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

Tony grew up in western Pennsylvania. He played college football for the Pittsburgh Panthers. In 1976, he helped his team win the national championship. That same year, he won the Heisman Trophy, a big award for college players. The Dallas Cowboys chose him as the second player overall in the 1977 NFL draft. Tony was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in his first year. He played for the Cowboys for 11 seasons. He won a Super Bowl title in his rookie season. After playing one season with the Denver Broncos, he stopped playing because of injuries. Tony Dorsett is a member of both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame. This means he is one of the best players ever in football history.

Early Life and High School Football

Tony Dorsett grew up in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. 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 skills. In the first game of the season, he caught a pass and ran 75 yards for a touchdown. This helped him become the starting running back.

That year, Tony was chosen for the All-State team. He ran for 1,034 yards and scored 19 touchdowns. His team had a great season, winning 9 games and losing only 1. He also kept playing as a starting cornerback. In basketball, he helped his team reach the quarterfinals of the WPIAL tournament.

In 1972, Tony was again an All-State player. He set new records for his school. He ran for 247 yards in one game and 1,238 yards in a season. His career total was 2,272 rushing yards. His team finished with a 9–1 record. Tony was also a key player on defense as a starting linebacker.

Even with his amazing talent, Tony's team could not reach the WPIAL Class AA playoffs. Back then, teams had to be undefeated to qualify. In 1971, their only loss happened when Tony got a concussion and played very little. In 1972, their only loss was on a muddy field.

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

College Football Career

In 1973, the NCAA allowed freshmen to play varsity football. Tony Dorsett joined the University of Pittsburgh team. He became the first freshman in 29 years to be named an All-American player. An All-American is one of the best college players in the country.

Tony finished second in the nation with 1,586 rushing yards in 11 games. He helped the Pittsburgh Panthers have their first winning season in 10 years. His 1,586 yards were the most ever by a freshman at that time. The school's athletic department suggested he use the name "Tony" instead of "Anthony." This was because "TD" could stand for "touchdown," which was good for marketing.

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

By his sophomore season, Tony became Pitt's all-time leader in career rushing yards. He broke the record of 1,957 yards set by Marshall Goldberg in 1937.

In his junior year, Tony ran for 303 yards against Notre Dame, breaking his own school record for a single game. As a senior in 1976, he had another great game against Notre Dame, gaining 290 yards.

In 1976, Tony led his team to a national title. He also won many awards, including the Heisman Trophy, the Maxwell Award, and the Walter Camp Award. He led the nation in rushing with 2,150 yards. He was a first-team All-American three times (1973, 1975, 1976). Tony 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 number retired. He ran 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 1994, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Professional Football Career

Joining the Dallas Cowboys

Before the 1977 NFL draft, some scouts worried that Tony Dorsett was too small for professional football. But the Dallas Cowboys chose him as the second player overall. They traded several other draft picks to get him. Tony had told another team, the Seattle Seahawks, that he would not play for them. Tony signed a five-year contract worth $1.1 million, which was the first time a Cowboys player signed a contract over $1 million.

At first, Tony and his coach, Tom Landry, had different ideas about how he should run. Coach Landry liked very specific plays. But Tony was a different kind of runner. He had amazing vision and instincts. Eventually, Coach Landry let Tony choose his own running path. The offensive line would just block their defenders.

In 1977, his rookie year, Tony made a huge impact. He rushed for 1,007 yards and scored 12 touchdowns. He was named the NFL Rookie of the Year. He set a new Cowboys rookie record for rushing yards. He was the only Cowboy to rush for over 1,000 yards in his first season for 39 years.

Tony became a starter in his 10th game. He was the first player ever to win a college national 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 ran for 1,325 yards and 9 touchdowns. The Cowboys reached the Super Bowl again, but lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In 1980, Tony had one of his most famous runs. He was near the goal line against the St. Louis Cardinals. Several defenders were coming at him. Tony quickly spun around 360 degrees and ran wide around the left side. He avoided five defenders and scored a touchdown without anyone touching him.

His best season was in 1981, when he ran for 1,646 yards. This broke the Cowboys' team record.

In 1982, a player strike shortened the season. Tony's streak of five straight years with over 1,000 rushing yards was broken. He still gained 745 yards 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. Only one other player has ever tied this record.

In 1986, the Cowboys signed another great running back, Herschel Walker. Walker played fullback to share the backfield with Tony. This was only the second time in NFL history that two Heisman Trophy winners played together in the same backfield. This move caused some tension because it meant less playing time for Tony. Even with ankle and knee injuries, Tony still led the Cowboys in rushing for the 10th year in a row.

In 1987, Tony played in 12 games and rushed for 456 yards. He was not played in two games even though he was healthy. This made him ask to be traded to another team. 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.

Playing for the Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos wanted Tony Dorsett to improve their running game. He joined his former Cowboys coach, Dan Reeves, who was now with the Broncos. Even at 34 years old, Tony was still very fast. He was the active career leader in rushing yards after Walter Payton retired. Tony played in 16 games and led the team with 703 rushing yards. He also scored five rushing touchdowns.

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

Tony Dorsett's Legacy

Tony Dorsett Drive near Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Tony Dorsett rushed for 12,739 yards and 77 touchdowns in his 12-year career. He also caught 13 touchdown passes. On January 3, 1983, he made NFL history with a 99-yard touchdown run against the Minnesota Vikings. This is the longest run from scrimmage in NFL history, and only one other player has ever tied it. What's even more amazing is that the Cowboys only had 10 players on the field for that play!

Tony was chosen for the Pro Bowl 4 times (1978, 1981–1983). He rushed for over 1,000 yards in 8 of his 12 NFL seasons. In the strike-shortened 1982 season, he led the NFC conference in rushing yards. He was a First-team All-Pro player in 1981 and a Second-team All-Pro in 1982 and 1983.

In 1994, Tony Dorsett was inducted into both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame. The same year, he was honored in the Texas Stadium Ring of Honor. In 1999, he was ranked number 53 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players. Tony 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 Hall of Fame.

The football stadium at Hopewell High School is named after Tony Dorsett. Also, a street near Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, where the University of Pittsburgh plays, is named after him.

NFL Career Statistics

Personal Life

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 later became a 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 Dorsett hosts a special golf event called the Tony Dorsett Celebrity Golf Classic. This event helps raise money for McGuire Memorial, a charity that supports people with disabilities. It has raised almost $5 million.

Tony also works to help other former athletes. He helps them learn about sleep apnea, a condition that affects breathing during sleep. He has helped over 150 former players get treatment for sleep apnea.

Health Concerns

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

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
• Living former players diagnosed with or reporting symptoms of chronic traumatic encephalopathy