Dave Edwards (linebacker)
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| Position: | Linebacker | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Date of birth: | December 14, 1939 | ||||||||||||
| Place of birth: | Columbia, Alabama | ||||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 225 lb (102 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Abbeville (AL) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Auburn | ||||||||||||
| AFL draft: |
1962 / Round: 25 / Pick: 194 (By the Denver Broncos) | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
David Monroe Edwards (born December 14, 1939) is a former American football linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He played college football for Auburn University.
Early years
Edwards attended Abbeville High School and went on to play college football at Auburn University. At 6'1" and 198 lbs, he was a two-way player at end who could be used as a receiver or as an accomplished tackler. As a senior he was named to the All-SEC team.[1]
In 1962 he played in the Senior Bowl. In that game, Tom Landry coached the opposing team (North). In 1987, he was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.[2]
Professional career
Edwards was selected by the Denver Broncos in the 25th round (194th overall) of the 1962 AFL Draft, but chose to sign with the NFL's Dallas Cowboys as a free agent in 1963. He started out as an offensive end in the taxi squad and was later converted to outside linebacker, after he grew from 205 to 230 lbs. His teammates nicknamed him "Fuzzy".
He started in 1963, when Chuck Howley was moved from strongside linebacker to weakside linebacker, because it was decided that Edwards had more upper-body strength for the position. He would end up forming with Howley and Lee Roy Jordan, one of the greatest linebacking corps in NFL history.
Edwards was strong, tough and steady throughout his eleven-year career. His strength made him a force against the run and he rarely made mistakes that could hurt the team. He thrived against opposing tight ends, so much so that then Oakland Raiders linebackers coach John Madden, instructed his linebackers to study Edwards' technique in stopping the run while jamming the tight end.
He was a key component in the Cowboys' defensive dominance during the late 1960s and early 1970s; although overshadowed by Howley and Jordan, he was a great player for many years. "The best thing you can say about Edwards is that he's a pro", asserted Cowboys defensive coach Ernie Stautner. "He plays while he's hurt and he still does an outstanding job. That's what a pro is".[3]
Edwards played in the NFL for 12 seasons and missed only one game during his career. He helped the Cowboys win three NFC Championships and one Super Bowl. He played in Super Bowls V, VI and X.