John Owen Dutton (born February 6, 1951) is a former football defensive lineman in the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the ...

for the Baltimore Colts and

Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East divi ...

. He played college football at the

University of Nebraska A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, ...

Early years

Born and raised in

Rapid City, South Dakota Rapid City ( lkt, link=no, Mni Lúzahaŋ Otȟúŋwahe; "Swift Water City") is the second most populous city in South Dakota and the county seat of Pennington County. Named after Rapid Creek, where the settlement developed, it is in western So ...

, Dutton attended Cathedral High School, where the football team was undefeated in his junior year. After the school closed in the fall of 1968, he transferred to Central High School and led the Cobblers to the state Class A

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular court, compete with the primary objective of shooting a basketball (approximately in diameter) through the defender's h ...

title in his senior year (1969). Dutton was a two-time All-state selection in

and football. He received high school

All-America The All-America designation is an annual honor bestowed upon an amateur sports person from the United States who is considered to be one of the best amateurs in their sport. Individuals receiving this distinction are typically added to an All-Am ...

n recognition in both sports as a senior and was also an accomplished

Discus throw The discus throw (), also known as disc throw, is a track and field event in which an athlete throws a heavy disc—called a discus—in an attempt to mark a farther distance than their competitors. It is an ancient sport, as demonstrated by th ...

er. In 1993, he was inducted into the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame.

College career

Although he received more

scholarship A scholarship is a form of financial aid awarded to students for further education. Generally, scholarships are awarded based on a set of criteria such as academic merit, diversity and inclusion, athletic skill, and financial need. Scholars ...

offers for

, he opted to accept a football scholarship from the

to play under head coach

Bob Devaney Robert Simon Devaney (April 13, 1915 – May 9, 1997) was a college football coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Wyoming from 1957 to 1961 and at the University of Nebraska from 1962 to 1972, compiling a career record of . ...

. In 1971, as an alternate starter, he was part of the 1971

national championship A national championship(s) is the top achievement for any sport or contest within a league of a particular nation or nation state. The title is usually awarded by contests, ranking systems, stature, ability, etc. This determines the best team, indi ...

team. Dutton participated in the 1971 Nebraska-Oklahoma game, also called the "Game of the Century", generally considered one of the greatest college football games ever played. As a junior, he was named the starter at

defensive end Defensive end (DE) is a defensive position in the sport of gridiron football. This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations over the years have substantially changed how the position is ...

, registering 67 tackles (second on the team). As a senior in

1973 Events January * January 1 - The United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and Denmark 1973 enlargement of the European Communities, enter the European Economic Community, which later becomes the European Union. * January 15 – Vietnam War: ...

under new head coach

Tom Osborne Thomas William Osborne (born February 23, 1937) is a former American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and politician from Nebraska. He served as head football coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers from 1973 to 1997 (25 season ...

, he earned

and All- Big 8 honors. He posted 71 tackles (fourth on the team) and 8 sacks. In the Cotton Bowl in

Dallas Dallas () is the List of municipalities in Texas, third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of metropolitan statistical areas, fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 ...

against the

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...

, Dutton and the

Blackshirts The Voluntary Militia for National Security ( it, Milizia Volontaria per la Sicurezza Nazionale, MVSN), commonly called the Blackshirts ( it, Camicie Nere, CCNN, singular: ) or (singular: ), was originally the paramilitary wing of the Nation ...

held the Longhorns to one field goal and 196 total yards or the Huskers' fifth

bowl A bowl is a typically round dish or container generally used for preparing, serving, or consuming food. The interior of a bowl is characteristically shaped like a spherical cap, with the edges and the bottom forming a seamless curve. This makes ...

victory in as many seasons. He also competed in the

discus throw The discus throw (), also known as disc throw, is a track and field event in which an athlete throws a heavy disc—called a discus—in an attempt to mark a farther distance than their competitors. It is an ancient sport, as demonstrated by th ...

with the track team. In 1981, he was inducted into the

Athletics Hall of Fame.

Professional career

Baltimore Colts

Dutton was the fifth overall selection of the

1974 NFL Draft The 1974 NFL draft took place at the Americana Hotel in New York City, New York, on January 29–30, 1974. Each of the 26 NFL teams were granted 17 selections for a total of 442 picks. Many experts consider the 1974 Pittsburgh Steelers to have ha ...

