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| Position | Defensive tackle | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born | (1953-08-25)August 25, 1953 (age 72) Dallas, Texas, U.S. | ||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight | 255 lb (116 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school | Bryan Adams(East Dallas, Texas) | ||||||||||
| College | Texas | ||||||||||
| NFL draft | 1975: 2nd round, 38th overall pick | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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Lowell Douglas English (born August 25, 1953) is an American former professionalfootball player who was adefensive tackle for theDetroit Lions from 1975 to 1985 of theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theTexas Longhorns.
English was born inDallas, Texas. He graduated fromBryan Adams High School.
English attended theUniversity of Texas, graduating in 1976 with a major in history. He helped theTexas Longhorns to three Southwest Conference titles. He was also a member of theTexas Cowboys. In 2011, he was inducted into theCollege Football Hall of Fame.
Along with defensive endAl "Bubba" Baker, English was a cornerstone of the Lions’ feared "Silver Rush" defensive line of the late 70's and early 80's. The 6-foot-5, 255 pound English was Detroit's second-round pick in 1975 out of theUniversity of Texas. In 1979, after recording 122 tackles (90 solo) and 6.5 sacks, English was voted as the team's Defensive MVP. After a year off due to chronic injuries that were hampering his play, English rejoined the Lions prior to 1981 season.
English's best season came in 1983, when he recorded 13 sacks and two safeties, making him only one of 17 NFL players to record two safeties in a single season. That year, the Lions won the NFC Central Division title with a 9–7 mark, and lost to the San Francisco 49ers, 24–23, in the divisional round. Upon the arrival of new coachDarryl Rogers in 1985, English was moved to nose tackle in the team's new 3-4 defensive alignment. His career ended after that season due to a serious neck injury. He finished his career with 55.5 sacks, which places him ninth on the Lions’ all-time list. He was named First-team All-Pro in 1982 and Second-team three times (1981, 1983–84). He also went to fourPro Bowls (1979, 1982–84). English had 4 safeties throughout his career, tying him withTed Hendricks,Jared Allen andJustin Houston for the most safeties in NFL history.
English became co-owner withLouie Kelcher, a former college rival with theSMU Mustangs, in the warehousing firm Pro Line Warehouse and Distribution.[1][2]
He is also the President of the Lone Star Paralysis Foundation.[citation needed]