Dan Hampton

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Dan Hampton
Dan Hampton in May 2008
Position(s): Defensive Tackle	Jersey #(s): 99
Born: September 19, 1957 (1957-09-19) (age 50) Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Career Information
Year(s): 1979–1990
NFL Draft: 1979 / Round: 1 / Pick: 4
College: Arkansas
Professional Teams
Chicago Bears (1979-1990)
Career Stats
Sacks	82
Games	157
Safeties	1
Stats at NFL.com
Career Highlights and Awards
4x Pro Bowl selection (1980, 1982, 1984, 1985) 6x All-Pro selection (1980, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988) NFL 1980s All-Decade Team 1982 PFW NFL Defensive Player of the Year 1984 NFLPA NFC DL of the Year 1990 George S. Halas Courage Award
Pro Football Hall of Fame

Daniel Oliver Hampton (born September 19, 1957) is a retired Hall of Fame American football defensive tackle who played twelve seasons for the Chicago Bears from 1979 to 1990 in the National Football League. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002. Currently hosts pre- and post-game shows for the Bears on WGN Radio in Chicago.^[1]

[edit] High school

The son of Robert and Joan Hampton, Dan graduated from Jacksonville High School in Jacksonville, AR, in 1975. Hampton played football his junior and senior year. He suffered a disabling fall from a tree that kept him out of organized sports from grades 7-10. He participated in band, playing saxophone and five other instruments. Jacksonville High School coach Bill Reed is credited for "rescuing me" from the band.^[2]

[edit] College

Hampton played college football at Arkansas and was drafted in the first round of the 1979 NFL Draft by the Bears. He was part of a Razorback team that thumped the highly favored Oklahoma Sooners in the 1978 Orange Bowl by a score of 31-6. Several key Razorback players had been suspended for the game by Arkansas Head Coach Lou Holtz which left the team short-handed. The fired up Razorbacks charged from the locker room in a fashion that the media noticed. When asked why the team came out of the locker room in such a hurry the wry Hamption answered, "Coach Holtz said the last eleven out of the locker room will start".

As a senior Hampton was All-America and recorded 18 quarterback sacks. He was also named the Southwest Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 1978. In addition, that same season, Hampton was named by the Houston Post the SWC Player of the Year^[3]. He was a four-year letterman, a three-year starter at Arkansas and a two-time All-Conference selection. He was also a member of the Razorback All-Decade team of the 1970s.

In 1991 he was elected to the University of Arkansas Sports Hall of Honor and the following year he was voted to the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. In 1994 Hampton was voted to the All-Century team of the University of Arkansas.

Mike Ditka remembers scouting Hampton while a member of the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff, "I watched Dan when he came out of Arkansas," Ditka said, "I remember coach [Tom] Landry saying what a great football player he was going to be." ^[4]

[edit] NFL

Hampton was drafted by the Bears in the first round of the 1979 draft and on June 27, 1979, he signed a four-year $470,000 contract with the club that included a $160,000 signing bonus. In 1979 he was voted All-Rookie by the Pro Football Writers Association. The following year he was a Second-team All-Pro selection and was voted to his first Pro Bowl after recording 11-1/2 sacks which lead the Bears.

He was selected to four Pro Bowls and was a key defensive member of the Bears' Super Bowl XX win against the New England Patriots in 1985. Hampton was a versatile defensive lineman, making All-Pro at both defensive end and defensive tackle. In all, Hampton was 1st or 2nd team All-Pro in 1980, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1988. His versatility likely cost him several post-season honors, for example, in 1986 he was an alternate for the Pro Bowl at both defensive end and defensive tackle. His playing both positions likely split the votes of his NFC peers. Hampton was also a 1st alternate for the Pro Bowl in 1988 and graded out as the top defender on the Bears that season, even though Mike Singletary was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year.^[5]

During the middle of the Bears 1985 Super Bowl run, Hampton signed a 4-year contract extension. On November 8, 1985, he signed a four-year deal worth $2.7 million. Hampton became the fifth highest-paid defensive lineman in the NFL when the contract began in 1986 with an estimated salary of $625,000. Hampton was making $325,000 during for the 1985 season. Also in the middle of 1985 Hampton moved from right defensive tackle to left defensive end, allowing William Perry to move into the starting lineup.

During Hampton's tenure in Chicago (1979-90), the Bears defense ranked #1 in the NFL in allowing the fewest rushing yards, the fewest rushing touchdowns, the fewest total yards, the fewest points and inflicted the most sacks^[6].

