Richard Dent facts for kids
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Dent playing for the Chicago Bears, c. 1987
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| Position: | Defensive end | ||||||||||||||||
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| Born: | December 13, 1960 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 265 lb (120 kg) | ||||||||||||||||
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| High school: | J. C. Murphy (Atlanta, Georgia) |
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| College: | Tennessee State (1979–1982) | ||||||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1983 / Round: 8 / Pick: 203 | ||||||||||||||||
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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Richard Lamar Dent (born December 13, 1960) is a former American professional football player. He was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). Dent played most of his career for the Chicago Bears. He was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of Super Bowl XX. In 2011, he was chosen to join the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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Richard Dent's Football Journey
Starting Out in College
Richard Dent played college football for four years. He attended Tennessee State University from 1979 to 1982. After college, he was ready for the NFL.
Joining the Chicago Bears
In 1983, the Chicago Bears picked Richard Dent in the NFL draft. He was the 203rd player chosen that year. Dent was 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighed 265 pounds. He was known for being a great pass rusher. This means he was very good at getting to the opposing team's quarterback.
Dent was a key part of the Bears' strong defense in the 1980s. This defense was famous for being tough and aggressive. In 1984 and 1985, Dent made 34.5 sacks. A sack happens when a defensive player tackles the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. In 1984, he set a team record with 17.5 sacks in one season.
Super Bowl XX Champion
The 1985 season was very special for Richard Dent and the Bears. They had an amazing season and made it to Super Bowl XX. In this big game, the Bears played against the New England Patriots. The Bears won the game by a score of 46 to 10.
Richard Dent was named the Super Bowl MVP for his outstanding play. During the game, he had 1.5 sacks. He also forced two fumbles, which means he knocked the ball loose from an opponent. Plus, he blocked a pass. Dent was also part of the "Super Bowl Shuffle" video. This was a fun song and dance video made by the 1985 Bears team.
After His Time with the Bears
Richard Dent stayed with the Chicago Bears until the end of the 1993 season. After that, he played for a few other teams.
- In 1994, he joined the San Francisco 49ers. He won another Super Bowl ring with them. However, he was injured for most of that year.
- He returned to the Chicago Bears for the 1995 season.
- In 1996, he played for the Indianapolis Colts.
- In 1997, he played for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Dent retired from football after the 1997 season. He finished his career with 137.5 sacks. He also had 8 interceptions, which means he caught passes meant for the other team. He even scored one touchdown after an interception. He also recovered 13 fumbles and scored another touchdown from one of those.
Life After Football
After retiring, Richard Dent remained connected to football. In 2010, he joined other members of the 1985 Chicago Bears. They recreated the "Super Bowl Shuffle" for a TV commercial.
Dent was nominated many times for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This is a special place where the greatest football players are honored. After several years, he was finally chosen for the Hall of Fame. He was officially inducted on February 5, 2011.
Besides the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Dent has received other honors. He was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2008. In 2015, he was also inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame.
Richard Dent's Personal Life
Richard Dent lives in Chicago. He has four children named Mary, Sarah, R.J., and Shiloh. His son, R.J., also plays football. He played wide receiver in high school and later in college at Miami University Ohio.
According to DNA analysis, Richard Dent's family roots are mainly from the Mende people of Sierra Leone and the Balanta people of Guinea Bissau. He is also the godfather of another football player, Ahmaad Smith.
Images for kids
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Dent playing for the Chicago Bears, circa 1987
