Rickey Bolden

{{Short description|American football player (born 1961)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Rickey Bolden | image = Rickey Bolden with the Cleveland Browns (cropped).jpg | caption = Bolden with the Cleveland Browns in 1988 | number = 88, 77 | position = Tackle, guard, tight end | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|9|8}} | birth_place = Dallas, Texas, U.S. | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 6 | weight_lb = 274 | high_school = Hillcrest<br/>(Dallas, Texas) | college = SMU | draftyear = 1984 | draftround = 4 | draftpick = 96 | pastteams = * Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|1984|1989}}) | highlights = * 2× Second-team All-SWC (1982, 1983) | statlabel1 = Games played | statvalue1 = 62 | statlabel2 = Games started | statvalue2 = 34 | statlabel3 = Receptions | statvalue3 = 2 | statlabel4 = Receiving yards | statvalue4 = 22 | statlabel5 = Receiving touchdowns | statvalue5 = 1 | pfr = BoldRi20 }} right '''Rickey Allen Bolden''' (born September 8, 1961) is an American former professional football player who played offensive lineman for six seasons for the Cleveland Browns.<ref>[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BoldRi20.htm Rickey Bolden NFL & AFL Football Statistics - Pro-Football-Reference.com]</ref> He was selected by the Browns in the fourth round of the 1984 NFL draft.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1984 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1984/draft.htm |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

Bolden was raised in Dallas, Texas as one of ten children. His father died when he was 12 years old. According to Bolden, he grew up in "a typical inner city." He said he was shot when he was 14 years old.<ref name="goshay">{{cite news |last1=Goshay |first1=Charita |title=Former Browns star coming to Dueber Church |url=https://www.cantonrep.com/story/lifestyle/faith/2011/07/31/former-browns-star-coming-to/42208241007/ |access-date=14 November 2023 |work=Canton Repository |date=July 31, 2011}}</ref>

Bolden played college football as a tight end for the SMU Mustangs. After being selected by the Browns in the 1984 NFL draft, he was converted to offensive line.<ref name="goshay" />

While still only 28 years old and a starting offensive lineman for the Browns, Bolden left football to become a pastor.<ref>{{cite news |title=NFL starter turned pastor in Manteca Sunday |url=https://www.mantecabulletin.com/news/nfl-starter-turned-pastor-in-manteca-sunday/ |access-date=14 November 2023 |work=Manteca Bulletin |date=May 13, 2010}}</ref> He completed his studies at Ashland Theological Seminary and worked with churches of various Christian denominations.<ref name="goshay" />

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bolden, Rickey}} Category:1961 births Category:American football offensive linemen Category:Cleveland Browns players Category:SMU Mustangs football players Category:Living people Category:Players of American football from Dallas Category:Ashland Theological Seminary alumni Category:Hillcrest High School (Dallas) alumni Category:American Christian clergy Category:20th-century American sportsmen