Drew Pearson (American football) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Drew Pearson

Pearson in 2012
No. 88
Position:	Wide receiver
Personal information
Born:	(1951-01-12) January 12, 1951 (age 74) South River, New Jersey, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	184 lb (83 kg)
Career information
High school:	South River
College:	Tulsa
Undrafted:	1973
Career history
As player:
Dallas Cowboys (1973–1983)
As coach:
Dallas Cowboys (1985) Wide receivers coach Dallas Texans (1991) Head coach
As executive:
NY/NJ Hitmen (2001) VP & General Manager Allen Wranglers (2011–2012) General Manager
Career highlights and awards
Super Bowl champion (XII) 3× First-team All-Pro (1974, 1976, 1977) 3× Pro Bowl (1974, 1976, 1977) NFL receiving yards leader (1977) NFL 1970s All-Decade Team Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor
Career NFL statistics
Receptions: 489 Receiving yards: 7,822 Receiving touchdowns: 48
Player stats at PFR
Pro Football Hall of Fame

Drew Pearson (born January 12, 1951) is a famous American former football player. He was an amazing wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the pros, he played college football for the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. In 2021, he was chosen to be part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which is a huge honor for football players.

Early Life and College

Drew Pearson grew up in South River, New Jersey. He started his football journey at South River High School. At first, he played wide receiver, catching passes from future NFL star Joe Theismann. Later, Drew became the starting quarterback himself. He was also a talented athlete in baseball and basketball, earning "letters" (awards for playing well) in all three sports before graduating in 1969.

After high school, Drew received a football scholarship to the University of Tulsa. In 1970, he was a backup quarterback. The next year, in 1971, he switched to playing wide receiver. He quickly became one of the team's best receivers, catching 22 passes for 429 yards. He also led his team with 3 receiving touchdowns.

By his senior year in 1972, Drew was the top receiver for Tulsa. He caught 33 passes for 690 yards and 5 touchdowns. He finished his college career with impressive stats: 55 catches for 1,119 yards and 8 touchdowns. His average of 20.3 yards per catch showed how good he was at making big plays. In 1985, Drew was honored by being added to the Tulsa Athletics Hall of Fame.

Playing for the Pros

Drew Pearson's name as a member of the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor at AT&T Stadium.

In 1973, Drew Pearson joined the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent. This means he wasn't picked in the NFL draft, but the Cowboys still wanted him! He made the team because he was great at special teams (plays like kickoffs and punts). As a rookie, he became a starter after other players got injured. He played in 14 games, catching 22 passes for 388 yards and 2 touchdowns.

In 1974, Drew became the main starting wide receiver for the Cowboys. He led the team with 62 catches and 1,087 receiving yards. He continued to be the team's top receiver until 1978. In 1979, Drew, along with Tony Hill and Tony Dorsett, made history. The Cowboys became the first NFL team to have two wide receivers and a running back all gain over 1,000 yards in the same season!

Drew broke a club record in 1980 for most catches. He was also nominated for the NFL Man of the Year award. In a big playoff game in 1981, Drew almost helped the Cowboys win against the San Francisco 49ers. He caught a long pass that could have been a game-winning touchdown, but a great tackle stopped him just short.

In 1982, Drew made a key block that helped Tony Dorsett score an NFL record 99-yard touchdown run. By 1983, Drew had become the Cowboys' all-time leader in receiving yards. Sadly, in 1984, Drew was in a serious car accident. He suffered a severe liver injury that unfortunately ended his amazing football career.

Amazing Achievements

Drew Pearson helped the Cowboys reach three Super Bowls and win Super Bowl XII in 1978. He even scored a touchdown in Super Bowl X. Fans called Drew "Mr. Clutch" because he made so many important catches in game-winning moments.

One of his most famous plays was the "Hail Mary" reception from Roger Staubach in a 1975 playoff game against the Vikings. He also caught game-winning touchdowns in playoff games against the Los Angeles Rams (1973) and in a Thanksgiving game against the Washington Redskins (1974). These plays are considered some of the greatest in NFL history.

Drew became one of the NFL's best wide receivers. He finished his career with 489 catches and 7,822 receiving yards. He also scored 50 touchdowns. He was named one of the Top 20 Pro Football All-Time wide receivers and was part of the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team.

Drew was named All-Pro three times (1974, 1976–77) and was a Pro Bowler in 1974, 1976, and 1977. He led the National Football Conference (NFC) in catches in 1976. He was also a team captain for the Cowboys several times.

In 2011, the Cowboys honored Drew by adding him to the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor. Finally, in 2021, Drew Pearson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, a well-deserved recognition for his incredible career.

Drew Pearson's Stats

Regular season

Playoffs

After Football

Even after his playing career, Drew Pearson stayed involved with football. In 2017, he was chosen to announce a pick at the 2017 NFL draft in Philadelphia. He famously announced the Cowboys' pick, Chidobe Awuzie, to a crowd of booing fans from the rival Eagles team!

Personal Life

Drew Pearson is married to Marsha. Her father is Marques Haynes, a famous star from the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team.