Larry Bethea

Last updated • 4 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Larry Bethea
No. 76
Position: Defensive end / Defensive tackle
Personal information
Born:(1956-07-21)July 21, 1956
Florence, South Carolina, U.S.
Died:April 23, 1987(1987-04-23) (aged 30)
Hampton, Virginia, U.S.
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:251 lb (114 kg)
Career information
High school: Ferguson (VA)
College: Michigan State
NFL draft: 1978  / round: 1 / pick: 28
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Sacks:11.0
Fumble recoveries:1
Player stats at PFR

Larry Bethea (July 21, 1956 – April 24, 1987) was an American football defensive lineman for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons. He was also a member of the Michigan Panthers and Houston Gamblers of the United States Football League (USFL). Bethea was selected by the Cowboys in the first round of the 1978 NFL draft, after playing college football for the Michigan State Spartans and winning Big Ten Most Valuable Player in 1977. He died a self imposed death after being identified as a suspect in two armed robberies. [1]

Contents

Early life

Bethea was a standout for Ferguson High School, playing both ways as an offensive end and defensive end. He was a Parade All-American and a Group AAA All-state selection in 1973. [2] He accepted a football scholarship from Michigan State University, where he began as a tight end until being converted into a defensive tackle during his sophomore season.

In 1977 season, he totaled 45 solo tackles, 45 assisted tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 16 sacks, and he became the first defensive player to receive Big Ten Conference MVP honors since Dick Butkus in 1964.

Bethea finished his college career as a three-year starter, with school records in career sacks (33), career tackles for loss (43), and sacks in a season (16). [3]

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

Bethea was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round (28th overall) of the 1978 NFL draft, who were looking for an eventual successor to either Harvey Martin or Ed "Too Tall" Jones. [4] As a rookie, he played on special teams and was a backup behind Martin and Jethro Pugh. His most notable play was stopping Los Angeles Rams' fullback Jim Jodat at the Cowboys' 11 yard line on fourth and one during the third quarter of the 1978 NFC Championship game. [5]

In 1979, after Jones retired to pursue a boxing career, Bethea was named the starter at left defensive end at the beginning of training camp. The job went to Larry Cole and Bethea was moved to defensive tackle, where he could not move ahead of Dave Stalls on the depth chart. He started two games in place of an injured Randy White, finishing the season with 28 tackles and 4 sacks.

In 1981, he was a backup defensive tackle and collected two sacks in the season opener against the St. Louis Cardinals. He started in the NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers in place of an injured John Dutton, and although he recovered a fumble, he was one of the defenders that Joe Montana released his pass over so Dwight Clark could make "The Catch", propelling the 49ers to a 28–27 win. [6]

In 1982, Bethea was a backup at defensive end and registered two sacks.

Michigan Panthers

On February 1, 1984, Bethea signed a three-year guaranteed contract with the Michigan Panthers of the United States Football League. [7] His personal problems continued with the Panthers, as he was suspended on different occasions. [8]

On April 10, 1985, after the Panthers merged with the Oakland Invaders, and the Invaders was the lone surviving team, Bethea was traded to the Houston Gamblers in exchange for a draft choice. [9]

Houston Gamblers

In April 1985, he was released by the Houston Gamblers because of his inconsistent play and tardiness. [10]

Personal life

In 1985, Bethea pleaded guilty to setting three fires in Mount Rainier National Park in Paradise Washington. He was ordered to pay $1,000 to the park to cover the cost of fighting the fires. [11]

In 1986, he was jailed on charges of assaulting his wife and stealing his mother's life savings of $64,000. In 1987, he was given a suspended four-year prison term for stealing. The judge also ordered Bethea to serve two years on probation while repaying the money. [12]

In a final incident, on April 23, 1987, police were called by an unidentified source who said the former football player had robbed two convenience stores. Bethea was later found in a friend's backyard with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his right temple and a .38-caliber automatic pistol near his body. He was taken to Hampton General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 2:08 a.m. The gun used in the shooting and the two robberies was believed to be a weapon that was reported stolen from a parked vehicle in the city. [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julius Peppers</span> American football player (born 1980)

Julius Frazier Peppers is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end and linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels, where he was recognized as a unanimous All-American, and was selected by the Carolina Panthers second overall in the 2002 NFL draft, and also played for the Chicago Bears from 2010 through 2013 and the Green Bay Packers from 2014 to 2016. After rejoining the Panthers for the 2017 season, he retired after the 2018 NFL season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Zgonina</span> American football player and coach (born 1970)

Jeffrey Marc Zgonina is an American football coach and former player who currently serves as the defensive line coach for the Dallas Cowboys. He played as a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for 17 seasons. He played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers and was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the seventh round of the 1993 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DeMarcus Ware</span> American football player (born 1982)

