Dexter Manley facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Dexter Manley

Manley in 2022
No. 72, 92
Position:	Defensive end
Personal information
Born:	(1959-02-02) February 2, 1959 (age 66) Houston, Texas, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:	253 lb (115 kg)
Career information
High school:	Yates (Houston)
College:	Oklahoma State
NFL Draft:	1981 / Round: 5 / Pick: 119
Career history
Washington Redskins (1981–1989) Phoenix Cardinals (1990) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1991) Ottawa Rough Riders (1992–1993) Shreveport Pirates (1994)
Career highlights and awards
2× Super Bowl champion (XVII, XXII) First-team All-Pro (1986) Second-team All-Pro (1987) Pro Bowl (1986) Washington Commanders 90 Greatest Washington Commanders Ring of Fame
Career NFL statistics
Sacks: 97.5 Interceptions: 2 Touchdowns: 1
Player stats at PFR

Dexter Keith Manley, born on February 2, 1959, is a former American football player. He was a powerful defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). Manley mostly played for the Washington Redskins. He also played for the Phoenix Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Later, he played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Ottawa Rough Riders. Dexter Manley played college football for the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The Redskins picked him in the 1981 NFL draft.

Dexter Manley's Football Journey

Playing in the NFL

The Washington Redskins picked Dexter Manley in the fifth round of the 1981 NFL draft. He was the 119th player chosen overall. Manley played for the Redskins for nine seasons. During his time with the team, he helped them win two Super Bowl championships. These were Super Bowl XVII and Super Bowl XXII.

In the 1986 NFL season, Manley had an amazing year. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl, which is a special game for the best players. That year, he set a Redskins record with 18.5 sacks. A sack happens when a defensive player tackles the opposing team's quarterback behind the line of scrimmage.

Manley officially recorded 97.5 sacks during his NFL career. If you include the six sacks he made in his rookie year (1981), his total goes up to 103.5. Sacks were not an official statistic in 1981. After his time in the NFL, Manley also played for the Phoenix Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Playing in the CFL

After his NFL career, Dexter Manley moved to Canada. He played two seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He joined the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1992 and played with them through 1993. He also played for the Shreveport Pirates in 1994.

Dexter Manley's Personal Life

During his time with the Washington Redskins, Dexter Manley had a cool nickname. People called him the "Secretary of Defense." This nickname showed how important he was to the team's defense. Today, he lives in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., with his family.

In June 2006, Manley had brain surgery. Doctors treated a colloid cyst, which is a type of growth. He first found out about this cyst in 1986. This was after he collapsed in a department store. Doctors expected him to recover well. However, they mentioned that memory loss can be a side effect of this kind of surgery.

In May 2020, it was announced that Manley had tested positive for COVID-19.

Dexter Manley has spoken openly about his experiences in college. In a 2011 article in The Atlantic, he shared that he had difficulty reading and writing during his four years at Oklahoma State University. This was a surprising fact for many.