Don Perkins

For the running back born 1917, see Don Perkins (running back, born 1917).

Don Perkins
refer to caption
Perkins circa 1966
No. 43
Position:Fullback
Personal information
Born:(1938-03-04)March 4, 1938
Waterloo, Iowa, U.S.
Died:June 9, 2022(2022-06-09) (aged 84)
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:204 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school:Waterloo West (Waterloo, Iowa)
College:New Mexico
NFL draft:1960 / round: 9 / pick: 106
(By the Baltimore Colts)
AFL draft:1960 / round: 1
Pick: First Selections
(by the New York Titans)
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards:6,217
Rushing average:4.1
Rushing touchdowns:42
Receptions:146
Receiving yards:1,310
Receiving touchdowns:3
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Donald Anthony Perkins (March 4, 1938 – June 9, 2022) was an American professional football player who was a fullback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at the University of New Mexico.

Early life

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Born and raised in Waterloo, Iowa, Perkins earned eight letters for Waterloo West High School, four each in football and track (sprinter). He also played basketball. Perkins captained the track team by the time he was a junior.

In 1955, his football team went undefeated and Perkins made the first All-state team as a halfback, while playing both offense and defense. He was president of the student body during his senior year.

College career

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Perkins played college football at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, where he played halfback and defensive back as a two-way player.[1] He was a three-time All-Skyline selection and the Skyline Sophomore of the Year. In 1958, he led the nation in kickoff returns. In 1959, he received third-team All-American honors.[2]

The head coach at New Mexico was future Hall of Famer Marv Levy, who has stated in several occasions that Perkins was one of the greatest players he ever coached.[3] He also mentioned Perkins in his Hall of Fame induction speech in Canton, Ohio.[4]

Perkins set 12 records as a three-year halfback starter. The school retired his number (43) when he completed his career – a first in UNM history. He ranks 14th in the Lobos' career rushing list with 2,001 yards. He was inducted into the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame and the University of New Mexico Hall of Honor.

Professional career

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The Dallas Cowboys franchise was admitted to the league too late to participate in the 1960 NFL draft in November 1959, so they signed Perkins to a personal-services contract for a $1,500 bonus and a $10,000 salary.[5] This meant he would play for the Cowboys if and when they received an NFL franchise. Although he was selected in the ninth round of the NFL draft by the Baltimore Colts, the league honored the contract, but made the Cowboys compensate the Colts with a ninth-round draft pick (#116-Roy Walker) in the 1962 NFL draft.

Perkins sat out the entire 1960 season with a broken foot (fifth metatarsal) he suffered in training camp,[6] so he began playing with the Cowboys in 1961 as a rookie. He lacked long-distance speed, but made up for it with outstanding quickness and balance. He finished with 815 rushing yards (sixth among league leaders) and 4 touchdowns, earning NFL rookie of the year and Pro Bowl honors.[7]

Not only was Perkins considered a superb blocker, he also finished in the NFL's top 10 rushing in each of his eight seasons in the league. On September 24, 1961, he became the first running back in Cowboys' history to run for 100 yards in a game, when he rushed for 108 yards on 17 carries against the expansion Minnesota Vikings.

Perkins's best year was in 1962, when he rushed for 945 yards and seven touchdowns, becoming the first Cowboy to make the All-Pro team. He was coming off his two best all-around seasons when he decided to retire prior to the 1969 season.

Even though he played the fullback position at 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) and 204 pounds (93 kg), his ten career 100-yard games ranks fourth in club history, he led the Dallas Cowboys in rushing in six of his eight seasons, also led them in touchdowns in four of his eight seasons. He ranks fourth on the Cowboys' all-time rushing yards list (behind Emmitt Smith, Tony Dorsett, and Ezekiel Elliott), and fifth on the rushing touchdowns list, behind Smith, Dorsett, Marion Barber III, and Elliott. He was selected to six Pro Bowls and to one All-Pro team, while gaining a reputation in the NFL for his courage and resolve on some of worst teams in Dallas Cowboys history. In 1968, he helped end the Cowboys practice of segregating players when traveling to hotels.[8][9]

"Perkins was in the toughest times", Tom Landry once told NFL Films: "The guy was a remarkable runner, a great pass blocker and one of the best players in our history." Walt Garrison, who replaced him in the starting lineup, once said, "Don Perkins was the best fullback the Dallas Cowboys ever had".

