Aaron Kyle

Last updated

Aaron Kyle
No. 25, 22
Position: Cornerback
Personal information
Born: (1954-04-06) April 6, 1954 (age 70)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school: Cass Technical
(Detroit, Michigan)
College: Wyoming
NFL draft: 1976  / Round: 1 / Pick: 27
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:95
Games started:76
Interceptions:11
Player stats at PFR

Aaron Douglas Kyle (born April 6, 1954) is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos. He was selected in the first round of the 1976 NFL draft. He played college football at the University of Wyoming.

Contents

Early years

Kye attended Cass Technical High School in Detroit, Michigan. He played halfback and linebacker. He graduated in 1971 and accepted a football scholarship from the University of Wyoming. As a freshman, he was a backup running back, tallying 3 carries for 8 yards. As a sophomore, he was moved to strong safety. He was also a punt returner during his first three years.

As a senior, he was switched to cornerback and was used on either side of the field. He received All-WAC honors, played in the 1975 Blue–Gray Football Classic, the Senior Bowl and the East–West Shrine Game. He was the team's best defensive player in his last two years and left as the school's career leader in tackles (275). [1]

In 2016, he was inducted into the Wyoming Athletics Hall of Fame.

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

In the 1976 NFL draft, he became only the second Wyoming player ever to be drafted to the NFL in the first round and the first defensive back ever to be selected by the Dallas Cowboys that high. [2] As a rookie, he was the backup at left cornerback behind Benny Barnes and was used on passing downs to primarily cover the running backs. He became a core special teams player, registering 2 blocked punts.

In 1977, he replaced future hall of famer Mel Renfro in the starting lineup at right cornerback. His play was impacted after fracturing the left wrist during a 34-16 win over the Washington Redskins in the fifth game. [3] He missed the last four games of the season because of a heavy cast that was placed on his injured right arm. He returned for the playoffs to help the team win Super Bowl XII, recording three tackles, an interception, a tackle on a run from a punt attempt and a fumble recovery that set up the game-clinching touchdown.

In 1978, he started all 16 games at cornerback, while making 3 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries (tied for the team lead). He also had an interception in the playoffs against the Atlanta Falcons. In Super Bowl XIII, he missed a tackle that allowed John Stallworth to have a 75-yard touchdown play. [4]

In 1979, although he started 16 games, he was limited by bone spurs in his left knee that he developed during training camp. He intercepted two passes in the season opener against the St. Louis Cardinals.

In May 1980 season, he had knee surgery to remove the bone spurs, which led the team to place him in the injured reserve list. Once the season started, the Cowboys tried to recall him from the injured reserve list, but because they used the procedural recall system to waive him, he was able to be declared as a free agent.

Denver Broncos

On October 14, 1980, he signed as a free-agent with the Denver Broncos, playing in 10 games (9 starts) and recording 72 tackles.

Kyle played a total of 3 seasons in Denver, starting at right cornerback, while leading the team in turnovers in both 1981 and 1982, with a total of 5 interceptions and 7 fumble recoveries. In 1981, he registered 68 tackles. He retired on April 16, 1983, after being the Broncos player representative during that season's strike. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super Bowl XII</span> 1978 Edition of the Super Bowl

Super Bowl XII was an American football game between the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Dallas Cowboys and the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Denver Broncos to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 1977 season. The Cowboys defeated the Broncos 27–10 to win their second Super Bowl. The game was played on January 15, 1978, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. This was the first Super Bowl in a domed stadium, and the first time that the game was played in prime time in the Eastern United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Champ Bailey</span> American football player (born 1978)

Roland "Champ" Bailey Jr. is an American former football cornerback who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs, where he earned consensus All-American honors, and was selected by the Washington Redskins in the first round of the 1999 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Dawkins</span> American football player (born 1973)

Brian Patrick Dawkins Sr., nicknamed "Weapon X", is an American former football safety who played for 16 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football for the Clemson Tigers and was selected by the Eagles in the second round of the 1996 NFL draft. In his last three seasons, he played for the Denver Broncos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DeAngelo Hall</span> American football player (born 1983)

DeAngelo Eugene Hall is an American professional football coach and former player who was a defensive back for 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Virginia Tech Hokies and was selected by the Atlanta Falcons with the eighth overall pick in the 2004 NFL draft. Hall played half a season for the Oakland Raiders before being released and signed by the Washington Redskins in 2008, playing for them until retiring following the 2017 season. He was a cornerback for the majority of his career before playing at free safety during his last few seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darrent Williams</span> American football player (1982–2007)

Darrent Demarcus Williams was an American football player for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). After attending high school in Fort Worth, Texas, Williams played football at Oklahoma State University. He was a second-round draft pick by the Broncos in 2005. Williams was killed in a drive-by shooting the day after he finished his second season with the Broncos.

