Thomas Lance Rentzel (born October 14, 1943) is a formerAmerican footballflanker in theNational Football League (NFL) for theMinnesota Vikings,Dallas Cowboys, andLos Angeles Rams. He played college football at theUniversity of Oklahoma.

Rentzel was a four-sport star atOklahoma City’s exclusiveCasady School, playingfootball,basketball,baseball, and runningtrack. He was anAll-American high schoolhalfback and thevaledictorian of his graduating class.^[1]

Rentzel accepted a football scholarship from theUniversity of Oklahoma underBud Wilkinson. As a sophomore, he came off the injured list too late and had to hitchhike toTexas to play in the third game against the #2 ranked Longhorns. He had two long receptions in the game, one for a 34-yard touchdown.^[2]

As a junior, Rentzel posted 59 carries for 387 yards (second on the team) with a 6.6-yard average and twotouchdowns.^[3] He was a versatile all-aroundhalfback and was known for his open-field speed and propensity for big plays rushing, receiving passes, and returning kicks.

During his senior year in 1964, Rentzel was the team's top pass catcher (268 receiving yards) and punter (40.5-yard average). His 491 rushing yards ranked second on the team. In the Big Eight Conference, his 5.4 rushing average was second only toGale Sayers.^[4] He also was the conference's No. 3 pass receiver, as well as No. 2 punter.^[5]

Rentzel was one of fourSooners players who missed the1965 Gator Bowl game againstFlorida State University. Rentzel,offensive linemanRalph Neely,Jim Grisham, and Wes Skidgel had signed with professional teams before the game and were ruled ineligible for the contest.^[6] Florida State won, 36–19, on the strength of fourtouchdown catches byFred Biletnikoff.^[7]

Rentzel was selected by theMinnesota Vikings in the second round (23rd overall) of the1965 NFL draft.^[8] He was also selected in the sixth round (48th overall) of the1965 AFL Draft by theBuffalo Bills.^[9] Rentzel played sparingly as a backuprunning back due to recurring injuries and his contributions came mainly as akickoff returner during his first two seasons. He set the record for the longestkickoff return (101 yards) in franchise history as a rookie, which was broken byAundrae Allison's 104-yarder in2007 andCordarrelle Patterson's 109-yarder in2013.^[10][11]

In1966, Rentzel played in only nine games due to ankle injuries. He averaged 20.1 yards on nine kickoff returns and caught two passes for 10 yards.

On May 2, 1967, Rentzel was traded to theDallas Cowboys in exchange for a third-round draft choice (#76-Mike McGill).^[12] Rentzel was converted into aflanker, where he became not only an immediate starter overPete Gent but also one of the best wideouts in theNFL. Rentzel led the team in receptions with 58 for 996 yards (two yards less thanBob Hayes). If Rentzel had gotten four more yards and Hayes two more, it would have been the first time in NFL history that a team had two 1,000-yardwide receivers. In the tenth game of the season against theWashington Redskins, Rentzel had 13 receptions for 233 yards. The 13 receptions set the franchise record, and stood for 40 years until it was broken byJason Witten in 2007. The 233 yards were good enough for third on the team at the time (now sixth). Rentzel also starred in the1967 NFL Championship, known since as the "Ice Bowl", scoring a fourth-quarter, go-aheadtouchdown later negated by the Packers' game-clinching drive.

In1968, Rentzel led the Cowboys in receptions (54) and receiving yards (1,009) with an 18.7-yard average and fivetouchdowns. Also that year, Rentzel recorded a one-off single, "Lookin' Like Somethin' That Ain't" b/w "Beyond Love" onColumbia Records; the record managed to make the charts atWKY radio inOklahoma City,^[13] but was not a national hit.^[14]

In1969, Rentzel led the Cowboys in receptions (43), receiving yards (960), and average receiving yards (22.3). He also tied for the NFL lead in touchdowns scored (13) in 1969.

