Thom Darden

NFL player


Color=#964B00
fontcolor=white
DateOfBirth=birth date and age|1950|8|28
Birthplace=city-state|Sandusky|Ohio, United States
College=Michigan
Position=C/S/PR
DraftedYear=1972
DraftedRound=1/ Pick 18
ProBowls=1978
years=1972-1981
teams=Cleveland Browns
Honors=First team All-Big Ten (1970, 1971)
All-American (1971)
Big Ten Champions (1969, 1971)
All-Pro (1976, 1978, 1979)
Pro Bowl (1x)
NFL Interceptions leader (1978)
NFL Interception return yards leader (1978)
Records=Cleveland Browns Records:Career interceptions (45):Single season interceptions (10, 1978):Career interception return yards (820)
PFR=DardTh00
DatabaseFootball=DARDETHO01

Thomas Vincent Darden (August 28, 1950 in Sandusky, Ohio) is a former American football cornerback, safety, and punt returner who played for the Cleveland Browns of the NFL. In the NFL, he was a three-time All-Pro free safety. [cite web|url=http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1976/allpro.htm|title=1976 NFL All-Pros|accessdate=2008-02-29|publisher=Sports Reference, LLC|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com] [cite web|url=http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1978/allpro.htm|title=1978 NFL All-Pros|accessdate=2008-02-29|publisher=Sports Reference, LLC|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com] [cite web|url=http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1979/allpro.htm|title=1979 NFL All-Pros|accessdate=2008-02-29|publisher=Sports Reference, LLC|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com] He earned a Pro Bowl selection in 1978. [cite web|url=http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1978/probowl.htm|title=1978 NFL Pro Bowlers|accessdate=2008-02-29|publisher=Sports Reference, LLC|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com] He holds most Cleveland Browns franchise interception records. He was an All American defensive back for the Michigan Wolverines football team and made one of the more memorable interceptions in college football history.

College football

After graduating from Sandusky High School, [cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=DARDETHO01|title=Thom Darden |accessdate=2008-03-04|publisher=databaseSports.com|work=databaseFootball.com ] Darden played at the University of Michigan from '69-'71 and had 218 tackles and 11 Interceptions. He was an All American in 1971,cite web|url=http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1971fbt.htm|title=1971 Football Team|accessdate=2008-02-29|date=2007-03-31|publisher=The Regents of the University of Michigan] and he was also named All-Big Ten in 1970. [cite web|url=http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1970fbt.htm|title=1970 Football Team|accessdate=2008-02-29|date=2007-03-31|publisher=The Regents of the University of Michigan] He played on Big Ten champions in both 1969 and 1971. [cite web|url=http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1969fbt.htm|title=1969 Football Team|accessdate=2008-02-29|date=2007-03-31|publisher=The Regents of the University of Michigan] Thom fit in well at Michigan becoming one of Coach Bo Schembechler's prized pupil's and earning a reference in his 2006 book "Bo Schembechler". Darden still ranks among leaders at Michigan for Punt Returns and Punt Return Yardage. Darden played all defensive back positions at Michigan.cite web|url=http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fballam/aadarden.htm|title=University of Michigan Football All-American: Thom Darden|publisher=The Regents of the University of Michigan|date=2007-01-10|accessdate=2008-02-29]

ESPN chose Darden's November 211971 interception against Ohio State as one of the 100 Plays, performances and moments that define college football. [cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/features/the100?index=58|title=#58 Over and out|accessdate=2008-02-29|publisher=ESPN|author=Maisel, Ivan] The play was a very controversial call late in the 10–7 game and Woody Hayes stormed the field to rant at Jerry Markbreit about what he thought should have been ruled pass interference. [cite web|url=http://www.nflhs.com/tipsdrills/officiating/officiating_01032000a_db.asp|title=Recipe for Success|accessdate=2008-03-04|publisher=National Football League] That was Darden's second interception in that game. [cite web|url=http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/gametot.php?gkey=215|title=Versus Ohio State November 20, 1971|accessdate=2008-02-29|publisher=Regents of the University of Michigan|date=2003] ESPN also chose Darden as a member of the All-Time University of Michigan Football team. [cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=neumann/061116|title=Blue State/Red State|author=Neumann, Thomas|accessdate=2008-02-29|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|date=2006-11-16]

Pro football

Darden was Drafted 18th overall in the 1972 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. [cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/fulldraft?season=1972&round=round1|title=History (1972 Draft first round)|publisher=NFL Enterprises LLC.|work=NFL.com |accessdate=2008-02-29] Darden started at free safety from his rookie season of 1972 until he lost the job in his last season to Clinton Burrell. [cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9402E3D8123BF934A25751C0A964948260&scp=2&sq=Thom+Darden&st=nyt|title= SPORTS PEOPLE; Gillman an Eagle Again|accessdate=2008-03-04|date=1982-02-17|publisher=The New York Times Company|work=The New York Times] He posted a total of 45 career interceptions for 820 return yards and 2 touchdowns. [cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/players/thomdarden/profile?id=DAR296635|title=All-Time Players: Thom Darden|publisher=NFL Enterprises LLC.|work=NFL.com |accessdate=2008-02-29] Over the course of his career he handled 45 punt returns for 285 return yards. [cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/players/thomdarden/careerstats?id=DAR296635|title=All-Time Players: Thom Darden (more)|publisher=NFL Enterprises LLC.|work=NFL.com |accessdate=2008-02-29] Darden holds Cleveland Browns franchise records with 45 career interceptions, 10 single-season interceptions and 820 interception return yards. [cite web|url=http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/pdf/team/history/individual.pdf|title=Cleveland Browns 2007 Media Guide|accessdate=2008-02-29|publisher=Cleveland Browns] Two of Darden's Cleveland Browns teams went to the playoffs. As a rookie, the 10–4 1972 Cleveland Browns went to the 1972-73 NFL playoffs under head coach Nick Skorich, but lost in the first round to the Miami Dolphins 20–14. [cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=CLE&yr=1972&lg=nfl|title=1972 Cleveland Browns|accessdate=2008-02-29|publisher=databaseSports.com|work=databaseFootball.com] The 11–5 1980 Cleveland Browns went to the 1980-81 NFL playoffs under head coach Sam Rutigliano, but lost in the first round to the Oakland Raiders 14–12. [cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=CLE&yr=1980&lg=nfl|title=1980 Cleveland Browns|accessdate=2008-02-29|publisher=databaseSports.com|work=databaseFootball.com]

Notes

External links

* [http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/team/history/records.php Browns All Time Records]
* [http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fballam/aadarden.htm Darden Michigan]
* [http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=DARDETHO01 databasefootball.com]