Don Perkins, the running back who played his entire NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys, is the best NFL athlete to ever wear the uniform number 43.
Although Perkins was drafted by the Colts in the 1960 NFL draft, he had previously signed with the Cowboys before they were granted a franchise. The Cowboys kept Perkins and the Colts were awarded a draft pick as compensation.
Perkins played in all 14 games of his rookie season, rushing for 815 yards and 4 TDs. He also caught 32 passes for 298 yards and 1 TD that season of 1961. Perkins would continue racking up the rushing yardage over his eight year career, eventually becoming the first Dallas Cowboy to rush for 6,000 yards. He currently ranks third on the Cowboys' all-time rushing yardage list (behind Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett), with 6,217 career rushing yards.
- 42 career regular season rushing touchdowns
- 6,217 career regular season rushing yards
- 6 time Pro Bowler (1961, 1962, 1963, 1966, 1967, and 1968)
- 4 time All Pro (1961, 1962, 1967 and 1968)
- Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor
Did you know......Don Perkins played both halfback and fullback as a Cowboy?
Larry Brown, #43 Redskins, and Perkins both played 8 years. Brown had 8,360 yds rushing + receiving & 55TDs, to Perkins' 7,527 yds & 45 TDs. Brown led the NFL in rushing(1970), yds from scrimmage(1972) and rushing/receiving TDs(1973), while making 1st-team All-Pro twice, in 1970 & 1972. Perkins never led the NFL in anything and made 1st team All-Pro just once, in 1962.
ReplyDeleteBrown appears to have been the better athlete.
All Pro DPOY Troy Polamalu
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