Jump to content

Don Perkins

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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

[edit]

Perkins was born on March 4, 1938, in Waterloo, Iowa, and was raised in the segregated part of Waterloo.[1][2][3] Perkins earned eight letters for Waterloo West High School, four each in football and track (sprinter). He also played basketball.[3] Perkins captained the track team[3] 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,[4][3] while playing both offense and defense. He was elected president of the student body during his senior year, extraordinary for a barely integrated school.[5][3]

College career

[edit]

Perkins played varsity college football at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque (1957-1959), where he played halfback and defensive back as a two-way player.[6][7] He was a two-time[7] or three-time[citation needed] All-Skyline selection and the Skyline Sophomore of the Year.[citation needed] In 1959, he led the nation in kickoff returns, with a 34.7 yards per return average.[7][8] In 1959, he also received third-team All-American honors.[9] He was named Associated Press (AP) and United Press International (UPI) back of the week for November 21, 1959, when he rushed for 126 yards, had a 64-yard touchdown reception, and scored three touchdowns against Air Force. NMU came from behind to win the game 28–27.[8][7]  

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.[10] He also mentioned Perkins in his Hall of Fame induction speech in Canton, Ohio.[11] When Perkins first came to Albuquerque and could not find a place to live because of racial segregation, Levy took Perkins into his home.[3]

As a sophomore, he set a school record when he rushed for 187 yards against Colorado State, which stood for 11 years. His 85-yard touchdown run that year against Arizona was second best in at least 65 seasons. Perkins led the team in rushing in 1957 (744 yards/6.6 yards per carry) and 1958 (621 yards/5.5 yards per carry). He led the team in receiving in 1957 and 1959, and was the first New Mexico player to have both a 100-yard rushing and receiving game in the same season.[8][12] He had eleven touchdowns his senior year.[12]

At the end of the 2021 season, he was one of only three Lobos to break 2,000 career rushing yards in a three-year career. His career total 3,466 all-purpose yards was a Lobo record for 13 years. Through 2021, he holds the career kickoff return average record of 30.7 yards.[8]  

Perkins set 12 records as a three-year halfback starter.[3] The school retired his number (43) when he completed his career[7] – a first in UNM history.[3] Through 2024, he ranks 17th in the Lobos' career rushing list with 2,001 yards,[13] which was a school record until the 1970s[8]; and 13th in combined rushing and receiving yards.[14] He was inducted into the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame in 1974,[15] and was in the inaugural class of the University of New Mexico Hall of Honor.[8] Perkins name is in the Lobo Football Ring of Honor inside University Stadium, and his picture is one of four outside the stadium.[8]

Professional career

[edit]

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.[16] 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.[17]

Perkins sat out the entire 1960 season with a broken foot (fifth metatarsal) he suffered in training camp,[18] 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,[1][19] earning NFL rookie of the year[citation needed] and Pro Bowl honors.[20] He was third in Associated Press (AP) and United Press International (UPI) voting for the NFL's 1961 rookie of the year (behind Mike Ditka and Fran Tarkenton).[21]

Not only was Perkins considered a superb blocker,[22][3] he also finished in the NFL's top 10 rushing in each of his eight seasons in the league.[citation needed] 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.[23]

Perkins's best year was in 1962, when he rushed for 945 yards and seven touchdowns,[1] becoming the first Cowboy, along with linebacker Jerry Tubbs, to make the All-Pro team.[24][25] He went from being on losing and mediocre teams, to playing in the NFL championship games against the Green Bay Packers in 1966 and 1967.[3] In the 1966 game, he rushed for 108 yards and one touchdown. In the 1967 game, known as the Ice Bowl, with wind chill temperatures as low as -48 degrees, he led all runners with 51 rushing yards.[26][27][28]

Even though he played the fullback position at 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) and 204 pounds (93 kg),[1] his ten career 100-yard games ranks fourth in club history.[citation needed] He led the Dallas Cowboys in rushing in seven of his eight seasons, including five consecutive seasons,[3] and also led or co-led them in rushing touchdowns in six of his eight seasons.[29][30][31][32][33][34] In 1966, Dan Reeves rushed for 757 yards to 726 yards for Perkins.[35] From 1964 through 1968, he never rushed for less than 690 yards, and in 1967 and 1968, he rushed for 823 yards and 836 yards respectively, with his highest career rushing average (4.4 yards per carry) coming in 1968.[1] He was coming off his two best all-around seasons when he decided to retire prior to the 1969 season.[36]

Perkins ranks fourth on the Cowboys' all-time rushing yards list (behind Emmitt Smith, Tony Dorsett, and Ezekiel Elliott),[37] and fifth on the rushing touchdowns list, behind Smith, Dorsett, Marion Barber III, and Elliott.[38] He was selected to six Pro Bowls, one first-team All-Pro team (1962), and was named second-team All-Pro as well (1967),[36][39][40] 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.[41][42]

