Mel Renfro facts for kids
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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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Mel 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, he's even in the Pro Football Hall of Fame!
Contents
Early Life and High School Sports
Melvin Lacy Renfro was born in Houston, Texas. His family later moved to Portland, Oregon. There, he went to Jefferson High School. He was a star athlete in both football and track and field.
Football Success in High School
As a sophomore and junior, Mel helped his football team win 23 games in a row. This included two state championships in 1957 and 1958. The 1958 team is remembered as one of the best high school teams in Oregon history. Mel played halfback on this amazing team. His brother, Raye Renfro, was also a great player.
In his senior year, Mel played quarterback and was an all-state running back. His team tried for a third straight championship but lost a close game.
Track and Field Achievements
Mel was also incredible at track and field. In 1959, he helped Jefferson High win the team title. He won three state titles himself: the 180-yard low hurdles, the 120-yard high hurdles (breaking the state record), and the broad jump.
In 1960, he broke two more state records in hurdles. He also set a state record in the broad jump with a leap of 24.1 feet. Mel 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 the University of Oregon
In 1960, Mel Renfro went to the University of Oregon in Eugene. He continued to be a star in both track and football for the Ducks. In football, he was an All-American halfback and defensive back. He was recognized as an All-Coast player three times.
Mel is one of only two players in Oregon history to be a two-time All-American in football. He is also the second athlete to be an All-American in two different sports at the university. In 1992, he was inducted into the University of Oregon Athletic Hall of Fame.
Football Highlights in College
From his second year, Mel was known as one of the best running backs in college football. He could run, catch, block, and play special teams. In 1963, he even became the team's backup quarterback.
One of his most famous college games was against Rice in 1962. Mel played incredibly well on both offense and defense, helping the Ducks win 31–12. This game was special because Mel's family was allowed to sit in a special section of the stadium, which was usually only for white people at that time. When Mel left the game, the crowd gave him a huge cheer. A newspaper headline the next day said, "Renfro Runs Rice Ragged."
Mel led Oregon in rushing for three seasons (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, at 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, Mel Renfro was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Many people consider him the best running back in the history of the University of Oregon.
Track and Field Excellence
From 1960 to 1965, the Oregon men's track and field team was one of the best in the U.S. In 1962, Mel helped the 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, Mel was part of a relay team that set a world record in the 440-yard relay. He was named to the All-American track and field team for his skills in the high hurdles and the broad jump.
Professional Career with the Dallas Cowboys
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The Dallas Cowboys drafted Mel Renfro in the second round of the 1964 NFL draft. He was the 17th player picked overall.
Starting Strong as a Rookie
Even though Mel was a great running back in college, Cowboys coach Tom Landry wanted to build a strong defense. So, he decided to start Mel at safety. As a rookie, Mel had an amazing season. He led the team with seven interceptions. He also led the NFL in both punt return and kickoff return yards. He even set a team record with 273 total return yards in one game! Because of his great play, he was invited to the Pro Bowl.
In his second year, 1965, Mel averaged 30 yards per kickoff return. This is still a Dallas Cowboys team record!
Switching Positions and All-Pro Honors
In 1966, the Cowboys tried moving Mel 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 named to the All-Pro team again.
In his fifth season, Mel was switched to cornerback. He was very fast (he could run 40 yards in 4.65 seconds). This made him a tough player for wide receivers to get past. In 1969, he led the NFL with 10 interceptions. Mel was chosen for the Pro Bowl in each of his first ten seasons in the league! He was also named All-Pro five times. In 1971, he was even named the offensive MVP of the 1971 Pro Bowl for scoring two touchdowns on punt returns.
Career Records and Super Bowl Wins
Over his 14 seasons, Mel 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.
In the 1970 NFC Championship Game, Mel made a key interception that helped the Cowboys win and go to Super Bowl V. They lost that game, but the Cowboys returned to the Super Bowl in 1972, 1976, and 1978. Mel's last NFL game was Super Bowl XII, where 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. He played 14 seasons with the team, which ties him for second place in franchise history.
In 1981, Mel 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 during his time, even with other amazing players like Olympic gold medalist Bob Hayes.
Life After Football
After his playing career, Mel Renfro coached football for a short time. In 1984, he 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.
Mel Renfro faced some challenges in the early 1980s. Today, he works as a motivational speaker, inspiring others. He has four children.
See also
In Spanish: Mel Renfro para niños
