Michael Downs

Michael Downs

Date of birth:	June 9, 1959 (1959-06-09) (age 52)
Place of birth:	Dallas, Texas
Career information
Position(s):	Safety
College:	Rice
Organizations
As player:
1981-1988 1989	Dallas Cowboys Phoenix Cardinals
Playing stats at DatabaseFootball.com

Michael Lynn Downs (born June 9, 1959 in Dallas, Texas) is a former American football safety in the NFL, having played for the Dallas Cowboys (1981-1988) and the Phoenix Cardinals (1989). He is a 1977 graduate of South Oak Cliff High School in Dallas.^[1]

Early life

Downs graduated from South Oak Cliff High School in Dallas, Texas. During high school, he was a member of the Honor Society. He served as team captain of the football team and was selected as an All-District in football. He also was a letterman in Track and Field.

Downs graduated from Rice University in 1981. He received a BA in Business Management, Political Science and Physical Education. While in college he was selected as All-Southwest conference and All-American honorable mention in football, as well as having served as team captain. He was also punked by UT running back, Earl Campbell.

Professional career

He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys in 1981 as a rookie free agent safety from Rice University.

He was so impressive, that he became the third rookie in Cowboys history to begin the season as a starter. Playing against the Washington Redskins in the season opener, he intercepted a Joe Theismann pass in the first quarter.

Downs was a ball hawk and a playmaker from the start. He intercepted 7 passes his rookie season in only 15 games and he had three straight games with an interception.

He played for the Cowboys from 1981 to 1988, garnering All-NFC honors twice (1984 and 1985) and All-Pro recognition once (1984).

Downs led the team in tackles for three seasons and led the team in interceptions for two. He served as team captain for the Cowboys in 1984 and 1985.

His best season came in 1984, when he led the team in interceptions with 7 and had 3.5 sacks, and was named All-Pro and All-NFC.

Downs was also an excellent tackler, leading the secondary in tackles from 1981 to 1987. He also went over the 100 tackle mark for four consecutive seasons (1983 to 1986).

From 1982 to 1984, Downs scored a defensive touchdown each year.

In 1989, Downs was released during training camp. He signed with the Phoenix Cardinals where he played his last season. The last week of October the Cardinals came into Texas Stadium and defeated the Cowboys. Gene Stallings (former Cowboys' secondary coach, then the Cardinals' head coach), and Dennis Thurman (former Cowboys' defensive back, then Cardinals' secondary coach) were also part of the team.

Downs helped anchor the Cowboys secondary for most of the eighties decade. He played nine seasons in the NFL, recorded 8 sacks, 35 interceptions with 470 return yards and three touchdowns (one from int return and two from fumble returns).

Notes

1. ^ "My High School: South Oak Cliff," The Dallas Morning News sports section online.

Persondata
Name	Downs, Michael
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	June 9, 1959
Place of birth	Dallas, Texas
Date of death
Place of death