{{Short description|American football player (1946–2010)}} {{for|the Australian rules footballer| Ken Dyer (Australian footballer)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Ken Dyer | image = | number = 49, 27 | position = Safety, flanker | birth_date = {{birth date|1946|3|16}} | birth_place = Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2010|3|7|1946|3|16}} | death_place = Gilbert, Arizona, U.S. | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 3 | weight_lbs = 190 | high_school = Ann Arbor | college = Arizona State (1964–1967) | draftyear = 1968 | draftround = 4 | draftpick = 100 | pastteams = * San Diego Chargers (1968–1969) * Cincinnati Bengals (1969–{{NFL Year|1971}}) | statleague = NFL/AFL | statlabel1 = Interceptions | statvalue1 = 3 | statlabel2 = Fumble recoveries | statvalue2 = 1 | statlabel3 = Receptions | statvalue3 = 1 | statlabel4 = Receiving yards | statvalue4 = 22 | statlabel5 = Total touchdowns | statvalue5 = 1 | pfr = D/DyerKe20 }} '''Kenneth James Dyer''' (March 16, 1946 – March 7, 2010) was an American professional football player who played three seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals and San Diego Chargers. He was selected by the Chargers in the fourth round of the 1968 NFL/AFL draft after played college football at Arizona State University.
==Early life and college== Kenneth James Dyer was born on March 16, 1946, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.<ref name="pfa">{{cite news | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/d/dyer00400.html | title=Ken Dyer | work=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=14 March 2025}}</ref> He attended Ann Arbor High School in Ann Arbor, participating in football, track, and basketball.<ref name="pfa"/><ref name="hof">{{cite web | url=https://pioneerathletics.net/main/alumnibio/contentid/53583735 | title=Ken Dyer - Athletic Alumni 2005 | publisher=Pioneer High School | accessdate=14 March 2025}}</ref> He helped the football team win the state title in 1962.<ref name="hof"/> Dyer also earned Associated Press first-team All-State honors in football in high school.<ref name="hof"/> He set the Michigan high jump record as a senior.<ref name="hof"/> He graduated from Ann Arbor High in 1964.<ref name="hof"/> Dyer was inducted into the school's athletics hall of fame in 2005.<ref name="hof"/>
Dyer was a member of the Arizona State Sun Devils from 1964 to 1967 and a three-year letterman from 1965 to 1967.<ref name="pfa"/> He began his college career as a wide receiver before converting to tight end in 1967.<ref name="sr"/> He caught 20 passes for 215 yards and one touchdown in 1965, 29 passes for 496 yards and two touchdowns in 1966, and 39 passes for 654 yards and four touchdowns in 1967.<ref name="sr">{{cite news | url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/ken-dyer-1.html?__hstc=223721476.eb2052739879f4ccd08d9dbb9d3db7b5.1741976919353.1741976919354.1741976919354.1&__hssc=223721476.2.1741976919354&__hsfp=2850574025 | title=Ken Dyer | work=Sports Reference | accessdate=14 March 2025}}</ref> Dyer also participated in track while at Arizona State.<ref name="hof"/>
==Professional career== Dyer was selected by the San Diego Chargers of the American Football League (AFL) in the fourth round, with the 100th overall pick, of the 1968 NFL/AFL draft.<ref name="pfr"/> He played in 14 games for the Chargers as a flanker and safety during the 1968 season, recording one reception for 22 yards and one fumble recovery touchdown.<ref name="pfr"/><ref name="pfa"/> He did not appear in any games in 1969 before being released in late October.<ref name="pfr"/><ref name="A">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/longview-news-journal/167970009/ | title=Chargers Meet Raiders Sunday | work=Longview News-Journal | date=October 25, 1969 | agency=United Press International | accessdate=14 March 2025 | pages=4A}}</ref><ref name="B">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-republic/167970121/ | title=Cowboy power worries Devils | work=Arizona Republic | date=October 31, 1969 | accessdate=14 March 2025 | author=Eger, Bob}}</ref>
Dyer was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals of the AFL in late October 1969 but did not play in any games that year.<ref name="A"/><ref name="B"/><ref name="pfr">{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DyerKe20.htm | title=Ken Dyer | publisher=Pro Football Reference | accessdate=14 March 2025}}</ref> He appeared in 12 games, starting six, for the Bengals in 1970 as a safety and intercepted three passes for 45 yards.<ref name="pfr"/> He also started one playoff game in 1970.<ref name="pfr"/> Dyer played in one game, a start on October 3, 1971, during the 1971 season and broke his neck while attempting to tackle Green Bay Packers running back John Brockington, ending his playing career.<ref name="pfr"/><ref name="gbp">{{cite web | url=http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100313/PKR01/100313040/1058/Ken-Dyer-dies--broke-neck-while-tackling-John-Brockington-in-1971 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20141115155531/http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100313/PKR01/100313040/1058/Ken-Dyer-dies--broke-neck-while-tackling-John-Brockington-in-1971 | url-status=dead | archive-date=November 15, 2014 | title=Ken Dyer dies; broke neck while tackling Green Bay Packers RB John Brockington | publisher=greenbaypressgazette.com | accessdate=November 15, 2014 }}</ref><ref name="death">{{cite web | url=http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Bengals-mourn-passing-of-Ken-Dyer/62804fe3-e88a-4fc3-96e1-abec9d2be9ad | title=Bengals mourn passing of Ken Dyer | publisher=bengals.com | date=March 8, 2010 | accessdate=November 15, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180106191202/http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Bengals-mourn-passing-of-Ken-Dyer/62804fe3-e88a-4fc3-96e1-abec9d2be9ad | archive-date=January 6, 2018 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Personal life== Dyer served in the United States Army.<ref name="pfa"/> After his football career, he sold insurance and worked in the industrial chemical industry.<ref name="hof"/> He also owned a dry cleaning plant.<ref name="hof"/> Dyer coached high school and pop warner football for over 20 years as well.<ref name="hof"/>
Dyer died of heart failure on March 7, 2010, in Gilbert, Arizona.<ref name="gbp"/><ref name="death"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{Find a Grave|50006915}} {{San Diego Chargers 1968 draft navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dyer, Ken}} Category:1946 births Category:2010 deaths Category:Players of American football from Ann Arbor, Michigan Category:Track and field athletes from Michigan Category:American football safeties Category:American football wide receivers Category:American football tight ends Category:Arizona State Sun Devils football players Category:Arizona State Sun Devils men's track and field athletes Category:San Diego Chargers players Category:Cincinnati Bengals players Category:Pioneer High School (Ann Arbor, Michigan) alumni Category:United States Army personnel