Dana Nafziger
No. 83, 51 | |
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Position: | Tight end / Linebacker |
Personal information | |
Born: | Woodstock, Illinois | October 26, 1953
Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
Weight: | 220 lb (100 kg) |
Career information | |
High school: | Anaheim (CA) Western |
College: | Cal Poly |
Undrafted: | 1977 |
Career history | |
Stats at Pro Football Reference |
Dana Albert Nafziger (born October 26, 1953) is a former American football player who played five seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League.
Early life
Nafziger attended Western High School in Anaheim, California.[1][2]
College career
Playing college football at California Polytechnic State University, Nafziger was recognized as a skilled blocking tight end[3] and graduated with 63 career catches for 892 yards and seven touchdowns.
Following his senior season of 1976, he earned all-conference accolades from the CCAA[4] as well as AP Little All-America status.[5]
Professional career
Nafziger was signed by Tampa Bay in September 1977.[6] While originally worked out as a prospective linebacker, the Buccaneers soon moved him to tight end and also utilized him heavily on special teams.[7] He was part of the 1979 Tampa Bay squad which advanced to the NFC Championship Game, producing two sacks and a pair of fumble recoveries for the Central Division champions that fall.
During the 1981 season, as the franchise again made the playoffs, Nafziger led the club with 22 special teams tackles for the year.[8]
References
- ^ "DANA NAFZIGER". profootballarchives.com. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
- ^ "Dana Nafziger". bucpower.com. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
- ^ "Miller Sports Award: Football Player of the Week". Mustang Daily. November 19, 1976. p. 7. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
- ^ "Eight gridders named to all-league squad". Mustang Daily. January 4, 1977. p. 5. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
- ^ "Poly's Nafziger picked on AP Little All-America". San Luis Obispo Telegram-Tribune. December 9, 1976. pp. A-11.
- ^ "Nafziger inks pact with Tampa Bay". San Luis Obispo Telegram-Tribune. September 15, 1977. pp. B-2.
- ^ Steers, Dennis (June 10, 1980). "Nafziger likes shadows of sparkling profession". San Luis Obispo Telegram-Tribune. pp. B-2.
- ^ 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Media Guide. Tampa Bay Bucs. 2020. p. 390.
External links
- Living people
- 1953 births
- Players of American football from Illinois
- American football tight ends
- American football linebackers
- Cal Poly Mustangs football players
- California Polytechnic State University alumni
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers players
- People from Woodstock, Illinois
- Sportspeople from McHenry County, Illinois
- American football tight end, 1950s birth stubs