Dave Whitsell

David Andrew Whitsell (June 14, 1936 – October 7, 1999) was an American professional football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears, and New Orleans Saints. He was selected to the Pro Bowl after the 1967 season. Whitsell played college football at Indiana University.

Early life Whitsell was born on June 14, 1936, in Shelby, Michigan, a small town in West Michigan near Lake Michigan. Whitsell attended Shelby High School, graduating in 1954. He earned 16 high school letters in football, basketball, track, and baseball, graduating in 1954.

As a sophomore in 1952, he was All-West Michigan Conference (WMC) in basketball, playing center at only 5 ft, 7 in (1.7 m). He competed in hurdles, broad jump and shot put on the track team, winning the Class C broad jump championship in 1954. He was nicknamed the "one-man-gang" in track for his success in multiple different events.

College football Whitsell attended Indiana University, and played two years on the varsity football team in 1956–57). These were losing seasons for the team, 3–6 and 1–8 respectively. Whitsell, however, stood out on a bad team, accounting for nearly half of the team's entire offensive yardage through four games in 1957, when the team lost all four games by a combined total of 183–7. In 1957, he led the team in receiving, including a game against Iowa where he had three receptions for 107 yards.

Professional football Over 12 seasons (1958–1960, 1961–66, 1967–69), he played at the cornerback, defensive back, and free safety positions in the NFL with the Lions, Bears, and Saints respectively.

Detroit Lions He was chosen by the Detroit Lions in the 24th round of the 1958 NFL Draft (289th overall). He appeared in 35 career games with the Lions over the next three years, but started in only three, with one interception. The game, which was played on December 29, 1963, at Wrigley Field in Chicago, pitted the visiting New York Giants against the Bears in the 31st annual event. The Bears won, 14–10. Giants quarterback Y. A. Tittle threw five interceptions in the game, including an interception by Whitsell.

Whitsell started every Bears game from 1964 to 1966, with nine interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown in 1965.

New Orleans Saints Just as in 1961, Whitsell was left exposed in the 1967 expansion draft, and was taken by the newly created New Orleans Saints. among others. But it was Whitsell that was considered the Saints first true star.

In the Saints inaugural season, Whitsell became the first member of the New Orleans franchise to play in a Pro Bowl, when he was selected to play in the NFL's 1967 Pro Bowl game. In 1967, Whitsell also tied for the NFL league lead in interceptions with 10 (along with Lem Barney), two of which he returned for touchdowns. The Associated Press and United Press International named him second-team All-Pro in 1967, and The Sporting News named him first-team All-Conference.

He started 13 games for the Saints in 1968 at free safety, with six interceptions; and had three interceptions at free safety in 1969, starting in 12 games.

Honors Whitsell was inducted into the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame in 1989,

Personal life After his retirement from football he became a real estate investor. He was also a member of the National Football League Retired Players Association and the Kenner North Kiwanis Club.

Death He was diagnosed with colon and prostate cancer in 1995 and died from cancer in 1999.