Don Meredith RIP

Today we say goodbye to one of the most genuine men to play professional sports and grace the broadcast booth, Mr. Don Meredith.  Mr. Meredith passed on to the pearly gates after suffering a brain hemorrhage that caused him to enter a coma in his retirement city of Sante Fe. He was 72 years young.

Born Joseph Don Meredith in the heart of Texas, and affectionately later to become known as "Dandy Don Meredith",  the 6'3 210lb QB Meredith enjoyed one of the fullest lives that one could imagine. He started his brilliant career in Mt. Vernon, Texas where he birthed his college career and later entered Southern Methodist University in 1957.

Meredith became such a fixture on the campus and football field that the college was called Southern Meredith University in some circles. Meredith enjoyed his best college season in 1959 as he posted then scholar numbers of 1, 266 passing yards, 11TD's, 10Int's, and 2 rushing TD's. He finished his SMU career with 3, 130 passing yards, 25TD. 23INT, and 14Rushing TD's. Meredith was a two time All-American ('58 & '59) and holds a career completion percentage of 69.6%, which was the Southwest Conference record back in 1957. In October 2008 he returned to his alma matter to see his #17 jersey retired.






After completing his college career Meredith was a 3rd round draft pick of the Chicago Bears who subsequently traded him to the Dallas Cowboys for future picks. Undaunted Meredith showed up in Dallas with the Big-Texan-Swagger of a savvy veteran and fit right in with what would eventually become "Americas Team". Playing for a short 9 seasons from 1960-1968 Meredith threw 135TD's, 111Int's, while running for 1,216 rushing yards and 15TD's and final career numbers of 17, 199 passing yards and a 74.8 QB-Rating. He was the 1966 NFL Player of the Year when he posted 24TD's, 12Int's, 2, 805 yards, and 5 rushing TD's in the 13 game season. Meredith also was a three time Pro-Bowler in 1966, 67 & 69. Shortly thereafter in 1969 Meredith seeming destined to rewrite who he was again he retired from the NFL. He would join the Cowboy Ring of Honor in 1976.

In 1970 he joined Frank Gifford and legendary broadcaster Howard Cosell on Monday night Football, a gig that lasted from 1970-72 and again from 1977-1984.

During his hiatus from MNF Meredith went over to the darkside and joined Curt Gowdy for a short time before returning back home at ABC and MNF. A true personality in all that he was Meredith was meant for television as it previously had a buttoned up shirt and tie PC persona and he changed that with his western shirts, cowboy boots and hats, slip of the tongue rants on air, numerous catch phrases that are still used today and his signature singing when a game was a route. Because of that Meredith won many viewers and football fans alike as well as awards. He received the 2007 Pro Football Hall of Fame Pete Rozelle Radio/Television Award and kissed his presenter Frank Gifford smack dab on the top of his head as well as the 1966 Bert Bell Award. Outside the booth Meredith enjoyed success on television on shows such as  Police Story, Lipton Tea commercials, King of the Hill and Bud Bowl III. His last broadcast was in Super Bowl XIX alongside Frank Gifford and Joe Theisman.