In 1982 he had a trememndous year while playing defensive tackle, recording 9 sacks in the 9-game strike-shortened season. He was also named NFL defensive player of the year by Pro Football Weekly. He played out his option after that season and became a free agent. On July 15, 1983, Hampton signed a deal that made him the Bears' second highest-paid player (behind Walter Payton). Hampton signed three one-year contracts worth about $1 million (including bonuses), an average of about $333,000 per year. "Dan will be the highest paid defensive lineman in the league this year," said Jim Steiner, Hampton's agent. "I'm very happy," said Hampton, "I'm glad to have the contract behind me so I can concentrate on training camp. I'm optimistic about this season and I didn't want to miss any of the fun." ^[8]

Hampton didn't miss out on the fun. He was voted the NFLPA NFC Defensive Lineman of the Year in 1984 along with being consensus All-Pro and made his third Pro Bowl. Hampton also tied his own career-best of 11-1/2 sacks in 1984. The Bears' defense was the tops in the league and he was part of 1984 Bear defense that set the NFL record for most sacks in a season, with 72, and is the co-holder of the record for most sacks in a game with 12. The latter occurred against the Detroit Lions on December 16, 1984. Earlier in that season the Bears sacked Minnesota Viking quarterback Archie Manning 11 times, to tie the record for the second-most sacks in a game.

In his 1987 book "Fatso"^[9] Hall of Fame defensive tackle Art Donovan called Dan the best defensive lineman in the NFL and "the closest thing to Gino Marchetti I've seen". Hampton's play also caught the eye of John Madden, who named Hampton to his All-Madden team six times and to the 10th Anniversary All-Madden team. ^[10]

Sports Illustrated 's Paul Zimmerman relates an anecdote that when he picked fellow Bear DT Steve McMichael for his All-Pro team in 1985 he was chided a year later by Buddy Ryan, then the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. Ryan told Zimmerman that he was disappointed in him and that he thought Zimmerman knew football. He then pulled out Bears films and showed Zimmerman that "Hampton was the cornerstone to our 46 defense by drawing constant double teams".^[11][12]

During his football career Hampton endured 10 knee surgeries (five on each knee) and had two more just after finishing his 12th NFL season in 1990. He is credited by the Chicago Bears as having 82 career sacks. ^[13] He had a career high of 11-1/2 in both 1980 (as a DE) and 1984 (as DT). After his contract expired after 1989, Hampton signed a 1-year deal for $850,000 to play the 1990 season for the Bears. The final contract was incentive based, if Hampton played he got paid, if an injury forced him to the sidelines we would not. Hampton played 14 games - had he played all 16 he would have earned the full $1 million value of the contract. After the 1990 season Hampton was voted to the NFL All-Decade team of the 1980s.

Hampton, who missed 23 games in his career due to severe knee injures, was a positive force on the Bear defense. From 1983-90, in games Hampton missed the Bears only won 33% of the time. In games he played they won 75%. When he was in the lineup the Bears sacked the quarterback 3.6 times a game and only 2.3 times a game without him. When Hampton played the defense gave up an average of 14 points a game and allowed 23 points a game in the games he missed, all seemingly remarkable statistics. ^[14][15]

Dan Hampton delivering a speech in 2002

Dan Hampton retired from the Chicago Bears after the 1990 season.

In 1990 Hampton was the recipient of the George S. Halas Courage Award by the Pro Football Writers Association which is given to the player or coach who "has performed with abandon despite injury". Other winners over the years have been Robert Edwards, Dick Butkus, as well as others.

Hampton was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002. He was inducted with Washington Redskins head coach George Allen, Oakland Raiders tight end Dave Casper, Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly and Pittsburg Steelers wide receiver John Stallworth.

Hampton is a co-host for the syndicated Pro Football Weekly television show which is approaching its 20th season on the air. The show is hosted by a panel, Pro Football Weekly publisher/editor Hub Arkush as well as Chicago sportscaster Pat Boyle, and former Bear Tom Waddle.^[16]

[edit] Personal

• Feeling the "Bears Super Bowl Shuffle" was too cocky, Hampton declined involvement. ^[17]
• His fierce style of play earned him the nickname of "Danimal".
• Is part of a Miller Lite and Gridiron Greats promotion to raise funds for retired NFL players in need.^[18]
• Threw out the first pitch at a Chicago Cubs game August, 12, 2005.
• Participates in "One for the Kids" Annual golf tournament that raises funds for various charities that support children in the Chicago area. ^[19]
• Named one of the state of Arkansas' Top 50 greatest athletes in the 20th century.^[20]
• Is a spokesperson for companies such as Chevrolet and Firestone.^[21]
• Was an NBC color commentator for XFL games in 2001.^[22]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Pro Football Hall of Fame: ^[1]