Ron Howard (American football)

Ron Howard
Date of birth: March 3, 1951 (1951-03-03) (age 61)
Place of birth: Oakland, California, USA
Career information
Position(s): Tight end
College: Seattle
Organizations
 As player:
1974-1975
1976-1978
1979
Dallas Cowboys
Seattle Seahawks
Buffalo Bills
Playing stats at NFL.com

Ronald Ford Howard (born March 3, 1951 in Oakland, California) is a retired U.S. professional American football tight end who played in six seasons in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys (1974–1975), the Seattle Seahawks (1976–1978) and the Buffalo Bills (1979).

High school career

Howard played varsity football, basketball and track for Pasco High School for three years. As a senior, Howard led the Pasco basketball squad to a 25-1 record, with the one loss coming in the state championship game to Snohomish High School in overtime.

Professional career

After graduating in 1970, Howard went on to become a basketball star at Seattle University. Although Seattle University had no football program, Howard was drafted by the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, who had had their eye on him since he was a sophomore at Seattle U. Despite the odds, Howard made the Cowboys as a tight end and spent two seasons with the Cowboys, before moving back to Seattle for another three seasons with the Seattle Seahawks before injuries forced him out of the game. Howard’s team record for receptions by a tight end in a season stood for nearly 30 years before being broken.