Jerry Tubbs facts for kids

Gerald J. Tubbs (born January 23, 1935, died June 13, 2012) was a famous American football player. He played as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). Jerry Tubbs played for teams like the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys.

He was first chosen by the Chicago Cardinals in the 1957 NFL Draft. After he stopped playing, he became an assistant coach for the Cowboys. He coached them for 22 years. Before joining the NFL, he played college football at the University of Oklahoma.

Early Life and High School Football

Jerry Tubbs was a very smart student and a great athlete. He played center at Breckenridge High School in Texas. His high school football teams won two state championships. These wins happened in 1951 and 1952.

He played in three high school All-Star games. In 1952, he was chosen as an All-State player in Texas. His high school teams only lost three games during his whole career.

In 1971, Jerry Tubbs was honored. He was put into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame. Since 2008, his old high school starts its football season with a special game. It's called the "Jerry Tubbs Kickoff Classic."

College Football Career

Jerry Tubbs received a scholarship to play football at the University of Oklahoma. He played for three years on the main team. During this time, his team, the Sooners, won all 31 of their games.

In 1954, as a sophomore, he played fullback when another player was hurt. This was his first time playing in the backfield. He ran for 387 yards and scored two touchdowns.

In 1955, his coach, Bud Wilkinson, moved him to center. This became his main position. He also played linebacker on defense. In one game against the University of Texas, he made 27 tackles and caught 3 interceptions. His coach said it was "the single greatest game ever played by an Oklahoma defender."

In 1956, during his senior year, he was one of the top players in the country. He finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting. This is a very high honor for a lineman. He was chosen as an unanimous All-American center. He was also named Lineman of the Year by three different groups. Jerry Tubbs was also an Academic All-America player. He earned a degree in economics from Oklahoma.

During his college years, Oklahoma's team had amazing records. They went 10-0, 11-0, and 10-0. His 31 wins were part of a famous 47-game winning streak. The team also won two national championships in 1955 and 1956. In 1955, his team won the Orange Bowl game.

In 1996, Jerry Tubbs was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He was also honored in the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.

Professional Football Career

Jerry Tubbs had an interesting journey in the NFL.

Chicago Cardinals

The Chicago Cardinals chose Jerry Tubbs in the first round of the 1957 NFL Draft. He was the 10th player picked overall. He played outside linebacker for them, which was not his usual position. After a year and a half, he was traded to the San Francisco 49ers.

San Francisco 49ers

In 1959, the San Francisco 49ers moved him to middle linebacker. This was his best position, and he became a starter. After the 1959 season, Jerry Tubbs thought about retiring from football.

Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys picked Jerry Tubbs in the 1960 NFL Expansion Draft. This was a new team, and he ended up staying in Dallas for 29 years. He was a player, then a player-coach, and finally a full-time assistant coach. In his first year with the Cowboys, he became the first player to regularly start as a middle linebacker. He made 149 tackles that season.

Jerry Tubbs was a very important player for the early Cowboys teams. He was known for his speed, toughness, and endless energy. In 1962, he was one of the first Cowboys players chosen for the Pro Bowl. This is a special game for the best players in the league.

He became a player-coach in 1965. In 1966, he retired and started working outside of football. But Tom Landry, the Cowboys' coach, convinced him to come back. He played for three games in 1966 before a back injury stopped him.

In 1967, Coach Landry wanted Jerry Tubbs back again. He wanted him as a backup in case the main linebacker got hurt. Jerry came back as a player-coach. He was on the team roster and in uniform for the famous 1967 Ice Bowl championship game.

Life After Playing Football

After finally retiring as a player at the end of the 1967 season, Jerry Tubbs became the Cowboys' linebackers coach. He held this coaching job for 21 years. As a coach, he was part of five Super Bowl teams. He helped the Cowboys win two Super Bowls.

Jerry Tubbs passed away on June 13, 2012, at the age of 77.