| Date of birth: | July 1, 1934 |
| Place of birth: | Rawlings, Virginia |
| Date of death: | November 13, 1998 (aged 64) |
| Career information | |
|---|---|
| Position(s): | Cornerback |
| College: | LA City College |
| Organizations | |
| As player: | |
| 1958-1959 1959 1960-1965 |
Pittsburgh Steelers Chicago Bears Dallas Cowboys |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Pro Bowls: | (1962) |
| Playing stats at NFL.com | |
Donald William Bishop (July 1, 1934 – November 13, 1998) was an American football cornerback in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Chicago Bears.
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Bishop was born on July 1, 1934 in Rawlings, Virginia. After going to high school at Jefferson High School (Los Angeles, California), he attended Los Angeles City College (J.C.).
He was bypassed in the 1958 NFL Draft but made the Pittsburgh Steelers roster as a rookie free agent.
The Steelers tried Bishop out as a split end and as a halfback, but he caught only 3 passes his rookie season.
In 1959, after playing 2 games with the Steelers, he was released, later joining the Chicago Bears where he only played 1 game before being cut.
In two years with the Steelers and the Bears, three catches, along with four punt returns, remained his only professional statistics.
The expansion Dallas Cowboys signed him off the waiver wire before the 1960 season started.
Bishop was moved to cornerback and proved to be a very good defensive player during the early years of the franchise.
In 1960, during the inaugural season of the Cowboys, he became its first right cornerback, registering 3 interceptions.
In 1961, he began to stand out, finishing with 8 interceptions, which trailed league leader Dick Lynch by only one. Only Everson Walls (twice) and Mel Renfro (once), have had more interceptions in a season for the Cowboys. He also established a team record that still stands today, with five consecutive games with an interception. That year Bishop didn't make the Pro Bowl, but was named to the 1961 Sporting News: 1st team all-NFL.
In 1962, he had 6 interceptions and also scored his lone career touchdown, returning a pick 84 yards in a loss to the Los Angeles Rams. After missing the Pro Bowl the previous season, Bishop was one of the first Cowboys players voted to the Pro Bowl, along with: QB Eddie LeBaron; DT Bob Lilly; RB Don Perkins; and LB Jerry Tubbs.
In 1963, he recorded 5 interceptions.
Bishop led the Cowboys in interceptions during their first three years of existence.
A knee injury forced him to have surgery before the 1964 season, he played one more year before retiring after the 1965 season.
Bishop played 8 seasons in the NFL, and retired as the Cowboys career interceptions leader. His 22 interceptions ranks tenth on the current franchise career interceptions list
The Cowboys have had several great cornerbacks since then, but Don Bishop's contributions to the franchise must be remembered. Although he played on some of the Cowboys worst teams, he became one of their original stars.
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