Richard Dent

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Richard Dent
Date of birth	December 13, 1960
Place of birth	Atlanta, Georgia
Position(s)	Defensive end
College	Tennessee State
NFL Draft	1983 / Round 8/ Pick 203
Career Highlights
Pro Bowls	1984, 1985, 1990, 1993
Awards	1985 Super Bowl MVP
Stats
Statistics	Pro Football Reference DatabaseFootball
Team(s)
1983-1993 1994 1995 1996 1997	Chicago Bears San Francisco 49ers Chicago Bears Indianapolis Colts Philadelphia Eagles

Richard Lamar Dent (born December 13, 1960) is a former American football defensive end who played primarily for the Chicago Bears of the NFL. He was the MVP of Super Bowl XX.

Contents 1 Pro Football career 1.1 Chicago Bears 1.1.1 1985 season 1.2 After Chicago

[edit] Pro Football career

[edit] Chicago Bears

After playing 4 years at Tennessee State University, Dent was drafted in the eighth round by the Bears, with 203rd overall pick in the 1983 NFL Draft. At 6'5, 265 lbs., Dent was a great pass rusher who beat offensive tackles with his speed. He was part of the core of great players who made the Bears' defenses of the 1980's legendary. Between 1984 and 1985, Dent recorded 34.5 sacks.

[edit] 1985 season

In the 1985 season, Dent and the Bears had one of the most spectacular seasons in NFL history, finishing the season with a 15-1 record and shutting out both their opponents in the playoffs. Dent was a major factor in Chicago's success, leading the NFL with 17 sacks, while recovering 2 fumbles and intercepting 2 passes (1 of which was returned for a touchdown). The Bears went on to crush the New England Patriots 46-10 in Super Bowl XX, then the largest margin of victory in Super Bowl history. Dent, who shared 2 sacks, forced 2 fumbles, and blocked a pass, was selected as the game's MVP.

[edit] After Chicago

Dent would remain with the team until the end of the 1993 season, after the Bears had won just one playoff game since their loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the 1988 NFC Championship Game, and head coach Mike Ditka had been replaced by Dave Wannstedt.

Dent won a Super Bowl ring after spending the 1994 season under contract with the 49ers, though he spent almost the whole year injured. Injuries would continue to hamper Dent after his return to Chicago in 1995. Dent would spend 1996 and 1997 with the Indianapolis Colts and Philadelphia Eagles respectively.

Dent retired after the 1997 season. His lifetime statistics included 137.5 sacks and 8 interceptions; he returned these "picks" for 89 yards and one touchdown. He also recovered 13 fumbles, returning them for 56 yards and one touchdown. 124.5 of his sacks came during his first stint with the Bears, from 1983 to 1993.

Dent has been nominated several times for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but to this day he has not been enshrined. This is puzzling to many, as Dan Hampton, his teammate on the Bears defensive line, has been enshrined, despite recording only 57 sacks in his 12 seasons. However, Dent remains a strong candidate for future enshrinement. In 2005, he was among the top 15 finalists in the selection process.

Preceded by: Joe Montana

NFL Super Bowl MVPs Super Bowl XX, 1986

Succeeded by: Phil Simms