No. 1, 31 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Position: | Cornerback | ||||||
Personal information | |||||||
Born: | Lexington, Kentucky, U.S. | January 1, 1960||||||
Height: | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||||||
Weight: | 180 lb (82 kg) | ||||||
Career information | |||||||
High school: | Clay (Lexington) | ||||||
College: | Louisville | ||||||
Undrafted: | 1983 | ||||||
Career history | |||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||
| |||||||
Career NFL statistics | |||||||
| |||||||
Frank LyDale Minnifield (born January 1, 1960) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive back for the Cleveland Browns in the National Football League (NFL) from 1984 to 1992. He played college football for the Louisville Cardinals.
Minnifield attended Henry Clay High School in Lexington, Kentucky.
Considered too small for college football at just 5'9" and 140 pounds, he walked on to the football team at the University of Louisville, earning a scholarship spot for his final three years. As a junior in 1981, he led the nation in average yards per kickoff return (30.4) and led his team in punt returns.
After graduation in 1982, Minnifield joined the Chicago Blitz (later the Arizona Wranglers) of the USFL. He successfully sued the Wranglers for the right to move to the NFL, and signed as a free agent with the Browns in 1984. Minnifield became a fixture at cornerback for Cleveland and was named to the Pro Bowl four straight years from 1986 to 1989. Known for his aggressive bump-and-run coverage and hard hitting style, he was named to the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team as selected by voters of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He and fellow cornerback Hanford Dixon named the Dawg Pound cheering section at Cleveland Stadium.[ citation needed ]
Upon retirement, Minnifield founded Minnifield All-Pro Homes, a homebuilding company in Lexington. In 1993, he became the first African American executive named to the Lexington Chamber of Commerce Board, and as of 2000, he was the only African American home builder in Lexington. [1]
Minnifield's son, Chase, played in the NFL as a cornerback for the Washington Redskins.
André N. Davis is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver and kick returner in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Virginia Tech, earning first-team All-American honors in 2000. He was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft. Davis also played for the New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans in his career. While playing for Virginia Tech Davis appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
In American football, the placekicker (PK), or simply kicker (K), is the player who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals and extra points. In most cases, the placekicker also serves as the team's kickoff specialist and occasionally in youth football, also acts as the punter.
Hanford Dixon is an American former professional football player who spend his entire career (1981–1989) as a cornerback for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Southern Miss Golden Eagles and was selected by the Browns with the 22nd pick in the first round of the 1981 NFL Draft. Dixon made the Pro Bowl three times, in 1986, 1987 and 1988. He also is credited with naming the Cleveland Browns "Dawg Pound," the section of the stadium known for their antics during Browns home games at the old Municipal Stadium inspired by Dixon's "barking" to teammates, especially fellow cornerback Frank Minnifield.
Henry Major Poteat, II is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL), and current cornerbacks coach for the Iowa State Cyclones football team. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at Pittsburgh.
Gerald Lynn McNeil is an American former American football player who was a wide receiver and return specialist for five seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Cleveland Browns and Houston Oilers. He also played in the United States Football League (USFL) for two seasons with the Houston Gamblers.
Gregory Donald Pruitt is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) from 1973 through 1984. He played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners. Pruitt was selected to five Pro Bowls, four as a member of the Cleveland Browns and one as a member of the Los Angeles Raiders, the last one as a kick returner. He was also part of the Raiders' Super Bowl XVIII winning team, beating the Washington Redskins.
Benny Jewell Barnes is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League for eleven seasons, all with the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football for the Stanford Cardinals in the Pacific-8 Conference.
George Floyd Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a defensive back for two seasons with the New York Jets in the National Football League. Growing up in Brooksville, Florida, Floyd attended Hernando High School, where he was selected for The Tampa Tribune's all-area football team in all three of his varsity years. Floyd played college football for the Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) Colonels, and won the 1979 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I-AA football championship.
Woodley Carl Lewis, Jr. was an American football end, wide receiver and defensive back in the National Football League (NFL). He played eleven seasons for the Los Angeles Rams, the Chicago Cardinals, and the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football for the University of Oregon.
Paul Edward Brown is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL) for the Cleveland Browns, the Washington Redskins, and the Los Angeles Rams. He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers.
Evan Cooper is a former American football player. He played college football as a defensive back at the University of Michigan from 1980 to 1983. He played professional football in the National Football League (NFL) as a safety for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1984 to 1987 and the Atlanta Falcons from 1988 to 1989.
Thomas Anthony Franckhauser was an American football cornerback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Los Angeles Rams, the Dallas Cowboys, and the Minnesota Vikings. He played college football at Purdue University.
Rodrick Hill is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the Kentucky State Thorobreds. Hill played in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, and Los Angeles Raiders. After his NFL career, he played five seasons in the CFL with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and still holds the career interception record for that franchise.
Leodis Anquan McKelvin is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Troy Trojans, earning first-team All-American honors in 2007. He was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft with the 11th overall pick.
Cary Eric Williams is a former American football cornerback. He played college football at Washburn and was selectsd by the Tennessee Titans in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft.
Clifton Smith, Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a running back and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL), Canadian Football League (CFL) and United Football League (UFL). He played college football for the Fresno State Bulldogs. He was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2008, and also played for the Miami Dolphins and Cleveland Browns of the NFL, the Virginia Destroyers of the UFL, and the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL.
Chase Onassis Minnifield is a former American football cornerback who played in the National Football League (NFL). Despite being projected as a third or fourth round pick, he was signed by the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2012. He played college football for the University of Virginia.
Don Cooper "Dopey" Phelps was an American football halfback and defensive back who played for the Cleveland Browns in the National Football League (NFL) in the early 1950s.
Chris Tabor is an American football coach who last served as interim head coach and special teams coordinator for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He has also served as an assistant coach for the Cleveland Browns and the Chicago Bears, and has more than 20 years of coaching experience between the high school, collegiate and professional levels.