# Dave Simonson

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**David Arnold Simonson** (born May 2, 1952) is an American former professional [football](/source/American_football) player who was a [tackle](/source/Tackle_(gridiron_football_position)) in the [National Football League](/source/National_Football_League) (NFL) for five different teams over a four-season career running from 1974 to 1977. He played [college football](/source/College_football) for the [Minnesota Golden Gophers](/source/Minnesota_Golden_Gophers_football).

## Biography

### Early life

Dave Simonson was born May 2, 1952, in [Austin, Minnesota](/source/Austin,_Minnesota), where he attended [Austin High School](/source/Austin_High_School_(Minnesota)). He was a star wrestler and football player during his high school years.

### College career

He attended college at the [University of Minnesota](/source/University_of_Minnesota), where he was again a two-sport athlete, playing football and wrestling. He spent his first two years on the [Gophers football](/source/Minnesota_Golden_Gophers_football) squad as a reserve, mired on the depth chart behind established starting [tackles](/source/Tackle_(gridiron_football_position)) [Bart Buetow](/source/Bart_Buetow) and Dennis Maloney.[1]

His football career was endangered ahead of his junior year when in May 1972 he suffered a serious neck injury in spring football practice.[2] He was fortunately able to successfully rehabilitate his injury. He continued to compete as a top tier collegiate wrestler for Minnesota as well, racking up an 18–4 record in 1972–73,[3] and finishing second in the heavyweight division of the 1973 [Big Ten](/source/Big_Ten_Conference) Wrestling Championship.[4]

### Professional career

Simonson was selected by the [Baltimore Colts](/source/Baltimore_Colts) in the 12th round of the [1974 NFL draft](/source/1974_NFL_draft), with the Colts making him the 292nd overall selection. Simonson expressed intrigue at the possibility of a pro football career, telling the *Minneapolis Star Tribune,* "I'm just glad that somebody drafted me and I'm anxious to give it a try. I've toyed with the idea of pro wrestling but I'd like to see what happens with football first."[5]

He played in 13 games for Baltimore during his [1974](/source/1974_Baltimore_Colts_season) rookie season, primarily on [special teams](/source/Special_teams).[4] He saw very limited game action as an offensive lineman, playing, for example, the last eight minutes of the team's season opener against the [Pittsburgh Steelers](/source/Pittsburgh_Steelers).[6] In making the Colts' team, Simonson became the first resident of Austin, Minnesota, to make a roster in the NFL.[6]

With a year in the league under his belt, Simonson confided to a friendly reporter, "I expected to be drafted, but not by the Colts. [Dallas](/source/Dallas_Cowboys) gave me every indication they were going to draft me — they even sent me the pen to sign a contract with. [Kansas City](/source/Kansas_City_Chiefs) and [Atlanta](/source/Atlanta_Falcons) also showed great interest, but I had no inkling about Baltimore."[6]

His time in Baltimore proved fleeting, with the Colts releasing him on September 9, 1975, less than two weeks before the start of the [1975 NFL season](/source/1975_NFL_season).[7] He was briefly out of the league until being signed by the [New York Giants](/source/New_York_Giants) in December.[7] He ultimately saw action in two games for the Giants at the end of the team's [1975 season](/source/1975_New_York_Giants_season).[8]

In the summer of 1976, Simonson changed jerseys again, this time traded on August 25 to the [Houston Oilers](/source/Houston_Oilers).[7] After appearing in two games for Houston,[8] he was again released on September 22nd, landing a spot on the roster of the expansion [Seattle Seahawks](/source/Seattle_Seahawks) one week later.[7] He would remain on the team for the rest of the year, appearing in a total of five games for the Hawks.[7]

On September 7, 1977, with the [1977 NFL season](/source/1977_NFL_season) around the corner, Simonson was released again, remaining out of football until being picked up by his fifth — and final — NFL team on October 25, when he signed a [free agent](/source/Free_agent) contract with the [Detroit Lions](/source/Detroit_Lions).[7] He saw action in 7 games for the Lions during [1975](/source/1977_Detroit_Lions_season), effectively wrapping up a four year career in the NFL.[8] His tenure in the league was sufficient to vest for a pension at age 55.[9]

### Personal life

Simonson returned home to Austin, Minnesota, and became an officer in the Austin Police Department in February 1980, rising to the rank of lieutenant by 1990.[9] He also served a stint as chairman of the Austin School Board.[10]

Simonson met his wife, Connie, a teacher, in 1975. The couple subsequently raised three children.[9]

He also worked as an assistant coach for the Austin High School wrestling team.[11]

Simonson was inducted into the Austin High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990.[11]

"Athletics leaves you with some aches and pains," he told a local newspaper reporter in 1990. "You have to keep things in perspective and be realistic."[9]

## References

1. Joe Soucheray, ["Gopher Tackle Relaxed, Made First String,"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-gopher-tackle-dave-simonson/153375753/) *Minneapolis Star Tribune,* Sept. 6, 1973, p. 3C.

1. John Kolb, ["A Peek at Sports,"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-a-peek-at-sports/153372609/) *Austin Daily Herald,* May 9, 1972, p. 9.

1. John Kolb, "A Peek at Sports," *Austin Daily Herald,* April 17, 1973, p. 8.

1. Barry Jones (ed.), *’75 Colts Media Guide.* Baltimore, MD: Baltimore Colts Football Club, 1975; p. 46.

1. ["Colts Draft Gophers' Simonson,"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-colts-draft-gophers-dave-s/153373513/) *Minneapolis Star Tribune,* Jan. 31, 1974, p. 4C.

1. Dave Kranz, ["Simonson: Goal is to Make Team Again,"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-dave-simonson-g/153373859/) *Austin Daily Herald,* Jan. 23, 1975, p. 11.

1. Howard M. Balzer (ed.), *Football Register: 1978 edition.* St. Louis, MO: The Sporting News, 1977; pp. 329–330.

1. ["Dave Simonson,"](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SimoDa20.htm) Pro Football Reference, www.pro-football-reference.com

1. Pardhu Vadlamudi, ["Officer Reflects on NFL Playing Days,"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-officer-dave-sim/153379638/) *Austin Daily Herald,* Nov. 25, 1990, pp. B1–[B2](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-nfl-tackle-dave/153379720/).

1. Lee Bonorden, ["Simonson Elected School Board Chairman,"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-simonson-elected/153379262/) *Austin Daily Herald,* Jan. 4, 2000, pp. 1–[2](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-simonson-elected/153379352/).

1. ["Six Inducted into Austin High School Athletic Hall of Fame,"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-six-inducted-int/153379511/) *Austin Daily Herald,* Feb. 11, 1990; pp. 1B, [3B](https://www.newspapers.com/image/1004490626/?match=1&clipping_id=153379405).

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Dave Simonson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Simonson) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Simonson?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.