1988, he played in all 16 games. He had another sack and fumble recovery. The Lions released him in 1989.

On March 20, 1990, Danny signed with the San Francisco 49ers. However, he was released a few months later. He also briefly signed with the New York Jets in 1991. While with the Jets, he was involved in a car accident. Luckily, he wasn't seriously hurt. He was released by the Jets later that year.

Success in the World League of American Football

Danny found great success in the World League of American Football (WLAF). This was a league that helped players develop their skills. He played for the London Monarchs in 1991. He started all ten games that season. He had 65 tackles and 14 sacks. He also forced three fumbles and recovered three.

The Monarchs had an amazing season, winning 9 out of 10 games. They won the first-ever World Bowl in 1991. They beat the Barcelona Dragons 21–0. Danny was a star player that year. He was named first-team All-WLAF. He also shared the award for WLAF Co-Defensive MVP.

He returned to the Monarchs in 1992. He continued to play well, recording 14 sacks and one interception. For the second year in a row, he was named first-team All-WLAF.

Playing in the Arena Football League

After the WLAF, Danny Lockett moved to the Arena Football League (AFL). The AFL played indoors on a smaller field. Players often played both offense and defense, which was called "ironman rules."

In 1993, Danny played for the Detroit Drive. He played in 11 games. He had 39 solo tackles and eight sacks. He also caught one interception and returned it for a touchdown. He was named first-team All-Arena that year. The Drive had a great season, winning 11 games. They made it to ArenaBowl VII but lost.

The Detroit Drive became the Massachusetts Marauders in 1994. Danny played in nine games that season. He earned first-team All-Arena honors again.

He then played for several other AFL teams:

• In 1995, he played seven games for the Orlando Predators.
• In 1996, he started with the Connecticut Coyotes. He then played for the Texas Terror.
• In 1997, he played six games for the Milwaukee Mustangs.

Danny Lockett had a long and varied professional football career. He was known for his strong defensive play in multiple leagues.