Richard Dent facts for kids
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Dent in 2025
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| No. 95, 96 | |||||||||||||||||
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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 was born on December 13, 1960. He is a famous American football player who used to play as a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). He is best known for his time with the Chicago Bears. Richard Dent was named the most valuable player (MVP) of Super Bowl XX. He was also chosen to be part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.
Contents
Richard Dent's Football Journey
Playing for the Chicago Bears
Richard Dent played football for four years at Tennessee State University. After graduating in 1983, the Chicago Bears picked him in the NFL draft. He was chosen in the eighth round, as the 203rd player overall.
Dent was 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighed 265 pounds. He was very good at rushing the passer, which means he was great at getting to the opposing team's quarterback. He used his speed to get past the players trying to block him. He was a key part of the Bears' strong defense in the 1980s, which was known for being legendary.
In 1984 and 1985, Dent made 34.5 sacks. A sack is 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 Victory
The Chicago Bears had an amazing season in 1985. They went on to win Super Bowl XX by a score of 46–10 against the New England Patriots. Richard Dent was named the MVP of that game because of his excellent performance. During the Super Bowl, he had 1.5 sacks, caused two fumbles (when a player drops the ball), and blocked a pass.
Dent was also part of the "Shuffling Crew" in 1985. They made a popular music video called the "Super Bowl Shuffle".
After His Time in Chicago
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 and won another Super Bowl ring with them. However, he was injured for most of that year. Injuries continued to affect him when he returned to the Chicago Bears in 1995.
He then played for the Indianapolis Colts in 1996 and the Philadelphia Eagles in 1997. For these teams, he was often used as a "designated pass rusher," meaning his main job was to get to the quarterback.
Dent retired from football after the 1997 season. During his career, he had 137.5 sacks and made 8 interceptions. He returned these interceptions for a total of 89 yards and scored one touchdown. He also recovered 13 fumbles, returning them for 56 yards and another touchdown. When he retired, his 137.5 sacks ranked him third in NFL history.
Life After Football
In 2010, during Super Bowl XLIV, Richard Dent joined other players from the 1985 Chicago Bears team. They brought back the "Super Bowl Shuffle" for a commercial.
Richard Dent was nominated many times for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was among the top finalists for several years. Finally, on February 5, 2011, he was officially chosen to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
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 Family Life
Richard Dent lives in Chicago and 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 now plays at Miami University Ohio.
According to a 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.
