Dave Duerson Found Dead, 1985 Bears

[Spark]

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February 19, 2011, 6:00 am Dave Duerson, a Member of the Magical 1985 Bears
By ANDY BARALL

Andy Barall writes about pro football history for The Fifth Down. Dave Duerson died on Thursday at age 50.

Dave Duerson was an important contributor to one of the most interesting and colorful defenses in N.F.L. history: the mid-’80s Chicago Bears. It was also one of the greatest. At its peak, in 1985, that defense wouldn’t just stop opponents, it would frequently intimidate and embarrass them. In his famous 46 defense, Buddy Ryan created a new role for the strong safety and Duerson fit the bill perfectly.

After an outstanding career at Notre Dame, where he was a two-time all-American and a defensive captain, Duerson was selected in the third round of the 1983 draft (64th over all). That draft class, which included defensive end Richard Dent, wide receiver Willie Gault, defensive back Mike Richardson and offensive linemen Jim Covert, Mark Bortz, and Tom Thayer, helped set the Bears up for success over the next six years.

In his first two seasons, Duerson backed up Todd Bell, the hard-hitting strong safety who made the Pro Bowl in 1984. When Bell, in a contract dispute, held out and missed the 1985 season, Duerson replaced him and made the first of four consecutive Pro Bowl appearances.

The 46 defense significantly altered the alignment and responsibilities of the strong safety. Traditionally, in the 4-3, the strong safety lined up well off the line of scrimmage on the side of the tight end, whom he usually had to pick up in man coverage. Otherwise, if the defense was in a two or three-deep zone, he would line up near the hashmark and drop deep at the snap of the ball.

In the 46, Duerson, as the strong safety, aligned on the side of the formation opposite the tight end, head up on the offensive left tackle, exactly four and a half yards off the line of scrimmage. Rex Ryan, in his book “Coaching Football’s 46 Defense,” calls the strong safety’s alignment “the hallmark of the 46 defense.”

That defense presented an 8-man front and, with the center and both guards covered, was extremely difficult to run against, especially inside. Duerson had responsibilities similar to the weakside linebacker. He didn’t need great cover skills, but he had to be strong on the line of scrimmage. Duerson had good size, was smart, tough, physical and, most importantly, was an excellent tackler. He was also an effective blitzer. His 7 sacks in 1986 were a then-record for defensive backs.

That scheme has received a lot of credit over the years but even Ryan, a man not known for excessive modesty, acknowledges it was much more than just that. “People called me a genius back then”, Ryan told Tim Layden for his book “Blood, Sweat, and Chalk.” “When you’ve got great players”, he continued, “you can be a genius.”

The Bears’ defense in those years certainly didn’t lack for outstanding players, with most of them in their prime: Dent, the game-wrecking pass rusher who would line up wide and beat the offensive tackle when he was barely out of his stance; Steve McMichael, the underrated inside tough-guy, quick and strong; Otis Wilson, the explosive blitzing linebacker flying off the edge; and Wilber Marshall, the linebacker with tremendous speed and lateral movement who could cover the tight end man-to-man or maintain outside leverage so the running back couldn’t turn the corner.

Those guys were terrific, but that unit also featured two of the greatest defensive players in N.F.L. history, Dan Hampton and Mike Singletary. Their performance was a manifestation of their passion for the game. No matter the situation, in good times and bad, healthy or not, they gave it everything they had, with energy and enthusiasm. Watching Hampton and Singletary again reminds me why I love pro football.

The Bears’ defense remained one of the league’s best even after Ryan left after the 1985 season. From 1983 to 1988, they ranked first in fewest points allowed three times, in ‘85, ‘86, and ‘88; third in 1984; fourth in 1987; and fifth in 1983. The Bears led the N.F.L. in sacks in 1984 with 72 and in 1987 with 70, 13 more than the second-ranked Eagles. Over that period, the Bears’ regular-season record, 70-25, was the N.F.L.’s best.

Duerson earned his second Super Bowl ring as a backup safety and valuable special-teamer on the 1990 Giants. In Super Bowl 25, he was on the field in New York’s nickel defense on the final three plays before Scott Norwood’s missed field goal, and got a piece of the tackle on the first two before Jim Kelly spiked the ball with just seconds remaining.