"Perkins was in the toughest times", Cowboys head coach 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."[citation needed] Walt Garrison, who replaced him in the starting lineup, once said, "Don Perkins was the best fullback the Dallas Cowboys ever had".[36]

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.[43] He was inducted into the Cowboys Ring of Honor at Texas Stadium alongside his quarterback Don Meredith in 1976.[44] Only Bob Lilly was inducted ahead of them, in 1975.[45] He was one of four former players asked to speak at Tom Landry's funeral.[36]

In 2006, he was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.[46]

The Professional Football Researchers Association named Perkins to the PRFA Hall of Very Good Class of 2016.[47]

NFL career statistics

[edit]
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

[edit]

Perkins was a football analyst for CBS Sports, ABC Sports,[3] and other television and radio networks.[4] He was the director of the Work Incentive Program for the State of New Mexico Department of Human Services from 1972 to 1985.[8] He served on both the executive board of US West and the Board of Trustees for University Hospital from 1990 to 1993.[3] 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.[3]

Perkins died on June 9, 2022, aged 84.[48]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e "Don Perkins Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  2. ^ "Register Sports Hall of Fame Database - Don Perkins | DesMoinesRegister.com". data.desmoinesregister.com. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Spagnola, Mickey (June 10, 2022). "The Rare Treat Of Don Perkins". www.dallascowboys.com. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  4. ^ a b Turnbull, Buck. "Don Perkins, Register Sports Hall of Fame Database | DesMoinesRegister.com". data.desmoinesregister.com. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  5. ^ "The New Waterloo Football Team Officially Has A Name". K92.3. June 28, 2023. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ a b c d e "DON PERKINS". University of New Mexico Lobos athletics. July 8, 2020. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h Mercogliano, Frank (June 10, 2022). "Lobo Legend Don Perkins Passes Away at 84". University of New Mexico Lobos athletics. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  9. ^ "All-American teams". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Florida. Associated Press. December 4, 1959. p. 10.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ "Marv Levy Enshrinement Speech". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  12. ^ a b "Don Perkins College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  13. ^ "New Mexico Lobos Rushing". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  14. ^ "New Mexico Lobos Rushing". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  15. ^ "New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame | NMSHOF Inductees". Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  16. ^ "NFL Dallas signs second gridder". Pittsburgh Press. UPI. December 1, 1959. p. 46.
  17. ^ Press, The Associated (June 11, 2022). "Don Perkins, Star Dallas Running Back, Is Dead at 84". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  18. ^ "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.
  19. ^ "1961 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  20. ^ "Top 10: From Emmitt to Dak; Ranking Best Rookie Seasons in Cowboys History". Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  21. ^ "1961 Awards Voting". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  22. ^ Jeter, Fred (June 16, 2022). "Dallas' legendary running back Don Perkins dies". richmondfreepress.com. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  23. ^ "Minnesota Vikings at Dallas Cowboys - September 24th, 1961". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  24. ^ "1962 NFL All-Pros". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  25. ^ "Team Facts | Pro Football Hall of Fame". pfhof. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  26. ^ "Championship - Green Bay Packers at Dallas Cowboys - January 1st, 1967". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  27. ^ "Championship - Dallas Cowboys at Green Bay Packers - December 31st, 1967". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  28. ^ "NFL 100, 100 Greatest Games, 1967 - Cowboys vs. Packers NFL Championship - "The Ice Bowl"". NFL.com. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  29. ^ "1961 Dallas Cowboys Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  30. ^ "1962 Dallas Cowboys Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  31. ^ "1963 Dallas Cowboys Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  32. ^ "1964 Dallas Cowboys Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  33. ^ "1966 Dallas Cowboys Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  34. ^ "1967 Dallas Cowboys Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  35. ^ "1966 Dallas Cowboys Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  36. ^ a b c d "Dallas Cowboys | Official Site of the Dallas Cowboys, #43 Don Perkins - Running Back 1961-1968". www.dallascowboys.com. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  37. ^ "Dallas Cowboys All-time Rushing Leaders". StatMuse. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  38. ^ "Dallas Cowboys Career Rushing Touchdown Leaders". StatMuse. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  39. ^ "1962 NFL All-Pros". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  40. ^ "1967 NFL All-Pros". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  41. ^ "Perkins' objection helps end Cowboys' segregation". Evening News. Newburgh, New York. December 23, 1968. p. 10B.
  42. ^ "Living in Dallas not easy: Perkins". Spartanburg Herald. South Carolina. Associated Press. July 19, 1968. p. 15.
  43. ^ "'Overlooked' Don Perkins earns honor". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Florida. Associated Press. November 21, 1968. p. 29.
  44. ^ "Ring of Honor Member Don Perkins Passes Away". www.dallascowboys.com. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  45. ^ "Ring of Honor: Bob Lilly". www.dallascowboys.com. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  46. ^ "Don Perkins Lobos bio". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  47. ^ "PRFA Hall of Very Good Class of 2016". Archived from the original on April 13, 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
  48. ^ Ring of Honor Member Don Perkins Passes Away
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Don_Perkins&oldid=1275316423"