Golden Richards

Last updated

Golden Richards
No. 83
Position: Wide receiver
Personal information
Born:(1950-12-31)December 31, 1950
Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
Died:February 23, 2024(2024-02-23) (aged 73)
Murray, Utah, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:181 lb (82 kg)
Career information
High school: Granite (Salt Lake City)
College: Brigham Young
Hawaii
NFL draft: 1973  / Round: 2 / Pick: 46
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:122
Receiving yards:2,136
Receiving TDs:17
Player stats at PFR

John Golden Richards (December 31, 1950 – February 23, 2024) was an American professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears. He played college football for the BYU Cougars and Hawaii Rainbow Warriors.

Contents

Early life

Born and raised in Utah, Richards attended Granite High School in South Salt Lake, where he received all-state honors in three sports (football, basketball, track). In football, he joined his brother Doug Richards and played fullback for the Farmers, and led the track & field team to the class 'A' state title in 1969, Granite's first in a quarter century. [1] [2] In basketball, he played guard and was named second-team all-state. [3]

Recruited by several university division programs, Richards decided to attend the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, but his church bishop influenced him to attend Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo instead of serving on a mission.[ citation needed ]

From the start, he was the fastest player for the Cougars and wore number 22 in honor of Bob Hayes. As a sophomore in 1970, Richards led BYU in receiving with 36 receptions for 513 yards (fifth among WAC receivers) and a touchdown. [4] In  1971, he again led the team in receiving with 14 receptions for 287 yards and one touchdown. He also had 33 punt returns for 624 yards (17.9 average) and four touchdowns, 23 kickoff returns for 468 yards (19.8 average). He led the nation in punt returns and was sixteenth in all-purpose yards. Richards set four university division records with most punt return yards (219 against North Texas State) in a game, most kickoff returns (247 yards, 7 returns) in a game, average per kickoff return (35.3 yards) in a season and tied the record for most touchdowns (4) on punt returns in a season. He received All-WAC honors.[ citation needed ]

The combination of being ruled academically ineligible and BYU's run-oriented offense, led to his decision to transfer to the University of Hawaii for his senior season. [5] With the Rainbows in 1972, he had 23 receptions for 414 yards and five touchdowns, before injuring his knee.[ citation needed ]

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

Selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round (46th overall) of the 1973 NFL draft, [6] Richards was the fastest player on the team his rookie season and played mostly on special teams. In the NFC Championship loss at home to the Minnesota Vikings on December 30, he returned a punt 63 yards for the Cowboys' sole touchdown. [7] [8]

In 1974, Richards was named the starter at wide receiver over Bob Hayes. He was the team's long threat (with receptions of 52, 58, 46, and 43 yards) and had his best statistical year with 26 receptions for 467 yards (18 average) and five touchdowns.[ citation needed ] In his third year, he had 21 receptions for 451 yards (21.5 average) and four touchdowns.[ citation needed ] In 1976, he had 19 receptions for 414 yards (21.8 average) and three touchdowns, missing three games because of a hamstring injury.[ citation needed ]

The next season in 1977, his fourth straight as a starter, Richards alternated with Butch Johnson, recording 17 receptions for 225 yards (13.2 average) and three touchdowns. In the 27–10 win over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XII, he had his most notable career highlight, catching a 29-yard pass from fullback Robert Newhouse in the fourth quarter for the game's final score. [9]

With the emergence of Tony Hill, Richards lost his starting position and was traded in early September to the Chicago Bears, [10] [11] in exchange for a fifth round draft choice (#121-Bob Hukill) in 1979 and a third round pick (#78-Bill Roe) in 1980. [12]

Chicago Bears

In 1978, Richards had a career-high 27 receptions with the Bears. The next season, he played in only five games, as he was hindered by knee injury suffered on September 30 while blocking on Walter Payton's 65-yard touchdown reception against divisional foe Tampa Bay, [13] although he completed the game. His contract wasn't renewed after he was placed on the injured reserve list. [14]

Denver Broncos

On May 8, 1980, Richards signed as a free agent with the Denver Broncos, [15] but suffered a second straight season-ending injury. He was placed on the injured reserve list in August, [16] and retired without playing a regular season game for the Broncos[ citation needed ].

Personal life

Richards was the host and co-producer of a hunting and fishing show for ESPN called "ESPN Outdoors".[ citation needed ] He was mentioned on "A Beer Can Named Desire" and "Cops and Robert" episodes of the cartoon sitcom King of the Hill . His post-NFL life also included drug addiction, alcoholism, three divorces, and arrests for forgery. [17]

In 2011, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, with doctors believing a combination of hits from football and his drug usage to be the cause. He lived with his two sons, Goldie and Jordan. [18]

Richards died from congestive heart failure on February 23, 2024, at the age of 73. [19]

See also

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.

Patrick Jamel Crayton is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and the San Diego Chargers. He played college football at Northwestern Oklahoma State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allen Rossum</span> American football player (born 1975)

Allen Bonshaca Lamont Rossum 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 Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 1998 NFL draft.

