Dave Simonson

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 Early life

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

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.

His football career was endangered ahead of his junior year when in May 1972 he suffered a serious neck injury in spring football practice. 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, and finishing second in the heavyweight division of the 1973 Big Ten Wrestling Championship.

Professional career

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. 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."

He played in 13 games for Baltimore during his 1974 rookie season, primarily on special teams. In making the Colts' team, Simonson became the first resident of Austin, Minnesota, to make a roster in the NFL. He was briefly out of the league until being signed by the New York Giants in December.

In the summer of 1976, Simonson changed jerseys again, this time traded on August 25 to the Houston Oilers.

Personal life

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.

Simonson met his wife, Connie, a teacher, in 1975. The couple subsequently raised three children.

Simonson was inducted into the Austin High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990.

"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."