Tony Dorsett facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Tony Dorsett

Dorsett in 2009
No. 33
Position:	Running back
Personal information
Born:	(1954-04-07) April 7, 1954 (age 71) Rochester, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:	192 lb (87 kg)
Career information
High school:	Hopewell (Aliquippa, Pennsylvania)
College:	Pittsburgh (1973–1976)
NFL Draft:	1977 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2
Career history
Dallas Cowboys (1977) Denver Broncos (1988)
Career highlights and awards
Super Bowl champion (XII) NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (1977) PFWA All-Rookie Team (1977) First-team All-Pro (1981) 2× Second-team All-Pro (1982, 1983) 4× Pro Bowl (1978, 1981–1983) Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor National champion (1976) Heisman Trophy (1976) Maxwell Award (1976) SN Player of the Year (1976) Walter Camp Award (1976) Chic Harley Award (1976) Unanimous All-American (1976) 2× First-team All-American (1973, 1975) Second-team All-American (1974) 4× First-team All-East (1973−1976) Pittsburgh Panthers No. 33 retired NFL record 99-yard rushing touchdown (tied)
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards: 12,739 Rushing average: 4.3 Rushing touchdowns: 77 Receptions: 398 Receiving yards: 3,554 Receiving touchdowns: 13
Player stats at PFR
Pro Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame

Tony Dorsett, born on April 7, 1954, is a famous American football player. He was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). Tony played for the Dallas Cowboys and the Denver Broncos.

He grew up in western Pennsylvania. Tony played college football for the Pittsburgh Panthers. In his senior year, he led his team to a national championship in 1976. That same year, he won the Heisman Trophy, a top award for college football players.

The Dallas Cowboys chose Tony as the second overall pick in the 1977 NFL draft. He was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in his first season. Tony played for the Cowboys for 11 seasons. He won a Super Bowl title in his rookie year. After that, he played his final season with the Denver Broncos before retiring due to injuries. Tony Dorsett is a member of both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame. He was inducted into both in 1994.

Tony's Early Life and High School Football

Tony Dorsett grew up in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. His parents were Wes and Myrtle. He went to Hopewell High School. There, he played both football and basketball.

When Tony was a sophomore in high school in 1970, he played cornerback. His coaches thought he was too small to be a running back. But in 1971, Tony showed his talent. He ran for a 75-yard touchdown in the first game of the season. This helped him become the starting running back.

That year, Tony became an All-State player. He rushed for 1,034 yards and scored 19 touchdowns. His team, the Vikings, had a great 9–1 season. He also kept playing as a starting cornerback. In basketball, Tony helped his team reach the WPIAL quarterfinals.

In 1972, Tony was again an All-State selection. He set new records for rushing yards in a single game (247 yards) and a single season (1,238 yards). He also set a career rushing record with 2,272 yards. The Vikings had another 9–1 season. Tony was also a key player on defense as a starting linebacker.

Tony's high school never made it to the WPIAL Class AA playoffs. Back then, teams needed to be undefeated to qualify. His team's only loss in 1971 happened when Tony got a concussion. In 1972, their only loss was on a muddy field.

After his senior year, Tony played in the Big 33 Football Classic. This is where his future college coach, Johnny Majors, first saw him play. Hopewell High School later retired Tony's number 33 jersey. In 2001, their stadium was renamed Tony Dorsett Stadium.

College Football Career

In 1972, the NCAA allowed freshmen to play varsity football. In 1973, Tony Dorsett became the first freshman in 29 years to be named an All-American. He finished second in the nation for rushing yards with 1,586 yards in 11 games. He helped the Pittsburgh Panthers have their first winning season in 10 years. His 1,586 rushing yards was a new record for a freshman.

During his freshman year at Pitt, Tony's son, Anthony Dorsett, was born. Tony decided that continuing his football career was the best way to support his family. This decision proved to be successful.

By his sophomore season, Tony became Pitt's all-time leader in career rushing yards. He broke the old record of 1,957 yards. In his junior year, he rushed for 303 yards against Notre Dame, setting a new school record for a single game. As a senior in 1976, he had another amazing game against Notre Dame, rushing for 290 yards.

In 1976, Tony led his school to a national title. He won many awards that year, including the Heisman Trophy, the Maxwell Award, and the Walter Camp Award. He led the nation in rushing with 2,150 yards. Tony was a three-time first-team All-American. He finished his college career with 6,082 total rushing yards, which was an NCAA record at the time. This record stood until 1998.

Tony was the first Pitt player to have his jersey retired. He rushed for over 1,000 yards in all four of his college seasons. Many people consider him one of the greatest running backs in college football history. In 2007, ESPN ranked him #7 on their list of the Top 25 Players in College Football History. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1994.

Professional Football Career

Playing for the Dallas Cowboys

Before the 1977 NFL draft, some scouts worried about Tony's size. They wondered if he could handle the tough professional level. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had the first pick, but the Dallas Cowboys chose Tony with the second overall pick. Tony had told the Seattle Seahawks he would not play for them, which is why the Cowboys got the pick. Tony signed a five-year contract worth over $1 million, a first for the Cowboys.