In1970, Rentzel was leading the team in receiving yards, when he was arrested forexposing himself to a 10-year-old girl.^[15] At the time the accusation was made, the press revealed a nearly forgotten incident that happened when Rentzel was charged withexposing himself to two young girls inSt. Paul in September 1966, and pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of disorderly conduct.^[16] He was not sentenced to jail, but merely ordered to seek psychiatric care.^[17] Because of the nationwide reaction and publicity from the scandal, Rentzel's wife, singer and actressJoey Heatherton, divorced him shortly thereafter.^[18] Rentzel asked the Cowboys to place him on the inactive list so he could devote his time to settling his personal affairs.^[19] Rentzel missed the last three games of the regular season, including the Cowboys' playoff drive to its narrowSuper Bowl V loss to theBaltimore Colts. Rentzel finished the 1970 season with 28 receptions (second on the team) for 556 yards (second on the team) and fivetouchdowns.

On May 19, 1971, Rentzel was traded to theLos Angeles Rams in exchange fortight endBilly Truax and wide receiverWendell Tucker. Head coachTom Landry said after the trade, "We know we are giving up on one of the top flankers in the league, but I thought he would be better off in another city where he had the same opportunity regularly. We found this in Los Angeles, and it was one of the teams Lance wanted to be traded to if he were traded."^[15] To replace Rentzel, the Cowboys also obtainedLance Alworth from theSan Diego Chargers, in exchange forleft tackleTony Liscio (who retired before reporting to the Chargers, then returned to the Cowboys during the season when starting left tackleRalph Neely suffered a season-ending injury), tight endPettis Norman, anddefensive tackleRon East.^[20]

Although he spent only four seasons with the Cowboys, Rentzel left as the team's fourth all-time wide receiver in addition to other franchise records:

• Most receptions in a game (13 in 1967), which was broken byJason Witten twice (15 in2007 and 18 in2012).
• Most consecutive 100-yard receiving games (three), untilMichael Irvin passed him in1995 with four.
• Still fourth for most receiving touchdowns in a season (12).
• Still fourth for most career postseason receiving yards (242).

Rentzel led theLos Angeles Rams in receptions (38) in1971, but was never able to regain his previous level of play. In October1972, he was the subject of a lengthy feature article inSport Magazine written by Gary Cartwright. Also that year, Rentzel wroteWhen All the Laughter Died in Sorrow,^[21] about his professional football experiences and personal life.

In1973, while on probation for the indecent exposure charge, Rentzel was suspended indefinitely by theNFL at the start of the1973 season for conduct detrimental to the league after being convicted for possession of marijuana.^[22] He was reinstated in1974 after a ten-month suspension.^[23]

Rentzel was one of three men credited with inspiring the eccentricities that surround Media Day at theSuper Bowl. In January 1975,Sport Magazine editorDick Schaap hired Rentzel and teammateFred Dryer to coverSuper Bowl IX. Donning costumes inspired byThe Front Page, "Cubby O'Switzer" (Rentzel) and "Scoops Brannigan" (Dryer) peppered players and coaches from both the Minnesota Vikings andPittsburgh Steelers with questions that ranged from theclichéd to the downright absurd. Rentzel humorously explained, "We're here to ask the dumbest questions we can and to mooch as much food and beer as we possibly can."^[24][25]

On August 27, 1975, Rentzel was placed on waivers, effectively ending his career.^[26] After playing in nine NFL seasons, Rentzel accumulated 4,826 receiving yards, 38 receiving touchdowns, 196 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns, 1,000 return yards, a touchdown from a fumble recovery, and a perfectpasser rating of 158.3 by completing his lone pass attempt for a 58-yard touchdown.^[27]

In April 1969, Rentzel marriedJoey Heatherton, an actress, dancer, and singer, in New York City.^[28] After he was charged with indecent exposure for exposing himself to a 10-year-old girl, Heatherton filed for divorce on September 18, 1971. At the time, Rentzel was in New Orleans with the Rams for their season opener. The couple's divorce became final the following year.^[29][28]

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• 1943 births
• Living people
• Casady School alumni
• Players of American football from Oklahoma City
• American football wide receivers
• Oklahoma Sooners football players
• Minnesota Vikings players
• Dallas Cowboys players
• Los Angeles Rams players
• American memoirists

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