Diron Talbert

Diron Vester Talbert (born July 1, 1944) is an American former professional football player who played defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons, making the pro-bowl in 1975. He played four seasons with the Los Angeles Rams and 10 with the Washington Redskins, with whom he went to Super Bowl VII. He was later named one of the 70 greatest Redskin players of all time. As a freshman at the University of Texas he was part of the team that won the 1963 National Championship and he later made all-conference and pre-season All-American teams.

Early life Talbert was born on July 1, 1944, in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The family moved to Texas when he was a child. Talbert attended Texas City High School (TCHS) in Texas City, Texas, where he played lineman on the football team. He was a tri-captain of the football team his senior year. His older brothers Don (lineman) and Charlie (end), and younger brother Paul, also played football at TCHS. As a freshman he played with the team that won the consensus National Championship. His older brother Charlie Talbert was on that team.

He played on the varsity 1964-66, and was a tri-captain in 1966. He was selected All-Southwest Conference in 1965. He played in the North-South game and the Hula Bowl.

Talbert's brothers Don, Charlie and Paul all attended the University of Texas, though Paul moved on to Colorado University. Don and Charlie are also in the Longhorn's Hall of Honor, and Don was an All-American at tackle in 1961. From 1957 until Talbert's graduation, Texas coach Darrell Royal had one of the Talbert brothers as a starter on his teams. He was a teammate and roommate of future College Hall of Fame Texas star Tommy Nobis.

Professional career

Los Angeles Rams Talbert was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the 2nd round (17th overall) of the 1966 AFL Redshirt Draft and by the Los Angeles Rams in the 5th round (66th overall) of the 1966 NFL Draft. However, Talbert spent a fifth year at Texas, and did not join the Rams until 1967. He signed with the Rams playing with them from 1967 to 1970, under coach George Allen. Talbot played little in 1967 and sparingly in 1968, but in 1969 he started 13 of 14 games at right defensive end and had 7.5 quarterback sacks. He surpassed this in 1970, starting all 14 games at right defensive tackle, with 11.5 sacks.

Washington Redskins In 1971, he began playing defensive tackle for the Washington Redskins with whom he played until his retirement in 1980. Talbert rejoined coach George Allen, who became Washington’s head coach in 1971, leading the team as head coach through 1977. From 1971 to 1977, he started 97 of 98 possible regular season games at right tackle, and had 10 or more sacks three times; with a career high 12.5 in 1976. In 1973, he was named second-team All-Conference by United Press International (UPI). In his last three seasons, he started 12 (1978/3.5 sacks), 16 (1979/4.5 sacks), and then five games (1980/no sacks); retiring after the 1980 season. Personally, Talbert’s most memorable game was Washington’s victory over the Cowboys in the 1972 NFC championship game, on the way to the Super Bowl. He was known for his particularly strong distaste for the Cowboys and their quarterback Roger Staubach (though he later became a friend and business partner with Cowboy Walt Garrison). Talbert said “‘Losing to Dallas was the worst feeling in the world. You’d rather have your arm cut off.’”

His older brother Don Talbert also played in the NFL. Ironically, Don played the first two seasons of his eight-year NFL career in Dallas, and returned to Dallas for his final season in 1971, In 2012, he was named among the 80 greatest.

After football After retiring from football, Talbert entered the investment business and was involved with hotels, real estate and oil. He also owns and operates a retail grocery business along with his brother Don in Rosenberg, Texas. Other plaintiffs included his brother Don, and a number of his old Dallas Cowboy opponents, such as Lee Roy Jordan, Chuck Howley, Ralph Neely, Rayfield Wright, Charlie Waters and Walt Garrison.