Gerald Small

Gerald Small (August 10, 1956 – September 27, 2008) was an American professional football player who was a cornerback for seven seasons for the Miami Dolphins and Atlanta Falcons.

College career In 1975, Small led San Jose State to a Pacific Coast Athletic Conference (PCAC) championship over San Diego State by making two interceptions in the fourth quarter. He missed much of his senior season due to a shoulder injury.

Professional career

Miami Dolphins (1978–1983) Coming into the draft, Small was seen as the fourth best defensive back in his draft class. At first, Small was used sparingly in his rookie season, appearing in every game. He made nine tackles through the first 13 games before starting Miami's final three games at right cornerback. In those three games, Small picked off four passes, returning them for 157 total yards. This included two in a week 15 23–6 victory over the Oakland Raiders in which he picked off quarterback Ken Stabler twice for 85 return yards and his first career touchdown. With the win, Miami advanced to the playoffs for the first time in four years.

In 1979, Small started all 16 games for the Dolphins at right cornerback. He totaled 29 tackles and five interceptions for 74 return yards, defending seven passes for the 10–6 Dolphins.

1980 would see Miami miss the playoffs with an 8–8 record. Small again started all 16 games for the Dolphins, intercepting a career high seven passes, returning them for 46 yards, and also recovered a fumble.

In 1981, Miami posted an 11–4–1 record. Small started every game for Miami at right cornerback as the team qualified for the playoffs, but were ousted by the San Diego Chargers, 41–38 in overtime. Miami's defense led the AFC by allowing 275 points and tied for second in the NFL by allowing only 10 rushing touchdowns.

Small then had shoulder surgery in the offseason, and missed majority of the Dolphins' preseason games. In the strike-shortened 1982 season, he picked off two passes as the Dolphins finished 7–2. Then they avenged their playoff loss to the Chargers the previous season. In that game, Smalls got an interception of a Dan Fouts pass. They then made it to the AFC championship game where they faced the New York Jets, led by his college rival Wesley Walker. In that game, they shut down the Jets 14–0, the first playoff whitewash in 14 years by holding Walker to just one catch. With the win, they made it to Super Bowl XVII against the Washington Redskins. There, the Redskins defeated them 27–17.

In 1983, Small missed a week four start, breaking his string of 69 consecutive starts (including playoffs), but started the other 15 games for Miami. He finished the year with five interceptions as the Dolphins again made the playoffs, this time going 12–4.

In his time at Miami, Small totaled 23 interceptions over 88 games for the Dolphins over six seasons.

Atlanta Falcons (1984) In 1984, Small was traded to the Atlanta Falcons for offensive lineman Ronnie Lee and a draft pick. In his lone season, he had limited playing time and only started once. The following season, he was cut from the team. That would be his final season in the NFL.

Personal life and death On June 24, 1984, Small's car was broken into and his $200 radar detector was stolen. His teammate Nat Moore also had his car broken into and his radar detector stolen in a separate incident that same day.

Small died at the age of 52 in 2008, in Sacramento, California, where he was unemployed, and was living with an aunt at the time of his death. His brain was examined, where evidence was found of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).