Dave Ahrens
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| Position: | Linebacker | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | December 5, 1958 Cedar Falls, Iowa, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 238 lb (108 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Oregon (Oregon, Wisconsin) | ||||||||
| College: | Wisconsin | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1981 / round: 6 / pick: 143 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Dave Ahrens (born December 5, 1958) is a former American football linebacker who played ten seasons in the National Football League (NFL).[1] The Cedar Falls, Iowa native played college football at the University of Wisconsin.
Early life
[edit]Ahrens played high school at Oregon High School in Oregon, Wisconsin, where he played fullback and linebacker and was named All-State by the Associated Press his senior year.[2] Ahrens started out at the University of Wisconsin playing fullback but switched to linebacker and was captain[3] and Team MVP of the 1980 Wisconsin Badgers football team.[4]
Professional career
[edit]St. Louis Cardinals
[edit]Ahrens was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the sixth round (143rd overall) of the 1981 NFL draft.[5] He recorded his only interception his rookie year, which was returned for a touchdown.[6] Ahrens played in all the games and started ten his rookie season, but his playing time diminished and after four years he was traded to the Indianapolis Colts[7] for a tenth-round pick in the 1986 NFL draft.[8]
Indianapolis Colts
[edit]Ahrens was traded to the Indianapolis Colts before the 1985 season. He did not start a single game in 1985 but had arguably his best NFL season in 1986, starting ten games,[9] and registering two quarterback sacks,[10] one of them helping the Colts secure their first win of the year late in the season against the Atlanta Falcons.[11]
Detroit Lions
[edit]Ahrens spent 1988 with the Detroit Lions but only played in half the games and was left unprotected.[12]
Miami Dolphins
[edit]Ahrens was signed by the Miami Dolphins before 1989[13] and recorded one sack with the team. Due to salary concerns, the Dolphins released him but he did sign a Plan B contract.[14]
Seattle Seahawks
[edit]Ahrens signed with the Seattle Seahawks in free agency before the 1990 season.[15] He was cut during final cuts[16] only to be re-signed by the team. Ahrens was placed on injured reserve following a broken leg against the Denver Broncos late in the season.[17]
Later life
[edit]Ahrens spent the 1991 season with the Colts as an assistant coach.[18] He was part of a large group of Colts players named in a 2011 concussion lawsuit against the NFL.[19]
References
[edit]- ^ "Dave Ahrens Archived 2010-11-21 at the Wayback Machine", databasefootball.com, retrieved 2010-10-08
- ^ "The University of Wisconsin Collection: Wisconsin football 1977: Wisconsin football 1977". digicoll.library.wisc.edu. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
- ^ Galloway, Jason. "Badgers football: Seen and heard at Camp Randall Stadium". madison.com. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
- ^ "The Top Badgers Since 1975". www.badgermaniac.com. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
- ^ Boyles, Bob; Guido, Paul (January 1, 2009). The USA Today College Football Encyclopedia. Skyhorse Publishing Inc. ISBN 9781602396777.
- ^ "Dave Ahrens Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
- ^ "Wednesday's Sports Transactions". UPI. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
- ^ "1986 NFL Draft Pick Transactions". www.prosportstransactions.com. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
- ^ "Dave Ahrens - The Pro Football Archives". www.profootballarchives.com. Archived from the original on May 8, 2021. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
- ^ "Dave Ahrens". NFL.com. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
- ^ "Indianapolis Colts Football". Retrieved May 11, 2017.
- ^ "Players Who Cashed In On Their Chance To Move". tribunedigital-chicagotribune. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
- ^ "Free agency helped lesser players and hurt the Bears (April 3, 1989)". Retrieved May 11, 2017.
- ^ "Plan B: It Pays Not To Succeed So-so Players Find How To Get Ahead Without Really Vying". tribunedigital-sunsentinel. Retrieved May 11, 2017.[dead link]
- ^ "Deal For Marino Seen As Unlikely". tribunedigital-sunsentinel. Retrieved May 11, 2017.[dead link]
- ^ "ROUNDUP". The Washington Post. August 28, 1990. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
- ^ "Sports | Woods Survives Return To Lb". community.seattletimes.nwsource.com. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
- ^ "Dave Ahrens Coaching History - CoachTrees.com". www.coachtrees.com. Archived from the original on December 22, 2016. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
- ^ "NFL reaches concussion settlement with former players, including about 136 former Colts". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
- 1958 births
- Living people
- American football linebackers
- Detroit Lions players
- Indianapolis Colts coaches
- Indianapolis Colts players
- Miami Dolphins players
- Seattle Seahawks players
- St. Louis Cardinals (football) players
- Wisconsin Badgers football players
- People from Cedar Falls, Iowa
- People from Oregon, Wisconsin
- Sportspeople from Dane County, Wisconsin
- Coaches of American football from Wisconsin
- Players of American football from Wisconsin