Don Perkins facts for kids
Perkins circa 1966
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| No. 43 | |||||||||||
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| Position: | Fullback | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | March 4, 1938 Waterloo, Iowa, U.S. |
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| Died: | June 9, 2022 (aged 84) | ||||||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 204 lb (93 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Waterloo West (Waterloo, Iowa) | ||||||||||
| College: | New Mexico | ||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1960 / Round: 9 / Pick: 106 (By the Baltimore Colts) |
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| AFL draft: | 1960 / Round: 1 Pick: First Selections (by the New York Titans) |
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| Career history | |||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||
Donald Anthony Perkins (born March 4, 1938 – died June 9, 2022) was an amazing American football player. He played as a fullback for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the pros, he played college football at the University of New Mexico.
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Growing Up and High School Sports
Don Perkins was born and grew up in Waterloo, Iowa. He was a fantastic athlete in high school. At Waterloo West High School, he earned eight "letters." This means he was a top player in four sports: football, track, and basketball.
He was especially good at track, where he was a sprinter. By his junior year, he was the captain of the track team. In 1955, his football team had a perfect season, winning all their games. Don was chosen for the first All-state team as a halfback. He played both offense and defense, showing how versatile he was. During his senior year, he was even the president of the student body!
College Football Career
Don Perkins went on to play college football at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. He played as a halfback and a defensive back, meaning he played on both sides of the ball. He was so good that he was chosen for the All-Skyline team three times. He was also named the Skyline Sophomore of the Year.
In 1958, Don was the best in the country at kickoff returns. The next year, in 1959, he received special honors as a third-team All-American. His college coach, Marv Levy, who later became a famous coach in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, often said that Don was one of the best players he ever coached. He even mentioned Don in his Hall of Fame speech!
Don set 12 records during his three years as a starting halfback. The University of New Mexico honored him by retiring his jersey number (43). This was the first time the school had ever done that for a player. He is still one of the top rushers in the Lobos' history. Don was also inducted into the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame.
Professional Football with the Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys team was new to the NFL in 1960. They signed Don Perkins to a special contract before he was even officially drafted. This meant he would play for the Cowboys when they started their team. Even though the Baltimore Colts also drafted him, the NFL allowed Don to play for Dallas. The Cowboys had to give the Colts a draft pick as a trade.
Don missed the entire 1960 season because of a broken foot he got during training. So, he officially started playing for the Cowboys in 1961 as a rookie. He wasn't the fastest player, but he was incredibly quick and had amazing balance. In his first year, he rushed for 815 yards and scored 4 touchdowns. He was named the NFL Rookie of the Year and even went to the Pro Bowl.
Don Perkins was known for being a great blocker. He also finished in the NFL's top 10 for rushing yards in all eight of his seasons! On September 24, 1961, he became the first running back for the Cowboys to rush for over 100 yards in a single game. He gained 108 yards against the Minnesota Vikings.
His best year was in 1962, when he rushed for 945 yards and seven touchdowns. He was the first Cowboy player to be named to the All-Pro team. Don decided to retire before the 1969 season, even after two of his best years.
Even though he was 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighed 204 pounds, which is not huge for a fullback, he had ten games where he rushed for over 100 yards. This is the fourth-highest in Cowboys history. He led the Dallas Cowboys in rushing in six of his eight seasons. He also led the team in touchdowns in four of his eight seasons.
Don Perkins is still one of the top rushers in Cowboys history. He is fourth in all-time rushing yards and fifth in rushing touchdowns. He was chosen for six Pro Bowls and one All-Pro team. He was known for his courage and determination, even when the Cowboys were not yet a winning team. In 1968, he helped change the team's practice of separating players by race when they traveled.
Famous coach Tom Landry once said that Don Perkins was a "remarkable runner, a great pass blocker and one of the best players in our history." Walt Garrison, who took Don's place after he retired, said, "Don Perkins was the best fullback the Dallas Cowboys ever had."
When Don retired at the end of 1968, he had more rushing yards than any other active player. He was fifth in NFL history with 6,217 rushing yards. In 1976, he was inducted into the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor at Texas Stadium, along with his quarterback Don Meredith. Only Bob Lilly was inducted before them. In 2006, Don was also inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.
Life After Football
After his football career, Don Perkins worked as a football analyst for TV networks like CBS Sports and ABC Sports. He also worked for the State of New Mexico Department of Human Services for many years. He was a member of the NAACP, an important civil rights organization.
Don was a father of four children and a grandfather of eleven. He enjoyed being involved in local theater, giving speeches, and broadcasting. He lived in Albuquerque until he passed away on June 9, 2022, at the age of 84.
See also
- List of NCAA major college yearly punt and kickoff return leaders
