Ron Fellows (American football)

Last updated

Ron Fellows
No. 27, 21
Position: Cornerback
Personal information
Born: (1957-11-07) November 7, 1957 (age 66)
South Bend, Indiana, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:178 lb (81 kg)
Career information
High school: Washington
(South Bend, Indiana)
College: Missouri
NFL draft: 1981  / Round: 7 / Pick: 173
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:112
Interceptions:19
Fumble recoveries:9
Player stats at PFR

Ronald Lee Fellows (born November 7, 1957) is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Raiders. He played college football at the University of Missouri.

Contents

Early life

Fellows attended Washington High School, where he lettered in football, track and basketball. In football, he was a two-way player, as a running back and safety. He helped his team win the Northern Indiana Conference championship in 1975 and 1976. As a senior, he received South Bend Tribune Offensive Player of the Year and All-State offensive/defensive back honors.

He was named All-Conference in track and basketball. In 1977, he won the IHSAA 120 yards high hurdles state championship.

In 2014, he was inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame. [1]

College career

Fellows moved on to Butler Community College, where he played as a cornerback for two seasons. [2] He also ran the hurdles.

He transferred to the University of Missouri after his sophomore season. As a junior, midway through the 1979 season, he was converted into a wide receiver, posting 4 receptions for 44 yards and no touchdowns.

As a senior, he led the Big Eight Conference in receiving with 587 yards on 33 receptions (led the team), while also catching 4 touchdowns (led the team). [3]

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

Fellows was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round (173rd overall) of the 1981 NFL draft, with the intention of playing him at cornerback. By the eleventh game of his rookie season, he was being used on the nickel defense.

In 1982, he played right corner on obvious passing downs, with starter Dennis Thurman being moved to safety. He also led the team in punt and kickoff returns.

In 1983, he played nickel cornerback over former first-round draft choice Rod Hill, while posting 5 interceptions (second on the team). Against the New Orleans Saints, he returned a blocked field goal for a game winning 62-yard touchdown, the first such return by a Cowboy in 19 years. He returned an interception for a 58-yard touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings. He also tied a team record with 43 kickoff returns.

Fellows was part of an opportunistic Cowboys secondary that earned the nickname "Thurman's Thieves", because of the amount of plays and turnovers they generated.

In 1984, after Thurman made the permanent switch to safety, he became the starter at right cornerback opposite Everson Walls, and posted 3 interceptions. He returned a blocked field goal for a 62-yard touchdown against the New Orleans Saints, the first such return for a Cowboy in 19 years. He had 2 interceptions, including one returned for a 58-yard touchdown and 4 kickoff returns for 109 yards against the Minnesota Vikings.

In 1985, he struggled with a sprained knee he suffered in the first quarter of the season opener against the Washington Redskins, which caused him to miss 3 games and 2 starts, eventually requiring offseason surgery. He still managed to make 4 interceptions (tied for third on the team) and 20 passes defensed (second on the team).

In 1986, he finished first on the team with 15 passes defensed and second with 5 interceptions, including a 34-yard return for a touchdown against the St. Louis Cardinals. He had 4 turnovers (2 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries) against the Chicago Bears.

On August 2, 1987, after being involved in a contract holdout and the Cowboys needing help at wide receiver, the team felt they had depth at cornerback after drafting Ron Francis, so he was traded to the Los Angeles Raiders in exchange for Rod Barksdale. [4]

Los Angeles Raiders

In 1987, Fellows was the team's nickel cornerback, appearing in 12 games with 2 starts.

He was waived on August 29, 1988, [5] but was re-signed after Terry McDaniel was lost for the year with a broken leg in the second game of the season. He appeared in 14 games with 10 starts at left cornerback, registering 2 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries. He was not re-signed after the season. [6]

Personal life

Fellows married wife Debra in 2002 and founded the Stars for Life Foundation, a nonprofit aimed at serving Native American communities suffering from addiction, diabetes and suicide. It now educates the public on the long-term dangers of impact sports. [7] He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2015. [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rod Woodson</span> American football player and coach (born 1965)

Roderick Kevin Woodson is an American former professional football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for 17 seasons. Widely considered one of the greatest defensive backs of all time, Woodson holds the NFL record for fumble recoveries (32) by a defensive player, and interceptions returned for touchdown (12). He was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1993.

The National Football League playoffs for the 1973 season began on December 22, 1973. The postseason tournament concluded with the Miami Dolphins defeating the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl VIII, 24–7, on January 13, 1974, at Rice Stadium in Houston, Texas.

Kevin Bryant Mathis is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, and Atlanta Falcons. He played college football at Texas A&M University–Commerce.

Dennis Lee Thurman is an American football coach and former player. He is a former coach in the National Football League (NFL) for the Phoenix Cardinals, the Baltimore Ravens and the New York Jets, and in the Alliance of American Football (AAF) for the Memphis Express. He played as a cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys and the St. Louis Cardinals. He played college football for the USC Trojans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nate Jones (cornerback)</span> American football player (born 1982)

Nathan Jones is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos and New England Patriots. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in seventh round of the 2004 NFL draft. He played college football at Rutgers University. He is currently a game official in the NFL, working as a field judge since the 2019 NFL season. As an NFL field judge, Jones wears the uniform number 33.

Lorenzo M. Lynch is a former American football defensive back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Chicago Bears, Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals and Oakland Raiders. He played college football at Sacramento State College.

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

Cortland Temujin Finnegan is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Samford Bulldogs, and was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft. Finnegan was also a member of the St. Louis Rams, Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints. He was a Pro Bowler in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Downs</span> American football player (born 1959)

Michael Lynn Downs is a former American football safety in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and Phoenix Cardinals. He played college football at Rice University.

Cletis Gordon is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League for the San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers. He played college football at Jackson State University.

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.

Derek Ross is a former American football cornerback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings. He played college football at Ohio State University.

Isaac Thomas is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, and Buffalo Bills. He was drafted in the second round of the 1971 NFL Draft. He played college football at Bishop College.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kareem Larrimore</span> American football player (born 1976)

Kareem Maktrel Larrimore is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2000 NFL draft. He was also a member of the Dallas Desperados, Austin Wranglers, and Chicago Rush of the Arena Football League (AFL), and the Amarillo Dusters. He played college football at West Texas A&M.

Charlie U. Williams is a former American football defensive back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Bowling Green State University.

LaShaun Brandon Ward is a former professional gridiron football wide receiver. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He played college football for the California Golden Bears.

Akwasi Owusu-Ansah is a former American football cornerback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Detroit Lions. He also played for the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was selected in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Cowboys. He played college football at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy Smith (cornerback)</span> American football player (born 1988)

James Michael Smith is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Baltimore Ravens with the 27th pick in the 2011 NFL draft. He played college football for the Colorado Buffaloes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chidobe Awuzie</span> American football player (born 1995)

Chidobe Richard Awuzie is an American football cornerback for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He played college football at Colorado.

Noah Igbinoghene is an American football cornerback for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Auburn Tigers and was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Igbinoghene has also played for the Dallas Cowboys.

References

  1. ↑ "Indiana Football Hall of Fame bio" . Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Cowley, Butler Romp To Opening Victories" . Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Liberty Bowl" . Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Raiders, Overstocked With Receivers, Trade One for a Cornerback" . Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Hilger Cut By Raiders" . Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Martin, Two Others Waived by Raiders" . Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  7. ↑ "About Us". Stars for Life Foundation. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  8. ↑ Fellows, Debra. "My Husband Is Dying Every Day". Deadspin. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
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.