Dave Duerson facts for kids
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| Position: | Safety | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | November 28, 1960 Muncie, Indiana, U.S. |
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| Died: | February 17, 2011 (aged 50) Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 207 lb (94 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Muncie Northside | ||||||||
| College: | Notre Dame | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1983 / Round: 3 / Pick: 64 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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David Russell Duerson (November 28, 1960 – February 17, 2011) was an American professional football player. He played as a safety in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons. He is best known for his time with the Chicago Bears.
While playing for the Bears, he was chosen for four Pro Bowls in a row from 1985 to 1988. He was also a key part of the 1985 defense that won the team's first Super Bowl in Super Bowl XX. David Duerson also played for the New York Giants and Phoenix Cardinals. He won another Super Bowl, Super Bowl XXV, with the Giants.
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Early Life and High School Football
David Duerson was born and grew up in Muncie, Indiana. He was a talented athlete at Northside High School. There, he played football, basketball, and baseball. In 1979, he received the Indiana Mr. Football award, a big honor for high school players.
College Football Career at Notre Dame
Duerson played college football at the University of Notre Dame. He played for the Fighting Irish from 1979 to 1982. He was a great student and graduated with honors in economics.
He started every game for all four years at Notre Dame. He was recognized as an All-American player in both 1981 and 1982. In his senior year (1982), Duerson was a captain and the team's Most Valuable Player (MVP). That year, he caught seven passes from opponents (interceptions) and ran them back for 104 yards.
By the end of his college career, he had 12 interceptions, which he returned for a total of 256 yards and one touchdown. He also returned 103 punts for 869 yards. In 1990, he won the Edward "Moose" Krause Distinguished Service Award. He also served on the University of Notre Dame Board of Trustees from 2001 to 2005.
Professional Football Highlights
The Chicago Bears picked David Duerson in the third round of the 1983 NFL Draft. He quickly became a star player. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl four times in a row, from 1985 to 1988.
He won two Super Bowl championships during his career. The first was with the 1985 Bears in Super Bowl XX. The second was with the 1990 Giants in Super Bowl XXV.
During the 1986 season, Duerson set an NFL record. He had seven sacks as a defensive back. This record stood for 19 years! He also intercepted six passes that season. At the end of 1986, he was named a first-team All-Pro player by several sports news groups. In 1987, Duerson received the NFL Man of the Year Award. This award honors players for their great work on the field and in their communities.
In his 11 seasons in the NFL, Duerson made 20 interceptions. He returned these for 226 yards. He also had 16 quarterback sacks. He recovered five fumbles, running one back for a touchdown.
Life After Football
After his football career, David Duerson became involved in business. He owned three McDonald's restaurants for a short time. Later, he bought a majority share in a company called Fair Oaks Farms. He sold his part of that company in 2002. He then started his own company, Duerson Foods.