Duerson spent one year with the Giants and then three with the Phoenix Cardinals before retiring after the 1993 season. He’ll be best remembered, however, as a Chicago Bear, especially in 1985, when it all came together for one magical season.

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[Spark]

Dave Duerson, a starting safety on the 1985 Chicago Bears team that won the Super Bowl, was found dead in his Miami home, the team said Friday. He was 50.



Miami-Dade Police Detective Robert Williams says the body of a Dave Duerson was found Thursday in Sunny Isles Beach, Fla. Computer records show that the Duerson who lived at the address was born the same month and year as the player.

Investigators have not determined the cause of death. Williams says detectives are awaiting the medical examiner's report.

"Our family asks that you please remember Dave as a good, kind, and caring man," Duerson's ex-wife, Alicia Duerson, said, according to NBCChicago.com. "He loved and cherished his family and friends and was extremely proud of his beloved Notre Dame and ... Chicago Bears. Please keep Dave and our family in your prayers."

The Bears selected Duerson in the third round of the 1983 draft after an All-America career at Notre Dame.

He became a full-time starter for the 1985 "Super Bowl Shuffle" team that was known for its dominating defense. That team finished the regular season 15-1 and had two shutouts in the playoffs before dismantling the Patriots 46-10 in the Super Bowl.

"We really liked him a lot," former Bears coach Mike Ditka said on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000. "That was the year that Todd Bell and [Al] Harris held out. [Duerson] stepped right in and became a starter at the strong safety position and was outstanding. Did a great, great job."



He was selected to four Pro Bowls from 1986 to 1989. He had seven sacks and six interceptions in 1986.

"We are stunned and saddened to hear the tragic news regarding Dave Duerson," the Bears said in a statement. "He was a great contributor to our team and the Chicago community. Today is a difficult day for all of us who loved Dave. We'll miss him. Our prayers are with his family."

Duerson left the Bears after the 1989 season and was part of the 1990 New York Giants team that also won a Super Bowl.

He played three more seasons for the Cardinals before retiring at age 33. He finished with 20 interceptions in his career.

After football, Duerson owned Brooks Sausage Company, later called Fair Oaks Farms, which supplied sausage to fast-food restaurants. He sold the business in 2002.

Duerson was born and raised in Muncie, Ind., where he was a standout in football, baseball and basketball. He earned a degree in economics from Notre Dame.

Emery Moorehead, a tight end on the '85 team, said: "He was a man's man. Smoked cigars. Just a personable guy. ... He had a lot of people that loved him everywhere."

"Our hearts go out to the Duerson family and to all those who knew Dave," Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick said in a statement. "In addition to being a great football player, Dave represented himself and the University in so many other ways as a team captain, as well as through his work with the Monogram Club and the Board of Trustees. You couldn't help but be impressed by him when you met Dave Duerson, and I think that was the reaction from anyone who was ever around him."

Ray Ellis, the sports channel director at Voice America Sports, where Duerson had a weekly radio show streamed live over the Internet, said he tried reaching Duerson on Thursday when he didn't host his regular program.

Friday morning, a friend informed Ellis of Duerson's death.

"If you looked at him visually, Dave Duerson looked like he could play strong safety today," Ellis said.

He added that Duerson recently told him he'd gotten engaged and planned to marry in late spring or early summer.

Ellis said Duerson's show wasn't typical sports talk. He talked about a range of subjects and liked to highlight athletes' accomplishments and good work off the field.

"There was so much more to Dave than being a former Chicago Bear," Ellis said. "Dave took pride in his accomplishments off the field."

[ToDaClub]

BOSTON – The Boston University center that studies brain injuries to professional athletes says former NFL player Dave Duerson had brain damage when he committed suicide in February.

The Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy at the B.U. School of Medicine announced on Monday its findings on its examination of Duerson's brain. The safety who began his NFL career with the Chicago Bears was 50 when he shot himself in the chest.

Dr. Robert Cantu, co-director of the CTSE, said at a news conference that such results normally are published first, but the Duerson family wanted them released earlier.

Duerson was drafted by the Bears in the third round out of Notre Dame in 1983. He played seven years with Chicago, one with the New York Giants and three with the Phoenix Cardinals.