Lance Rentzel

NFL player


DateOfBirth=birth date and age|1943|10|14
Birthplace=flagicon|USA Flushing, New York
DateOfDeath=
Position=Wide receiver
College=Oklahoma
DraftedYear=1965
DraftedRound=2 / Pick 23
Stats=
PFR=RentLa00
DatabaseFootball=RENTZLAN01
Career Highlights=
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years=1965-1966
1967-1970
1971-1974
teams=Minnesota Vikings
Dallas Cowboys
Los Angeles Rams
ProBowls=
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Thomas Lance Rentzel (born October 14, 1943 in Flushing, New York) was an American football wide receiver in the NFL for the Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys, and the Los Angeles Rams from 1965 to 1974. He was briefly married to actress Joey Heatherton.

After attending the University of Oklahoma, he was drafted in the second round of the 1965 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. Over nine NFL seasons, Rentzel accumulated 4,826 yards receiving, 196 yards rushing, and 1,000 yards returning punts and kickoffs. He also had a perfect passer rating, by virtue of his lone pass attempt being completed for a 58-yard touchdown. Lance was an integral player in the 1967 Championship Game known as the "Ice Bowl," with a 4th quarter, go-ahead-touchdown catch. But, Dallas still lost.

For the 1971 season, he caught on with the Los Angeles Rams, wearing jersey number 13. The October 1972 issue of SPORT magazine had a lengthy feature on Rentzel, by author Gary Cartwright.

In 1972, he authored a book about his professional football experiences and personal life entitled, "When All the Laughter Died in Sorrow."

He dated actress, Victoria Principal.Fact|date=August 2008

Cyclist Lance Armstrong was named after the wide receiver. [50 Plus One Greatest Sports Heroes of All Times: North American Edition By Paul J. Christopher, Alicia Marie Smith, pg 31]

Today, Rentzel resides in Washington, D.C.

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