Perkins retired at the end of 1968 having led all active players in rushing yards since the retirement of Jim Taylor, and was fifth in NFL history with 6,217.[10] He was inducted into the Ring of Honor at Texas Stadium alongside his quarterback Don Meredith in 1976. Only Bob Lilly was inducted ahead of them, in 1975.

In 2006, he was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.[11]

The Professional Football Researchers Association named Perkins to the PRFA Hall of Very Good Class of 2016.[12]

NFL career statistics

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Legend
Bold Career high
Year Team Games Rushing Receiving Fumbles
GP GS Att Yds Avg Y/G Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Fum FR
1961 DAL 14 14 200 815 4.1 58.2 47 4 32 298 9.3 38 1 5 4
1962 DAL 14 14 222 945 4.3 67.5 35 7 13 104 8.0 21 0 2 0
1963 DAL 11 10 149 614 4.1 55.8 19 7 14 84 6.0 19 0 – –
1964 DAL 13 13 174 768 4.4 59.1 59 6 15 155 10.3 37 0 4 2
1965 DAL 13 13 177 690 3.9 53.1 43 0 14 142 10.1 27 0 2 1
1966 DAL 14 14 186 726 3.9 51.9 24 8 23 231 10.0 39 0 1 1
1967 DAL 14 14 201 823 4.1 58.8 30 6 18 116 6.4 15 0 1 0
1968 DAL 14 14 191 836 4.4 59.7 28 4 17 180 10.6 24 2 3 0
Career 107 106 1,500 6,217 4.1 58.1 59 42 146 1,310 9.0 39 3 18 8

Personal life and death

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Perkins was a football analyst for CBS Sports, ABC Sports, and other television and radio networks. He was the director of the Work Incentive Program for the State of New Mexico Department of Human Services from 1972 to 1985. He served on both the executive board of US West and the Board of Trustees for University Hospital from 1990 to 1993. He was a member of the Northwest Mesa Branch of the NAACP.

A father of four children and grandfather of eleven, Perkins was active in local theater, public speaking, and broadcasting at the local and national levels. He retired in the city of Albuquerque.

Perkins died on June 9, 2022, aged 84.[13]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Larson, Lloyd (September 19, 1958). "All-America buildup campaign". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 1, part 3. Archived from the original on March 12, 2016. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  2. ^ "All-American teams". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Florida. Associated Press. December 4, 1959. p. 10.
  3. ^ Levy, Marv; Kelly, Jim (August 1, 2004). Marv Levy: Where Else Would You Rather Be?. Sports Publishing LLC. pp. 77–. ISBN 978-1-58261-797-8. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
  4. ^ "Marv Levy Enshrinement Speech". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  5. ^ "NFL Dallas signs second gridder". Pittsburgh Press. UPI. December 1, 1959. p. 46.
  6. ^ "Dallas loses rookie Perkins". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. September 2, 1960. p. 5, part 2. Archived from the original on March 12, 2016. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  7. ^ "Top 10: From Emmitt to Dak; Ranking Best Rookie Seasons in Cowboys History". Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  8. ^ "Perkins' objection helps end Cowboys' segregation". Evening News. Newburgh, New York. December 23, 1968. p. 10B.
  9. ^ "Living in Dallas not easy: Perkins". Spartanburg Herald. South Carolina. Associated Press. July 19, 1968. p. 15.
  10. ^ "'Overlooked' Don Perkins earns honor". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Florida. Associated Press. November 21, 1968. p. 29.
  11. ^ "Don Perkins Lobos bio". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  12. ^ "PRFA Hall of Very Good Class of 2016". Archived from the original on April 13, 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
  13. ^ Ring of Honor Member Don Perkins Passes Away
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