, taken by the Baltimore Colts. The 6-foot-7, 266-pound

was ahead of his time and became an immediate starter at right defensive end, receiving NFL all-rookie honors at the end of the season. He had 79 tackles, 5 unofficial sacks and one pass defensed. In the three consecutive seasons in which the Colts won the AFC East title from 1975 to 1977, he was a starting member of a defensive front four who collectively called themselves the "Looney Tunes" and was also known as the "Sack Pack." He led the Colts in sacks with a career-high 17, to go along with 73 tackles (second on the team) and one fumble recovery in

1975 It was also declared the ''International Women's Year'' by the United Nations and the European Architectural Heritage Year by the Council of Europe. Events January * January 1 - Watergate scandal (United States): John N. Mitchell, H. R. ...

. He had 3 sacks against the

Kansas City Chiefs The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The ...

. He was named to the first of three straight

Pro Bowl The National Football League All-Star Game (1939–1942), Pro Bowl (1951–2022), or Pro Bowl Games (starting in 2023) is an annual event held by the National Football League (NFL) featuring the league's star players. The format has changed thro ...

s, becoming one of the most dominant defensive lineman in the NFL. In

1976 Events January * January 3 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force. * January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea. * January 11 – The 1976 ...

, he led the team with 13 unofficial sacks and had 73 tackles. In

1977 Events January * January 8 – Three bombs explode in Moscow within 37 minutes, killing seven. The bombings are attributed to an Armenian separatist group. * January 10 – Mount Nyiragongo erupts in eastern Zaire (now the Democrat ...

, he appeared in 12 out of 14 games. He had 6 unofficial sacks and 39 tackles. He had 3 sacks against the Buffalo Bills. In 1978, he led the team with 6 unofficial sacks and 3 fumble recoveries, while also making 115 tackles (third on the team). He started 14 games, before missing the last 2 with a foot injury. He had 10 solo tackles against the

Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami metropolitan area. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member team of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. The team p ...

Dallas Cowboys

Dutton began the

1979 NFL season The 1979 NFL season was the 60th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XIV when the Pittsburgh Steelers repeated as champions by defeating the Los Angeles Rams 31–19 at the Rose Bowl. The Steelers ...

as a contract holdout. He and the

National Football League Players Association The National Football League Players Association, or NFLPA, is a labor union representing National Football League (NFL) players. The NFLPA, which has headquarters in Washington, D.C., is led by president J. C. Tretter and executive director DeM ...

(NFLPA) challenged the circuit's option clause by arguing that it was not perpetual. He also demanded from the Colts a $1 million contract of which he would be paid $200,000 annually for five years. He expressed a desire to leave the team primarily because of owner

Robert Irsay Robert Irsay (March 5, 1923 – January 14, 1997) was an American professional football team owner. He owned the National Football League's Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts franchise from 1972 until his death in 1997. Early life and education Irsay ...

, accusing him of spreading "too many lies" about him in Baltimore and further stating, "I don't think he cares about the team, it's just a toy to him." He was traded from the Colts to the

on October 9, 1979. Because of the retirement of

Jethro Pugh Jethro Pugh Jr. (July 3, 1944 – January 7, 2015) was an American football defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys for fourteen seasons. He played college football at Elizabeth City State College. Early ye ...

and the desire of

Ed "Too Tall" Jones Edward Lee Jones (born February 23, 1951), commonly known as Ed "Too Tall" Jones due to his height, is a former American football player who played 15 seasons (1974–1978, 1980–1989) in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys ...

to become a professional boxer, the Cowboys traded the first (#24- Derrick Hatchett) and second round pick (#51-Tim J. Foley) in the

1980 NFL Draft The 1980 NFL draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 29–30, 1980, at the New York Sh ...

. He appeared in 8 games, starting in the final 4 contests including the playoffs. He registered 25 tackles and one unofficial sack. When Jones returned in 1980, Dutton moved to left defensive tackle, playing behind

Larry Cole Larry Rudolph Cole (born November 15, 1946) is a former American football defensive lineman in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys. He played in five Super Bowls, winning Super Bowl VI and XII. He played college football at the U ...

