Mel Renfro
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| Mel Renfro | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | December 30, 1941 (age 65) |
| Place of birth |  Houston, Texas |
| Position(s) | Cornerback |
| College | Oregon |
| NFL Draft | 1964 / Round 2/ Pick 17 |
| Career Highlights | |
| Pro Bowls | 10 |
| Awards | 1970 Pro Bowl MVP |
| Honors | Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor |
| Stats | |
| Statistics | |
| Team(s) | |
| 1964-1977 | Dallas Cowboys |
| College Hall of Fame | |
| Pro Football Hall of Fame, 1996 | |
Melvin Lacy "Mel" Renfro (born December 30, 1941 in Houston, Texas) is a former American football cornerback and safety who spent his entire career with the Dallas Cowboys.
Mel Renfro attended the University of Oregon, where he excelled as a track star and All-American halfback. In his four seasons with the Ducks, Renfro rushed for 1,532 yards and scored 141 points. As a track star for track coach Bill Bowerman Renfro was part of a World Record Setting 440 meter relay team in 1962, with a time of 40.0 seconds. His running mates were: Jerry Tarr, Mike Gaechter and Harry Jerome. In 1986, Renfro was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.
In 1964, Renfro was drafted by the Cowboys in the second round of the NFL Draft. Renfro was initially placed as a safety, but was switched to cornerback in his fifth season. The speedy Renfro became an exceptional threat to wide receivers and was selected to the Pro Bowl for each of his first ten seasons in the League. Renfro was also a significant threat in special teams, performing punt and kickoff return duties in addition to playing on defense. One of Renfro's teammmates with the Ducks was future Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Dave Wilcox, who went on to star for the San Francisco 49ers for 11 seasons.
In the 1970 NFC title game, Renfro had a key interception that led to the Cowboys' game-winning touchdown over the San Francisco 49ers that helped them get to Super Bowl V, where they lost to the Baltimore Colts. Renfro would later play in Super Bowls VI and X and XII, retiring after the final one: a Cowboys victory over the Denver Broncos. In his fourteen seasons, Renfro intercepted 52 passes, returning them for 626 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also returned 109 punts for 842 yards and 1 touchdown, 85 kickoffs for 2,246 yards and 2 touchdowns, along with recording 13 fumble recoveries, which he returned for 44 yards..
Renfro was added to the Texas Stadium Ring of Honor in 1981, and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1996.
[edit] External links
| Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor inductees |
|
1975: Bob Lilly | [1976: Don Meredith | 1976: Don Perkins | 1977: Chuck Howley | 1981: Mel Renfro | 1983: Roger Staubach | 1989: Lee Roy Jordan | 1993: Tom Landry | 1994: Tony Dorsett | 1994: Randy White | 2001: Bob Hayes | 2003: Tex Schramm | 2004: Cliff Harris | 2004: Rayfield Wright | 2005: Troy Aikman | 2005: Emmitt Smith | 2005: Michael Irvin |
