Don Perkins, a six-time Professional Bowl operating again with the Dallas Cowboys within the Sixties, died on Thursday. He was 84.
The Cowboys and the College of New Mexico, the place Perkins was a standout participant earlier than his skilled profession, introduced the dying. Neither announcement mentioned the place he died, and neither cited the trigger.
Perkins rushed for six,217 yards in 107 video games with the Cowboys from 1961 to 1968. He’s fourth on the group’s profession checklist behind two Professional Soccer Corridor of Famers — Emmitt Smith, the N.F.L. profession speeding chief, and Tony Dorsett — and the Cowboys’ present operating again, Ezekiel Elliott. Perkins’s 42 speeding touchdowns rank fifth within the group’s historical past.
Whereas he was initially drafted by the Baltimore Colts within the ninth spherical of the 1960 draft, Perkins had already signed a private providers contract with the enlargement Cowboys. Dallas acquired his rights after sending the Colts a ninth-round draft choose.
Perkins missed the Cowboys’ inaugural season in 1960 due to a damaged foot. He rushed for 815 yards in 1961, and completed third within the voting for N.F.L. rookie of the yr, behind Mike Ditka and Fran Tarkenton. He had a career-best 945 yards speeding in 1962.
Donald Anthony Perkins was born on March 4, 1938, in Waterloo, Iowa. He performed for New Mexico from 1957 to 1959 and was a group captain his ultimate two seasons. The Lobos’ coach on the time, the longer term Corridor of Famer Marv Levy, has mentioned that Perkins was one of many best gamers he ever coached.
Perkins returned to the Albuquerque space after his professional soccer profession was over. He later labored as a tv and radio soccer analyst.
Data on survivors was not instantly out there.
“Don is among the best Lobos, and positively one of many best soccer gamers to play for U.N.M.,” New Mexico’s athletic director, Eddie Nuñez, mentioned. “He got here again to New Mexico and labored for the state and was an amazing ambassador for therefore many.”
