Dave Simonson
 Simonson in 1974 | |||||
| No. 60, 67, 71, 62, 79 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Tackle | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born | May 2, 1952 Austin, Minnesota, U.S. | ||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | ||||
| Listed weight | 246 lb (112 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school | Austin | ||||
| College | Minnesota | ||||
| NFL draft | 1974: 12th round, 292nd overall pick | ||||
| Career history | |||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||
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David Arnold Simonson (born May 2, 1952) is an American former professional football player who was a tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for five different teams over a four-season career running from 1974 to 1977. He played college football for the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
Biography
[edit]Early life
[edit]Dave Simonson was born May 2, 1952, in Austin, Minnesota, where he attended Austin High School. He was a star wrestler and football player during his high school years.
College career
[edit]He attended college at the University of Minnesota, where he was again a two-sport athlete, playing football and wrestling. He spent his first two years on the Gophers football squad as a reserve, mired on the depth chart behind established starting tackles Bart Buetow and Dennis Maloney.[1]
His football career was endangered ahead of his junior year when in May 1972 he suffered a serious neck injury in spring football practice.[2] He was fortunately able to successfully rehabilitate his injury. He continued to compete as a top tier collegiate wrestler for Minnesota as well, racking up an 18–4 record in 1972–73,[3] and finishing second in the heavyweight division of the 1973 Big Ten Wrestling Championship.[4]
Professional career
[edit]Simonson was selected by the Baltimore Colts in the 12th round of the 1974 NFL draft, with the Colts making him the 292nd overall selection.[5] Simonson expressed intrigue at the possibility of a pro football career, telling the Minneapolis Star Tribune, "I'm just glad that somebody drafted me and I'm anxious to give it a try. I've toyed with the idea of pro wrestling but I'd like to see what happens with football first."[6]
He played in 13 games for Baltimore during his 1974 rookie season, primarily on special teams.[4] He saw very limited game action as an offensive lineman, playing, for example, the last eight minutes of the team's season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers.[7] In making the Colts' team, Simonson became the first resident of Austin, Minnesota, to make a roster in the NFL.[7]
With a year in the league under his belt, Simonson confided to a friendly reporter, "I expected to be drafted, but not by the Colts. Dallas gave me every indication they were going to draft me — they even sent me the pen to sign a contract with. Kansas City and Atlanta also showed great interest, but I had no inkling about Baltimore."[7]
His time in Baltimore proved fleeting, with the Colts releasing him on September 9, 1975, less than two weeks before the start of the 1975 NFL season.[8] He was briefly out of the league until being signed by the New York Giants in December.[8] He ultimately saw action in two games for the Giants at the end of the team's 1975 season.[9]
In the summer of 1976, Simonson changed jerseys again, this time traded on August 25 to the Houston Oilers.[8] After appearing in two games for Houston,[9] he was again released on September 22nd, landing a spot on the roster of the expansion Seattle Seahawks one week later.[8] He would remain on the team for the rest of the year, appearing in a total of five games for the Hawks.[8]
On September 7, 1977, with the 1977 NFL season around the corner, Simonson was released again, remaining out of football until being picked up by his fifth — and final — NFL team on October 25, when he signed a free agent contract with the Detroit Lions.[8] He saw action in 7 games for the Lions during 1975, effectively wrapping up a four year career in the NFL.[9] His tenure in the league was sufficient to vest for a pension at age 55.[10]
Personal life
[edit]Simonson returned home to Austin, Minnesota, and became an officer in the Austin Police Department in February 1980, rising to the rank of lieutenant by 1990.[10] He also served a stint as chairman of the Austin School Board.[11]
Simonson met his wife, Connie, a teacher, in 1975. The couple subsequently raised three children.[10]
He also worked as an assistant coach for the Austin High School wrestling team.[12]
Simonson was inducted into the Austin High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990.[12]
"Athletics leaves you with some aches and pains," he told a local newspaper reporter in 1990. "You have to keep things in perspective and be realistic."[10]
References
[edit]- ↑ Joe Soucheray, "Gopher Tackle Relaxed, Made First String," Minneapolis Star Tribune, Sept. 6, 1973, p. 3C.
- ↑ John Kolb, "A Peek at Sports," Austin Daily Herald, May 9, 1972, p. 9.
- ↑ John Kolb, "A Peek at Sports," Austin Daily Herald, April 17, 1973, p. 8.
- 1 2 Barry Jones (ed.), ’75 Colts Media Guide. Baltimore, MD: Baltimore Colts Football Club, 1975; p. 46.
- ↑ "1974 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 30, 2026.
- ↑ "Colts Draft Gophers' Simonson," Minneapolis Star Tribune, Jan. 31, 1974, p. 4C.
- 1 2 3 Dave Kranz, "Simonson: Goal is to Make Team Again," Austin Daily Herald, Jan. 23, 1975, p. 11.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Howard M. Balzer (ed.), Football Register: 1978 edition. St. Louis, MO: The Sporting News, 1977; pp. 329–330.
- 1 2 3 "Dave Simonson," Pro Football Reference, www.pro-football-reference.com
- 1 2 3 4 Pardhu Vadlamudi, "Officer Reflects on NFL Playing Days," Austin Daily Herald, Nov. 25, 1990, pp. B1–B2.
- ↑ Lee Bonorden, "Simonson Elected School Board Chairman," Austin Daily Herald, Jan. 4, 2000, pp. 1–2.
- 1 2 "Six Inducted into Austin High School Athletic Hall of Fame," Austin Daily Herald, Feb. 11, 1990; pp. 1B, 3B.
- 1952 births
- Living people
- Sportspeople from Austin, Minnesota
- Players of American football from Minnesota
- American football offensive tackles
- Minnesota Golden Gophers football players
- Baltimore Colts players
- New York Giants players
- Houston Oilers players
- Seattle Seahawks players
- Detroit Lions players
- 20th-century American sportsmen