At first, Tony and his coach, Tom Landry, had different ideas about how he should run. Coach Landry liked very precise plays. But Tony was a different kind of running back. He had amazing vision and instincts. So, Coach Landry eventually let Tony choose his own running lanes.

In 1977, his rookie year, Tony made an immediate impact. He rushed for 1,007 yards and scored 12 touchdowns. He even had a game with 206 rushing yards against the Philadelphia Eagles. He earned the Rookie of the Year award. Tony set a new Cowboys rookie rushing record. He was also the only Cowboy to rush for over 1,000 yards in his rookie season for 39 years.

Tony became a starter in his 10th game. He was the first player to win a college football championship and then win the Super Bowl the next year. The Cowboys beat the Denver Broncos 27–10 in Super Bowl XII. In his second season, Tony rushed for 1,325 yards and 9 touchdowns. The Cowboys reached the Super Bowl again, but lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XIII.

In 1981, Tony had his most productive season. He rushed for 1,646 yards, breaking the Cowboys' franchise record.

In 1982, a strike shortened the season. Tony's streak of five straight years with over 1,000 rushing yards was interrupted. He still gained 745 yards and five touchdowns in only 9 games. In the last game of that season, he set a record that can only be tied. He had a 99-yard touchdown run against the Minnesota Vikings. Derrick Henry tied this record in 2018.

In 1986, the Cowboys signed Herschel Walker. Walker was moved to fullback to share duties with Tony. This created some tension because it would limit Tony's playing time. Even with ankle and knee injuries, Tony still led the Cowboys in rushing for the 10th season in a row with 748 yards.

In 1987, Tony played in 12 games and rushed for 456 yards. He asked for a trade because he was not playing in some games, even when healthy. On June 2, 1988, Tony was traded to the Denver Broncos. He left the Cowboys as their all-time leading rusher with 12,036 yards.

Time with the Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos wanted Tony to improve their running game. He joined his former Cowboys coach, Dan Reeves. Even at 34 years old, Tony was still very fast. He played in 16 games and led the team with 703 rushing yards and five touchdowns. On November 27, 1988, Tony threw the only touchdown pass of his career. It was a 7-yard pass to Sammy Winder.

On September 26, 1988, Tony moved into second place on the all-time NFL rushing list. He finished his career with 12,739 yards, second only to Walter Payton. He retired after tearing ligaments in his left knee during training camp the next season.

Tony Dorsett's Amazing Legacy

Tony Dorsett Drive near Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh's North Shore neighborhood

Tony Dorsett rushed for 12,739 yards and 77 touchdowns in his 12-year career. He also had 13 receiving touchdowns. On January 3, 1983, Tony made NFL history. During a game against the Minnesota Vikings, he broke a 99-yard touchdown run. This is the longest run from scrimmage in NFL history, a record tied by Derrick Henry in 2018. The Cowboys only had 10 players on the field for that play!

Tony made the Pro Bowl 4 times (1978, 1981–1983). He rushed for over 1,000 yards in 8 of his first 9 seasons. In the strike-shortened 1982 season, he led the NFC in rushing with 745 yards. He was a First-team All-Pro in 1981 and a Second-team All-Pro in 1982 and 1983.

Tony Dorsett was elected to both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1994. He was also honored in the Texas Stadium Ring of Honor that same year. In 1999, The Sporting News ranked him number 53 on their list of the 100 Greatest Football Players. He is one of only two players in history to win the Heisman Trophy, win the Super Bowl, win the College National Championship, and be in both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame. The other player is Marcus Allen.

The football stadium at Hopewell High School is named after Tony Dorsett. There is also a street named Tony Dorsett Drive near Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.

NFL Career Statistics

Tony's Family and Community Work

Dorsett signing autographs in Houston in January 2014

Tony Dorsett has four children: Anthony, Jazmyn, Madison, and Mia. His son, Anthony, also played football at the University of Pittsburgh. He then played defensive back in the NFL from 1996 to 2003. Anthony played in two Super Bowls. Tony is also the uncle of NFL Hall of Fame cornerback Ty Law. Ty Law won three Super Bowls with the New England Patriots.

Tony hosts the Tony Dorsett Celebrity Golf Classic. This event helps raise money for McGuire Memorial, a special organization. It has raised almost $5 million to support their work.

Tony also helps improve the health of athletes. He works to spread awareness about sleep apnea. He has teamed up with David Gergen and the Pro Player Health Alliance. They hold free events to educate people. Tony has helped over 150 former players get treatment for sleep apnea.

Health Challenges

In November 2013, Tony Dorsett shared that he has signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). This is a brain disease found in many former football players. Tony mentioned that he experiences memory loss and unexplained anger.

See also

In Spanish: Tony Dorsett para niños

• List of NCAA Division I FBS players with at least 50 career rushing touchdowns
• List of NCAA major college football yearly rushing leaders
• List of NCAA major college football yearly scoring leaders