tshof.org: Inductees

Howley, Chuck

Born: June 28, 1936
Hometown: Wheeling, WV
Sport: Football
Team: Dallas Cowboys

Bio:
If not for a career threatening knee injury Chuck Howley might never have played for the Dallas Cowboys. Howley, the 1957 Southern Conference Player of the Year at West Virginia, was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1958. The next season, his promising career with the Bears ended with a knee injury. Howley soon received a phone call from team scout Gil Brandt in 1961 and “unretired” to join the Dallas Cowboys. Howley stalked Dallas’ opponents from 1961 to 1973 and along with Lee Roy Jordan formed one of the NFL’s most feared line-backing tandems. He made All-Pro six times and was selected to six Pro Bowls. Although the Cowboys lost Super Bowl V to the Baltimore Colts 16-13, Howley became the only player in history to be named MVP of the Super Bowl from a losing team. In that game Howley intercepted two Dolphin passes and recovered a fumble. In fact, during his career (1961-1973) Howley would recover 17 fumbles (2nd all-time in team history) and intercept 24 passes. He was inducted into the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor on October 30, 1977. Coach Tom Landry once said of him, “I don’t know that I’ve seen anybody better at linebacker than Howley.” Howley is a member of the TSHOF Class of 2009.

Howley, Chuck

TSHOF Inductees