No. 55 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Position: | Linebacker | ||||
Personal information | |||||
Born: | Maryville, Tennessee, U.S. | March 3, 1959||||
Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||
Weight: | 235 lb (107 kg) | ||||
Career information | |||||
High school: | Maryville (TN) | ||||
College: | Tennessee | ||||
NFL draft: | 1981 / Round: 5 / Pick: 137 | ||||
Career history | |||||
Career NFL statistics | |||||
| |||||
Player stats at PFR |
Daniel Ray Spradlin (born March 3, 1959) is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and St. Louis Cardinals. He was selected by the Cowboys in the fifth round of the 1981 NFL draft. He played college football at the University of Tennessee.
Spraldin attended Maryville High School in Maryville, Tennessee. [1] [2] He was a three-year starter at linebacker. He received All-State, All-South and Blount County Player of the Year honors as a junior and senior.
He accepted a football scholarship from the University of Tennessee. [3] As a sophomore, he earned a starting outside linebacker spot late in the season. As a junior, he finished second on the team with 102 tackles. As a senior, he led the team with 125 tackles, including a 12 tackle performance against Vanderbilt University.
Spradlin was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round (137th overall) of the 1981 NFL draft. [4] His hard hitting allowed him to make the team over fellow rookie Scott Pelluer and the team also traded Bruce Huther to make room for him on the roster. He was a backup at middle linebacker for Bob Breunig.
In 2 seasons, he played in 25 games mostly on special teams, as he struggled learning the Cowboys flex defense. [1] In 1983, he was converted into an offensive lineman, [5] before being traded on August 24 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in exchange for a fifth round selection (#113-Steve Pelluer) in the 1984 NFL draft. [6]
Spraldin was acquired for depth purposes and to play on the special teams units. In 2 seasons, he played in 31 games, starting two in 1983 because of injuries. [1] He was released on August 26, 1985. [7]
On September 17, 1985, he was signed as a free agent by the St. Louis Cardinals. [8] He played in seven games during the season. [1]
Robert Vinson Smith, is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the East Carolina Pirates. Smith played in the NFL for the Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints. He won Super Bowl XXVII with Dallas over the Buffalo Bills.
Beasley Young Reece, Jr. is a former American football defensive back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played college football at North Texas State University.
Thomas Henderson, nicknamed "Hollywood", is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Houston Oilers, and Miami Dolphins. He played college football at Langston University.
Scott Allen Shanle is a former American football linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the St. Louis Rams, Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints. He played college football at the University of Nebraska.
Alshermond Glendale Singleton is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Temple University.
Steven Carl Pelluer is a former professional American football quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs. He was selected by the Cowboys in the 5th round of the 1984 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Washington.
Ester James Junior III is an American former football player and coach. He played as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons, from 1981 to 1993, with the St. Louis / Phoenix Cardinals, the Miami Dolphins, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Seattle Seahawks. Junior played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, where he played as a defensive end and earned consensus selection to the 1980 College Football All-America Team. He was selected by the Cardinals in the first round with the fifth overall pick of the 1981 NFL Draft. Junior served as the head football coach at Central State University from 2009 to 2013. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player in 2020.
Darrick Dewayne Brownlow is an American former football linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Washington Redskins. He played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini and was selected by the Cowboys in the fifth round of the 1991 NFL draft.
Scott John Pelluer was an American professional football player who was a linebacker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Washington State Cougars and coached at several collegiate programs.
Quentin Ivory Lowry is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played college football at Youngstown State University. He played high school football at Shaker Heights High School
Jesse William Solomon is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons, and Miami Dolphins. He played college football at Florida State University.
David Milton Stalls is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Los Angeles Raiders. He also was a member of the Denver Gold in the United States Football League (USFL). He played college football at the University of Northern Colorado.
Natravis DeVone Claybrooks is the former head coach of the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was an American football defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for seven different teams. He also was a member of the Montreal Alouettes and Calgary Stampeders in the CFL. He has also been the defensive coordinator for the Calgary Stampeders. On December 11, 2018, he was announced as head coach of the BC Lions, replacing the retired Wally Buono. Claybrooks played college football at East Carolina.
Lavonte Lamar David is an American football linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, twice earning All-American honors, and was selected by the Buccaneers in the second round of the 2012 NFL draft. Since entering the NFL, David has been named to three All-Pro teams, one Pro Bowl and won Super Bowl LV during the 2020 season, in a 31–9 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Jeremiah George is a former American football linebacker. He was selected by the New York Jets in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL draft. He played college football at Iowa State.
Kwon Alexander is an American football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at LSU. He was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL draft. Alexander has also played for the San Francisco 49ers, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Shaquil Akeem Barrett is a former American football linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons. He played college football for the Nebraska–Omaha Mavericks before transferring to the Colorado State Rams. Barrett was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent after the 2014 NFL draft. After five seasons with the Broncos, including winning Super Bowl 50, he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Barrett's level of play increased, making the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams in 2019 after leading the league in sacks, and in 2021 won Super Bowl LV, recording a sack in the game. He signed with the Miami Dolphins in 2024 before retiring from football shortly after.
Jack DeWayne Dotson is a former American football linebacker and fullback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Miami Dolphins. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 1994 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. He also was a member of the Nashville Kats in the Arena Football League (AFL). He played college football at the University of Mississippi.
Marvin Stewart Jr. is an American football safety for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Carolina. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft, and has also been a member of the Cleveland Browns.
Bradley Dee White was an American football defensive lineman who played six seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Indianapolis Colts, and Minnesota Vikings. He played college football at Tennessee.