DeMarcus Omar Ware is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Troy Trojans and was selected by the Dallas Cowboys with the 11th overall pick in the first round of the 2005 NFL draft. After spending nine seasons with the Cowboys, Ware departed in 2013 as the franchise's all-time leader in quarterback sacks with 117. Ware then played three seasons for the Denver Broncos, with whom he won Super Bowl 50 over the Carolina Panthers. After the 2016 season with the Broncos, he announced his retirement from the NFL. In 2017, he signed a one-day contract with Dallas to retire as a Cowboy. In 2018, the Broncos hired Ware as a pass-rush consultant. In 2023, Ware was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Mark Pulemau Tuinei was an American professional football player who was an offensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors. Known as a "gentle giant", his career lasted for 15 years (1983–1997) and his ability to protect quarterback Troy Aikman and to run-block for running back Emmitt Smith helped them win Super Bowls in 1992, 1993, and 1995 and the NFC East Division in 1985 and 1992–96. He was also selected for the Pro Bowl in 1994 and 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Jeffcoat</span> American football player and coach (born 1961)

James Wilson Jeffcoat Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills. He played college football for the Arizona State Sun Devils. He won two Super Bowls with the Cowboys over the Bills. After his playing career, he became a coach.

Micheal Colvin Barrow is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes, earning consensus All-American honors. He was selected by the Houston Oilers in the second round of the 1993 NFL draft, and also played professionally for the Carolina Panthers, New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys of the NFL.

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

Antoine Akeem Bethea is an American former professional football player who was a safety for 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Howard Bison and was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL draft. Bethea also played for the San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, and New York Giants. He was selected for the Pro Bowl three times and won Super Bowl XLI as a member of the Colts, beating the Chicago Bears.

Lawrence Rudolph Cole is an American former professional football defensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He played in five Super Bowls, winning Super Bowl VI and XII. He played college football at the University of Hawaii and the Air Force Academy.

Raymond Earl Pinney Jr. is an American former professional football offensive tackle and guard who played in the National Football League (NFL) seven seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was selected by the Steelers in the second round of the 1976 NFL draft and started for them during their Super Bowl XIII victory. He also spent three seasons in the United States Football League (USFL).

Dixon Voldean Edwards, III is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings. He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans.

Bruce Edward Thornton is a former American football defensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and St. Louis Cardinals. He was also a member of the Denver Gold of the United States Football League (USFL). He played college football at the University of Illinois.

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.

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

Everson Griffen is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). A graduate of Agua Fria High School, Griffen played college football for the USC Trojans. He was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL draft and played for them for 10 seasons before signing with the Dallas Cowboys in 2020. He was traded to the Detroit Lions later that year, then re-signed with the Vikings in August 2021.

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

Connor Alfred Barwin is an American football executive and former professional linebacker, currently serving as the head of football development and strategy for the Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football at Cincinnati, and was selected by the Houston Texans in the second round of the 2009 NFL draft. He also played for the Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, and New York Giants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Perry (linebacker)</span> American football player (born 1990)

Nicholas Joel Perry is an American former football linebacker who played seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Green Bay Packers. He played college football at USC. Perry was drafted by the Packers in the first round of the 2012 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Odom</span> American football player (born 1994)

Chris Odom is an American football defensive end for the Houston Roughnecks of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Arkansas State. Odom has also been a member of the Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers, Salt Lake Stallions, Washington Redskins, Calgary Stampeders, and Cleveland Browns. With the Houston Gamblers, he led the USFL in sacks and was named its Defensive Player of the Year in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leighton Vander Esch</span> American football player (born 1996)

Leighton Vander Esch is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Boise State Broncos, and was selected by the Cowboys in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft. He spent six seasons with the team, earning Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors in his rookie season before neck injuries prematurely ended his playing career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aidan Hutchinson</span> American football player (born 2000)

Aidan Joseph Bernardi Hutchinson is an American professional football defensive end for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). Hutchinson was a unanimous All-American for the Michigan Wolverines, and the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy in 2021. He was selected with the second overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions, and named to the All-Rookie Team in 2022. Hutchinson was voted to his first Pro Bowl in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walter Palmore</span> American football player (born 1996)

Walter Palmore is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at the University of Missouri.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T. J. Carter (defensive lineman)</span> American football player (born 1998)

T. J. Carter is an American professional football defensive end for the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Kentucky and was signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He also spent time with the New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Los Angeles Rams.

References

  1. ↑ "Bethea Apparent Suicide". The New York Times. Associated Press. April 24, 1987. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  2. ↑ "84 More Blast From The Past". September 26, 2004. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  3. ↑ "MSU's top 50 football players: No. 27 Larry Bethea" . Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Cowboys Not Impressed With Draft Offers" . Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Cowboys Drill Los Angeles" . Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Famous Play Lives On" . Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Cowboys' Bethea USFL-bound" . Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Panthers Reinstated" . Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Bethea goes from Invaders to Gamblers" . Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Bethea Admits To Theft From Mother" . Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Ex-cowboy Charged With Setting Park Fires" . Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Bethea Pleads Guilty" . Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Bethea takes own life" . Retrieved February 19, 2023.
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.