# David Ponder

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**David Earl Ponder** (born June 27, 1962) is an American former professional [football](/source/Gridiron_football) player who was a [defensive tackle](/source/Defensive_tackle) in the [National Football League](/source/National_Football_League) (NFL) for the [Dallas Cowboys](/source/Dallas_Cowboys). He played [college football](/source/College_football) for the [Florida State Seminoles](/source/Florida_State_Seminoles_football).

## Early years

Ponder attended [Cairo High School](/source/Cairo_High_School) in [Cairo, Georgia](/source/Cairo,_Georgia). He received All-state honors as a senior. He accepted a football scholarship from [Florida State University](/source/Florida_State_University) where he was a two-year starter at [nose guard](/source/Nose_guard) and [defensive tackle](/source/Defensive_tackle) for the [Seminoles](/source/Florida_State_Seminoles_football).

As a junior in 1982, he was moved from defensive tackle to nose guard to replace an injured Lennie Chavers.[1] As a senior in 1983, he was moved back to defensive tackle and registered 5 sacks (second on the team).

## Professional career

### Dallas Cowboys

Ponder was signed as an [undrafted free agent](/source/Undrafted_free_agent) by the [Dallas Cowboys](/source/Dallas_Cowboys) after the [1984 NFL draft](/source/1984_NFL_draft). He played [defensive tackle](/source/Defensive_tackle) and was waived on August 27, [1984](/source/1984_NFL_season).[2]

In [1985](/source/1985_NFL_season), Ponder was re-signed and appeared in four games. On October 26, he was released to make room to activate [defensive tackle](/source/Defensive_tackle) [Don Smerek](/source/Don_Smerek).[3]

### Los Angeles Raiders

On November 21, [1985](/source/1985_NFL_season), he was signed by the [Los Angeles Raiders](/source/Los_Angeles_Raiders).[4] He was released two days later on November 23.[5]

### Buffalo Bills

On May 6, [1986](/source/1986_NFL_season), he signed as a [free agent](/source/Free_agent) with the [Buffalo Bills](/source/Buffalo_Bills) to play [nose guard](/source/Nose_guard).[6] He was cut on August 17.[7]

### Calgary Stampeders

In [1986](/source/1986_CFL_season), he signed with the [Calgary Stampeders](/source/Calgary_Stampeders) of the [Canadian Football League](/source/Canadian_Football_League). He was released on October 19.[8]

## Personal life

His son [Christian](/source/Christian_Ponder) played [quarterback](/source/Quarterback) for the [Florida State Seminoles](/source/Florida_State_Seminoles) while in college and the [Minnesota Vikings](/source/Minnesota_Vikings) in the [National Football League](/source/National_Football_League).

## References

1. ["Bowden Credits New 'Flex' Defense For Cincy Victory"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19820907&id=m54cAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OGgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6750,4078486&hl=es). Retrieved February 19, 2020.

1. ["Transactions"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1320&dat=19840828&id=YjxWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xOkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4206,4302486&hl=es). Retrieved February 19, 2020.

1. ["Transactions"](https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/247531084/). Retrieved February 19, 2020.

1. ["Transactions"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19851122&id=uu4vAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hPsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2418,3150323&hl=es). Retrieved February 19, 2020.

1. ["Names in Sports"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19851124&id=fbdQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3RMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2398,7680166&hl=es). Retrieved February 19, 2020.

1. ["Transactions"](https://www.nytimes.com/1986/05/07/sports/transactions-070986.html). Retrieved February 19, 2020.

1. ["Transaction"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2199&dat=19860818&id=hLgxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yeUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5101,5320980&hl=es). Retrieved February 19, 2020.

1. ["Transactions"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19861020&id=1k1OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2BMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3240,5869563&hl=es). Retrieved February 19, 2020.

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