Ralph Coleman (American football)

Last updated
Ralph Coleman
No. 86
Position: Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1950-08-31) August 31, 1950 (age 72)
Spartanburg, South Carolina, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:216 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school: Carver (SC)
College: North Carolina A&T
NFL Draft: 1972  / Round: 8 / Pick: 208
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:1
Player stats at NFL.com  ·  PFR

Ralph Donnell Coleman (born August 31, 1950) is a former professional American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at North Carolina A&T University.

Contents

Early years

Coleman attended Carver High School, where he was a part of the last graduating class, before the school merged with Spartanburg High School. He was a three-sport athlete (football, basketball and track). In 1967, as a two-way player (linebacker and offensive tackle), he helped his football team win a state championship.

He accepted a football scholarship from North Carolina A&T University to play defensive tackle. He was converted to linebacker and became a four-year starter. In 1968, he was a part of a team that finished the season 8–1 overall (6–1 in conference play) and won the black college football national championship.

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

Coleman was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the eighth round (208th overall) of the 1972 NFL draft. [1] The Cowboys saw great potential and he became the first African-American linebacker to make the team in franchise history.

He started the year in the taxi squad, before being promoted to the active roster after Chuck Howley was injured. He played mainly on special teams, including the playoffs.

After not agreeing with his playing time and contract numbers, he forced the team to trade him to the Houston Oilers in exchange for a conditional draft pick (not exercised) on July 13, 1973. [2]

Houston Oilers

Coleman was waived by the Houston Oilers before the start of the 1973 season. [3] In March 1974, he was selected by the Birmingham Americans in the 24th round (282nd overall) of the WFL Pro Draft.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

On March 23, 1976, he was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent. [4] [5] He was released on July 12. [6]

Personal life

Coleman is serving a life sentence for murder in a South Carolina state prison. He was a suspect in several other homicides in the state but not charged[ citation needed ]. In 1993, he appeared in a film produced by the U.S. Department of Justice entitled "Hard Choices: Inside Looking Out". The film presents the story of two fictional teenagers confronted by the temptation of drug use, who are advised by two former professional athletes (Coleman and Alex English). [7]

Related Research Articles

Micheal Colvin Barrow is a former American college and professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for twelve seasons. He played college football for the University of Miami, and was honored as a consensus All-American. He was drafted 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.

Lorenzo Levon Kirkland is an American former football inside linebacker and coach. A second-round draft choice of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1992 NFL Draft, he played 11 years as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL), including nine seasons with the Steelers, and one each for the Seattle Seahawks and the Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football for the Clemson Tigers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ralph Neely</span> American football player (1943–2022)

Ralph Eugene Neely was an American professional football player who was an offensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League (NFL). He played 13 seasons and 172 games for the Cowboys from 1965 to 1977.

Robert Lee Jones is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, St. Louis Rams, Miami Dolphins, and Washington Redskins. He played college football at East Carolina University.

Lawrence Edward Smith was an American football defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Oilers and Buffalo Bills. He played college football at the University of Southern California.

Gordon Scott Appleton was an American football defensive tackle in the American Football League (AFL) for the Houston Oilers, San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders. He played college football at the University of Texas, which won the national championship in 1963. Appleton was a consensus 1963 All-American and won the Outland Trophy.

Eugene Lockhart, Jr. is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots. He played college football at the University of Houston and was drafted in the sixth round of the 1984 NFL Draft.

Barron Winfred Wortham is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Houston Oilers / Tennessee Oilers / Tennessee Titans and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at the University of Texas-El Paso.

Don Larry Talbert is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons, and New Orleans Saints. He was drafted in the eighth round of the 1961 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Texas at Austin.

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.

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

Lemanski Hall is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Houston/Tennessee Oilers, Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings. He is currently a defensive ends coach for Clemson University. Hall played college football at the University of Alabama.

Leo Harold Hays is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers. He played college football at University of Southern Mississippi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Stincic</span> American football player (born 1946)

Thomas Dorn Stincic was a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints. He played college football, principally as a linebacker, at the University of Michigan from 1966 to 1968.

Phil Clark is a former professional American football defensive back in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears and New England Patriots. He played college football at Northwestern University. He was drafted with the 76th overall pick in the third round of the 1967 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys.

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

Jason X. Williams is a former American football linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played college football at Western Illinois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruce Carter (American football)</span> American football player (born 1988)

Bruce Edward Carter is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of North Carolina.

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

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 University of Nebraska, and was drafted by the Buccaneers in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Since entering the NFL, David has been named to 3 All-Pro teams, 1 Pro Bowl appearance and won Super Bowl LV during the 2020 season, in a 31–9 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.

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

Jeremiah George is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He played college football at Iowa State.

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

Benardrick Cornelius McKinney is an American football inside linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at Mississippi State and was selected by the Houston Texans in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

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

Leighton Vander Esch is an American football middle linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Boise State, and was drafted by the Cowboys in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

References

  1. ↑ "Cowboys Pick Coleman" . Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Coleman Traded to Houston" . Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Coleman Arrives, Receives Call. Heads For Kerrville" . Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Another Chance for Coleman" . Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Five New Bucs in Pocket" . Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Buccaneers Cut Coleman" . Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Hard Choices: Inside Looking Out". U.S. Department of Justice - Office of Justice Programs. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
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.