Vern Den Herder

NFL player


Color=LightSteelBlue
fontcolor=Black
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DateOfBirth=birth date and age|1948|11|28
Birthplace=Lemars, Iowa
DateOfDeath=
number=83
Height_ft=6
Height_in=6
Weight_lbs=252
Position=Defensive End
College=Central College
DraftedYear=1971
DraftedRound=9/ Pick 230
DatabaseFootball=DENHEVER01
PFR=
Honors=College Football Hall of Fame
Awards=
Records=
years=1971-1982
teams=Miami Dolphins
ProBowls=1
CollegeHOF=60072

Vern Wayne Den Herder (born November 28, 1948 in Lemars, Iowa) was an American football player who played twelve seasons for the Miami Dolphins of the NFL. He played in three Super Bowls for the Dolphins. In 1996 he was selected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

High School

Attended high school in Sioux Center, Iowa, had no football team his first two years but was a star in his junior and senior seasons. He was a star in basketball and added football his last two years.

College career

Graduated cum laude with a major in chemistry from Central College at Pella, IA, because of its reputation for education in sciences and its affiliation with the Reformed Church in America. At 6-6 in height he was the starting center on Central's basketball team for four years and set the school scoring record. Played defensive end in football.

Den Herder made All-Iowa Conference in 1968, 1969, and 1970. In 1970, his senior season, was team captain, Iowa Conference most valuable player, and was named All-America, college division, by the NAIA, the Football Coaches Association, and the Associated Press. Coached by the late Ron Schipper, himself a College Football Hall of Famer, at Central Iowa [http://www.footballfoundation.com/news.php?id=819] .

NFL career

Led Dolphins in sacks in 1972 with 10-1/2. Also led team in 1975 with a career high 11 sacks. Named All-AFC in 1972 and went to Pro Bowl in 1973. In October, 1973, tied Bill Stanfill's team record for sacks with 5. Stanfill had set the record just two weeks earlier. Also led Dolphins in sacks in 1978 and 1979 with 9 each season. His 64-1/2 sacks rank fourth on Dolphin sack list. [http://www.miamidolphins.com/newsite/records/individualrecords/sacks.asp] . In addition to his five-sack game in 1973, Den Herder recorded two four-sack games (September 22, 1974 at Buffalo Bills) and (November 11, 1979 vs. Baltimore Colts) [http://www.miamidolphins.com/newsite/records/individualrecords/sacks.asp] . Voted by the NEA as the Dolphins MVP in 1979.

Coach Don Shula, called him "one of the most dependable players I've ever coached." [http://www.collegefootball.org/famersearch.php?id=60072]