Mel Renfro facts for kids
Melvin Lacy Renfro, born on December 30, 1941, is a famous American football player. He played his whole 14-year career as a cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League (NFL). Mel Renfro is so good that he's even in the Pro Football Hall of Fame!
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Renfro from 1962 Oregana yearbook
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| No. 20 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Cornerback | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | December 30, 1941 Houston, Texas, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 190 lb (86 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Jefferson (Portland, Oregon) | ||||||||
| College: | Oregon | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1964 / Round: 2 / Pick: 17 | ||||||||
| AFL draft: | 1964 / Round: 10 / Pick: 79 | ||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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College Football Hall of Fame
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Contents
Early Life and High School Sports
Mel Renfro was born in Houston, Texas. His family later moved to Portland, Oregon. There, he went to Jefferson High School. He was amazing at both football and track and field.
Football Success in High School
In his second and third years of high school, his football team had an incredible record of 23 wins and no losses. They won two state championships in a row in 1957 and 1958! The 1958 team was one of the best in Oregon high school history. It included future Heisman Trophy winner Terry Baker. Mel Renfro played halfback and later quarterback. He was an all-state running back in his senior year. His team almost won a third championship but lost a close game 7-6.
Track and Field Achievements
Mel Renfro was also a star in track and field. In 1959, he helped his team win the state title. He won the 180-yard low hurdles, the 120-yard high hurdles (breaking a state record), and the long jump. In 1960, he broke two more state records in hurdles. He also set a state record in the long jump with a leap of 24.1 feet. He was named the "High School Athlete of the Year" by Track and Field News in 1960.
In 1983, Mel Renfro was honored by being put into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame.
College Career at Oregon
In 1960, Renfro went to the University of Oregon in Eugene. He continued to be a star in both track and field and football. He played as a halfback and defensive back. He was named an All-American twice in football. He is one of only two players in the university's history to be a two-time All-American. He was also the second person in the university's history to be an All-American in two different sports.
In 1992, Renfro was added to the University of Oregon Athletic Hall of Fame.
Football Highlights in College
From his second year, Mel Renfro was known as one of the best running backs in college football. He was good at running, catching, blocking, and playing special teams. In 1963, he even became the team's backup quarterback.
One of his most famous college games was against Rice in 1962. Renfro played amazingly on both offense and defense. He led the Ducks to a 31-12 win. The stadium where they played had been for white people only before this game. But university officials let Renfro's family sit in a special section. When Renfro left the game, the crowd gave him a huge cheer. A Houston newspaper even wrote, "Renfro Runs Rice Ragged."
Mel Renfro led Oregon in rushing for three years (1961-1963). He finished with 1,540 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns. He still holds the university record for the highest average yards per play (6.01 yards). He also caught 41 passes for 644 yards and five touchdowns. These were very impressive numbers for a running back back then.
In 1986, Renfro was put into the College Football Hall of Fame. Many people think he is the best running back in the history of the University of Oregon.
Track and Field Success in College
From 1960 to 1965, the Oregon men's track and field team was one of the best in the U.S. In 1962, Renfro helped his university win its first NCAA team championship. He finished second in the 120-yard high hurdles and third in the long jump.
That same year, Renfro was part of a team that set a world record in the 440-yard relay race. He was named to the All-American track and field team for his skills in the high hurdles and the long jump.
Professional Football Career
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The Dallas Cowboys picked Mel Renfro in the second round of the 1964 NFL draft. He was the 17th player chosen overall. Even though he was a great running back, the Cowboys' coach, Tom Landry, wanted to build a strong defense. So, he decided to have Renfro play safety.
Rookie Year and Early Success
As a rookie, Renfro had an amazing first season. He led the team with seven interceptions. He also led the entire NFL in yards gained from returning both punts and kickoffs. In one game against the Green Bay Packers, he gained a team-record 273 total return yards. His great first year earned him an invitation to the Pro Bowl. In his second year, his average of 30 yards per kickoff return is still a team record.
In 1966, the Cowboys tried moving Renfro back to halfback to help their offense. But he got injured in the first game. When he returned, he was moved back to defense and was again named to the All-Pro team.
Switch to Cornerback and Hall of Fame
In his fifth season, Renfro was switched to cornerback. He was very fast (he could run 40 yards in 4.65 seconds). This made him a huge challenge for wide receivers. In 1969, he led the NFL with 10 interceptions. Renfro was chosen for the Pro Bowl in each of his first ten seasons! He was also named All-Pro five times. In 1971, he was even named the offensive MVP of the Pro Bowl for returning two punts for touchdowns.
Over his 14 seasons, Renfro intercepted 52 passes. He returned them for 626 yards and three touchdowns. He also returned 109 punts for 842 yards and one touchdown. Plus, he returned 85 kickoffs for 2,246 yards and two touchdowns. He also recovered 13 fumbles.
In the 1970 NFC Championship Game, Renfro made a key interception. This led to the Cowboys' game-winning touchdown. It helped them reach Super Bowl V, where they lost a close game. The Cowboys returned to the Super Bowl in VI, X, and XII. Super Bowl XII was Renfro's last NFL game. The Cowboys won 27-10.
Mel Renfro is still the Cowboys' all-time leader in interceptions with 52. He also holds the team record for career kickoff-return average (26.4 yards). He played 14 seasons with the team, which ties him for second place in franchise history.
In 1981, Renfro joined the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor. In 1996, he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Many experts believed he was the best athlete on the Cowboys team, even with other famous athletes like Olympic gold medalist Bob Hayes as teammates.
Life After Playing Football
In 1984, Mel Renfro coached the defensive secondary for the Los Angeles Express in the United States Football League (USFL). In 1986, he was a defensive backs coach for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Today, Mel Renfro works as a motivational speaker. He has four children: Melvin Jr., Anthony, Cindy, and Jason. He was married to Patricia Renfro throughout his entire football career.
Images for kids
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Renfro from 1962 Oregana yearbook
See also
In Spanish: Mel Renfro para niños