. He tallied 52 tackles, 3.5 unofficial sacks, 2 fumble recoveries and one interception returned for a touchdown. In

1981 Events January * January 1 ** Greece enters the European Economic Community, predecessor of the European Union. ** Palau becomes a self-governing territory. * January 10 – Salvadoran Civil War: The FMLN launches its first major offensiv ...

, with the retirement of Cole, he started 16 games alongside Randy White, establishing a formidable

defensive line In gridiron football, a lineman is a player who specializes in play at the line of scrimmage. The linemen of the team currently in possession of the ball are the offensive line, while linemen on the opposing team are the defensive line. A numb ...

that also included Jones and

Harvey Martin Harvey Banks Martin (November 16, 1950 – December 24, 2001) was an American professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys from 1973 until 1983. He starred at South Oak Cliff ...

. He recorded 81 tackles (sixth on the team), 4.5 unofficial sacks and 5 passes batted-down. He couldn't play in the NFC Championship Game against the

San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers (also written as the San Francisco Forty-Niners) are a professional American football team based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The 49ers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the league's National ...

because of a bruised thigh and

Larry Bethea Larry Bethea (July 21, 1956 – April 24, 1987) was an American football defensive lineman in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys. He also was a member of the Michigan Panthers, Oakland Invaders and Houston Gamblers of the Unite ...

started in his place. In 1982, he appeared in only 9 contests because of injuries and the player's strike, making 38 tackles and 2 sacks. In

1983 The year 1983 saw both the official beginning of the Internet and the first mobile cellular telephone call. Events January * January 1 – The migration of the ARPANET to TCP/IP is officially completed (this is considered to be the beginning ...

, he had 71 tackles and 4.5 sacks. In

1984 Events January * January 1 – The Bornean Sultanate of Brunei gains full independence from the United Kingdom, having become a British protectorate in 1888. * January 7 – Brunei becomes the sixth member of the Association of Southeas ...

, he tallied 73 tackles and 2.5 sacks. He was part of the

1985 The year 1985 was designated as the International Youth Year by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 ** The Internet's Domain Name System is created. ** Greenland withdraws from the European Economic Community as a result of a ...

defensive unit that holds the Cowboys' single-season sack record (62). He came out in obvious passing downs, finishing with 74 tackles and 4 sacks. In

1986 The year 1986 was designated as the International Year of Peace by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 **Aruba gains increased autonomy from the Netherlands by separating from the Netherlands Antilles. **Spain and Portugal enter ...

, he had 59 tackles and 5 sacks. In

1987 File:1987 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The MS Herald of Free Enterprise capsizes after leaving the Port of Zeebrugge in Belgium, killing 193; Northwest Airlines Flight 255 crashes after takeoff from Detroit Metropolitan Airport, ...

, he was passed on the depth chart by Kevin Brooks and was released three games after the end of the player's strike on November 13. He spent 14 seasons and 185 games in the NFL and recorded only 18 official sacks, because the NFL didn't recognize quarterback sacks as an official statistic until 1982. During his 9 years in Dallas, he helped the Cowboys reach the NFC title game three straight years ( 1980,

and 1982). He may have been the best Cowboys defensive lineman to have never won a Super Bowl ring.

Personal life

After his career in the NFL, former Husker Dutton retired to

Lincoln, Nebraska Lincoln is the capital city of the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Lancaster County. The city covers with a population of 292,657 in 2021. It is the second-most populous city in Nebraska and the 73rd-largest in the United Sta ...

. He became involved in businesses and for a short time owned and operated Dutton's Den, an off-sale liquor store and restaurant. He also founded a signs company. Dutton now lives in Dallas, Texas.

References

External links

Zimmerman, Paul. "No One's Got The Dutton," ''Sports Illustrated'', October 8, 1979.

John Dutton Nebraska Hall of Fame profile

John Dutton South Dakota Hall of Fame profile

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dutton, John 1951 births Living people Sportspeople from Rapid City, South Dakota Players of American football from South Dakota American football defensive tackles American football defensive ends Nebraska Cornhuskers football players Nebraska Cornhuskers men's track and field athletes All-American college football players Baltimore Colts players Dallas Cowboys players American Conference Pro Bowl players Track and field athletes from South Dakota