 Dodrill on a 1954 Bowman football card | |||||||||
| No. 60 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positions | Defensive tackle Linebacker | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | (1926-02-07)February 7, 1926 Stockton, Kansas, U.S. | ||||||||
| Died | January 18, 2019(2019-01-18) (aged 92) | ||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||
| Weight | 215 lb (98 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | Loveland(Loveland, Colorado) | ||||||||
| College | Colorado A&M | ||||||||
| NFL draft | 1951: 6th round, 67th overall pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
Playing | |||||||||
Coaching | |||||||||
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| Awards and highlights | |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Dale Fike Dodrill (February 7, 1926 – January 18, 2019) was an American professionalfootball player who was adefensive tackle for nine seasons with thePittsburgh Steelers of theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theColorado A&M Aggies (now Colorado State Rams).
Dodrill was born to George Dodrill and Lettie (Fike) Dodrill on February 27, 1926, inStockton, Kansas. The family farmed inRooks County, Kansas and Dale attendedPlainville, Kansas schools. In 1937, the Dodrill family moved toFort Collins, Colorado and then toLoveland, Colorado.[1][2] In 1942, Dodrill played on theLoveland High School state championship football team.[3][4] Dodrill was selected into theUnited States Army right out of high school, serving in the30th Infantry Division duringWorld War II. Dodrill's brother Garrett died in a prison camp in thePhilippines during the war.[3]
In 1947, Dodrill enrolled at Colorado A&M (Colorado State University) to play football for the Rams. Dodrill played both sides of the ball for the Rams helping the team to its first post season appearance, the1949 Raisin Bowl. Dodrill was selected All-Skyline Athletic Conference in 1948, 1949 and 1950. He was selected to play in the East-West Shrine game in 1949 and the College All-Star game in 1951.[5] In 1952, Dodrill won the Nye Trophy as the most outstanding Colorado State male athlete.[6] Dodrill was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 1993.[7]
Dodrill was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in Round 6 of the 1951NFL draft.[8] During his nine-year career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dodrill posted career numbers of 10 interceptions and 11 recovered fumbles. One fumble recovery was returned for a touchdown.[9][1] Dodrill was voted to theNFL Pro Bowl four times (1954, 1955, 1956, 1958) and named First-teamAll-Pro in 1954.[9]
In 2007, Dodrill was honored by the Pittsburgh Steelers during their 75th Season Celebration. Dodrill was named to thePittsburgh Steelers Legends team as one of the Steelers’ best players from the pre-1970 era. Dodrill was inducted into the Pittsburgh Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016.[10]
After retiring from pro football, Dodrill coached the defensive line for theDenver Broncos from 1960 to 1963 and again in 1966.[11]
Dodrill married Janette Briggs on February 28, 1954. The couple has three sons, Garrett, Michael and David. In 1961, Dodrill started Dodrill Insurance inDenver, Colorado. After building a successful business, Dodrill sold Dodrill Insurance to his sons in 1991.[12] Michael died in 1964 and Janette in 2015.[13]