Frank Minnifield

Infobox NFLretired


|caption=
width=
position=Cornerback
number=31
birthdate=birth date and age|1960|1|1
Lexington, Kentucky
deathdate=
debutyear=1984
finalyear=1992
college=Louisville
teams=
* Cleveland Browns (1984-1992)
stat1label=INT
stat1value=20
stat2label=INT yards
stat2value=124
stat3label=Games
stat3value=122
nfl=MIN439713
highlights=
* Pro Bowl (x4) (1986, 1987, 1988, 1989)
* NFL 1980s All-Decade Team
HOF=
CollegeHOF=

Frank Minnifield (born January 1, 1960, Lexington, Kentucky) is a former American football player who played defensive back for the Cleveland Browns from 1984-92.

Minnifield attended Henry Clay High School in Lexington. Considered too small for college football at just 5'9" and 140 pounds, he walked on to the football team at the University of Louisville, earning a scholarship spot for his final three years. As a junior in 1981, he led the nation in average yards per kickoff return (30.4) and led his team in punt returns.

After graduation in 1982, Minnifield joined the Chicago Blitz (later the Arizona Wranglers) of the USFL. He successfully sued the Wranglers for the right to move to the NFL, and signed as a free agent with the Browns in 1984. Minnifield became a fixture at cornerback for Cleveland and was named to the Pro Bowl four straight years from 1986-89. He was named to the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team as selected by voters of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Perhaps more importantly to Cleveland fans, he and fellow cornerback Hanford Dixon originated and named the Dawg Pound cheering section at Cleveland Stadium.

Upon retirement, Minnifield founded Minnifield All-Pro Homes, a homebuilding company in Lexington. In 1993, he became the first African American executive named to the Lexington Chamber of Commerce Board, and as of 2000, he was the only African American home builder in Lexington.

Minnifield's son Chase is a freshman cornerback for the University of Virginia Cavaliers.

External links

* [http://www.uky.edu/Subject/aakyall.html Biography, University of Kentucky "Notable Kentucky African-Americans" project]
* [http://uoflsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/minnifield_frank00.html University of Louisville biography]