Dennis Lee Thurman is an American football coach and former player. He is a former coach in the National Football League (NFL) for the Phoenix Cardinals, the Baltimore Ravens and the New York Jets, and in the Alliance of American Football (AAF) for the Memphis Express. He played as a cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys and the St. Louis Cardinals. He played college football for the USC Trojans.

Darrien Jamal Gordon is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback for 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) (1993–2002). He was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the first round of the 1993 NFL Draft. During his NFL career, he played for five teams, appearing in four Super Bowls. Before his NFL career, Gordon played college football for the Stanford Cardinal, intercepting nine passes in three seasons. Since the NFL Scouting Combine began in 1985, he is one of three players who have been drafted in the first round after not being invited to the combine.

Robert Martin Bailey is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Los Angeles Rams, Washington Redskins, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, and the Baltimore Ravens. He played college football at the University of Miami.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cortland Finnegan</span> American football player (born 1984)

Cortland Temujin Finnegan is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Samford Bulldogs, and was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft. Finnegan was also a member of the St. Louis Rams, Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints. He was a Pro Bowler in 2008.

Ryan Darrell McNeil is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback for 11 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes, and earned All-American honors. He was selected by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 1993 NFL draft, and also played professionally for the St. Louis Rams, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos of the NFL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ray Horton</span> American football player and coach (born 1960)

Raymond Anthony Horton is an American football coach and former player. He played college football at Washington and was drafted in the second round of the 1983 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Thomas (cornerback)</span> American football player (born 1968)

David Garfield Thomas is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars, and New York Giants. He was drafted in the eighth round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Tennessee.

Issiac Holt III is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football for the Alcorn State Braves. With the Cowboys, he won Super Bowl XXVII over the Buffalo Bills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tracy Porter</span> American football player (born 1986)

Tracy O'Neil Porter is a former American football cornerback. He was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. Porter is best known for being a crucial player during the Saints’ 2009 season, in which he intercepted Brett Favre in the NFC Championship Game and then won Super Bowl XLIV, sealing the game by famously intercepting Peyton Manning and returning it for a touchdown. He played college football at Indiana.

The 1977 Denver Broncos season was the team's 18th year in professional football and its eighth with the National Football League (NFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle Wilson (cornerback)</span> American football player (born 1987)

Kyle Wilson is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Boise State. He was selected by the New York Jets in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft, remaining with the Jets for five seasons. He then played with the New Orleans Saints for two seasons beginning in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy Smith (cornerback)</span> American football player (born 1988)

James Michael Smith is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Baltimore Ravens with the 27th pick in the 2011 NFL draft. He played college football for the Colorado Buffaloes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bradley Roby</span> American football player (born 1992)

Bradley Roby is an American football cornerback who is a free agent. He was selected by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft. He played college football at Ohio State. He has also played for the Houston Texans and the New Orleans Saints.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kayvon Webster</span> American football player (born 1991)

Kayvon Webster is a former American football cornerback. He played college football at South Florida and was selected by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He was also a member of the Los Angeles Rams, Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints and Washington Redskins. He won Super Bowl 50 as a member of the Broncos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle Fuller</span> American football player (born 1992)

Kyle Brandon Fuller is an American football cornerback who is a free agent. He was selected by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft and played college football at Virginia Tech.

References

  1. "Wyoming Will Battle Boise State for Second Place Saturday" . Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  2. "Congrats to Wyoming's Josh Allen, the No. 7 Pick in the 2018 NFL Draft" . Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  3. "Doomsday Ruins Redskins" . Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  4. "Gloomsday For Doomsday" . Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  5. "Aaron Kyle Retires" . Retrieved April 30, 2022.