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

Damieon Dante Hall is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver and return specialist for nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He is nicknamed "the Human Joystick" and "the X-Factor". He played college football for the Texas A&M Aggies and was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round of the 2000 NFL draft. Hall played for the Chiefs for seven years before being traded to the St. Louis Rams in 2007. Hall was ranked the 10th greatest return specialist in NFL history on NFL Network's NFL Top 10 Return Aces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reno Mahe</span> American football player and coach (born 1980)

Sateki Reno Mahe Jr. is a former American football running back who played five seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). Mahe played college football for Brigham Young University (BYU), and was signed by the Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Butch Johnson (American football)</span> American football player (born 1954)

Michael McColly "Butch" Johnson is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos. He played college football for the UC Riverside Highlanders and was selected in the third round of the 1976 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rick Upchurch</span> American football player (born 1952)

Richard Upchurch is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). He played his entire career with the Denver Broncos from 1975 to 1983. One of 29 individuals to be selected to multiple All-Decade teams, Upchurch is noted as one of the greatest return specialists of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Todd Christensen</span> American football player (1956–2013)

Todd Jay Christensen was an American professional football tight end who played in the National Football League (NFL) from 1978 until 1988, primarily with the Oakland / Los Angeles Raiders. He played college football for the BYU Cougars and was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 1978 NFL Draft. Following his retirement Christensen became a commentator for both professional and collegiate games, working for NBC Sports, ESPN, and CBS Sports Network among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roy Jefferson</span> American football player (born 1943)

Roy Lee Jefferson is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Colts, and Washington Redskins. He played college football for the Utah Utes. During 162 regular season games in the NFL, he had 451 receptions for 7,539 yards and 52 touchdowns.

Kevin Ray Williams, Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers. He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes, earning first-team All-American honors in 1991.

Tyrone Christopher Hughes is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears, and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

The 1974 Fiesta Bowl was the fourth edition of the college football bowl game, played at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona on Saturday, December 28. Part of the 1974–75 bowl game season, it matched the unranked Oklahoma State Cowboys of the Big Eight Conference and #17 BYU Cougars of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). After falling behind early, underdog Oklahoma State won 16–6.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Utah Utes football team</span> American college football season

The 2010 Utah Utes football team represented the University of Utah during the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by sixth year head coach Kyle Whittingham and played their homes game in Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah. They were members of the Mountain West Conference. 2010 was the Utes' final year in the Mountain West, as they began play in the Pac-12 in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dwayne Harris</span> American football player (born 1987)

Dwayne Lenard Harris is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the East Carolina Pirates. He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 BYU Cougars football team</span> American college football season

The 2012 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University in the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cougars, led by head coach Bronco Mendenhall, played their home games at LaVell Edwards Stadium. This was the second year BYU competed as an independent. They finished the season 8–5. They were invited to the Poinsettia Bowl where they defeated San Diego State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taysom Hill</span> American football player (born 1990)

Taysom Shawn Hill is an American football utility player officially designated as a quarterback for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at BYU and joined the Saints in 2017 as an undrafted free agent. Hill was listed as a quarterback on the Saints depth chart during his first five seasons, though he took snaps at seven different positions. Hill was designated as a tight end beginning in 2022 before once again being listed as a quarterback in 2023. He has maintained similar roles on offense and special teams throughout his career, including as the Saints primary gunner. Hill's array of utilization has earned him a reputation as a unique player in the NFL. Due to his versatility, he is known as "The Human Swiss Army Knife" by Saints' media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordan Leslie</span> American gridiron football player (born 1991)

Jordan Leslie is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL), Alliance of American Football (AAF), and Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at BYU in 2014 and for UTEP in 2012 and 2013. He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings after going undrafted in the 2015 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dax Milne</span> American football player (born 1999)

Dax Milne is an American football wide receiver and return specialist for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the BYU Cougars and was drafted by Washington in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Britain Covey</span> American football player (born 1997)

Britain Covey is an American football wide receiver and punt returner for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Utah and was signed by the Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2022.

Deven Thompkins is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He has previously played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played college football at Utah State.

References

  1. ↑ Kadleck, Dave (April 14, 1969). "Skyline, Delta Snow champions". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). p. C4. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  2. ↑ Kadleck, Dave (May 19, 1969). "Richards paces Granite to Utah's 'A' track title". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). p. C1.
  3. ↑ Kadleck, Dave (March 8, 1969). "1969 Class 'A' All-State". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). p. A5. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  4. ↑ Ferguson, George (August 20, 1971). "Cougars spark new offense". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). p. B10. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Y's Golden Richards 'ineligible'". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). June 19, 1972. p. B6. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Y. leads Utahns into NFL draft". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). January 31, 1973. p. C1.
  7. ↑ "Vikings, Miami reach Super Bowl". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). UPI. December 31, 1973. p. B7.
  8. ↑ "Vikings end Cowboys' season, 27-10". Victoria Advocate. (Texas). Associated Press. December 31, 1973. p. 1B.
  9. ↑ "Sloppy, but super as Dallas reigns!". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). UPI. January 16, 1978. p. B4.
  10. ↑ "Cowboys trade Richards to Bears". Victoria Advocate. (Texas). Associated Press. September 6, 1978. p. 3D.
  11. ↑ Hamilton, Linda (September 6, 1978). "Golden ponders football future". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). p. E1.
  12. ↑ "Richards hurt by news of trade". Nashua Telegraph. (New Hampshire). UPI. September 6, 1978. p. 34. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  13. ↑ "One undefeated NFL team left – Tampa Bay". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). UPI. October 1, 1979. p. 3C.
  14. ↑ "Golden Richards won't be signed". Sarasota Journal. (Florida). Associated Press. April 22, 1980. p. 2B. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Transactions: Denver Broncos". Lawrence Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. May 9, 1980. p. 16. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Transactions: Denver Broncos". Lawrence Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. August 20, 1980. p. 20. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Golden Richard's Tragic NFL Career And Recovery". July 24, 2001. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  18. ↑ Cardenas, Jenn (February 5, 2013). "What ever happened to Golden Richards?". The Daily Universe. (Provo, Utah). (Brigham Young University). Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  19. ↑ Drew, Jay (February 23, 2024). "Former BYU football star and Dallas Cowboys receiver Golden Richards has died at the age of 73". Deseret News. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.