Willard Dewveall
Willard Charles Dewveall (April 29, 1936 – November 20, 2006) was an American football end, the first player to jump from the National Football League to the American Football League.
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| Position: | End | ||||||||
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| Born: | April 29, 1936 Springtown, Texas | ||||||||
| Died: | November 20, 2006 (aged 70) Houston, Texas | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 224 lb (102 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Weatherford (Weatherford, Texas) | ||||||||
| College: | Southern Methodist | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1958 / Round: 2 / Pick: 18 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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He left the Chicago Bears of the NFL after the 1960 season to play for the AFL champion Houston Oilers.[1] He was the only one to switch leagues for five years, until kicker Pete Gogolak went from the AFL to the NFL in 1966.[2]
In 1962, Dewveall caught the (then) longest pass reception for a touchdown in professional football history, 98 yards, from Jacky Lee, against the San Diego Chargers. It is still the longest receiving touchdown in Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans franchise history. He was an American Football League All-Star in 1962.
He was Dandy Don's favorite receiver, and All-American at SMU. Selected by the Bears in the second round of the 1958 NFL draft, Dewveall played a year in the Canadian Football League with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 1958 under head coach Bud Grant,[3] and they won the Grey Cup. He returned to the United States and played for the Bears for two seasons in 1959 and 1960.
References
- "Chicago Bears veteran Dewveall joins". Victoria Advocate. Texas. Associated Press. January 14, 1961. p. 8.
- "Signing of Gogolak could trigger football battle". Ludington Daily News. Michigan. Associated Press. May 18, 1966. p. 12.
- "Sports shorts". Milwaukee Journal. January 9, 1958. p. 19, part 2.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference ·
- Willard Dewveall at Find a Grave