Dan Dierdorf Pro Football Hall of Fame

Lore & Background

Dierdorf played college football for the Michigan Wolverines from 1968 to 1970 and was a consensus All-America in 1970. In the NFL, he was named NFL Offensive Lineman of the Year by the NFLPA in 1977 and 1978, played in the Pro Bowl five times (1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983), and was named to the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1996.

In Their Own Story

The Friday night lights at Busch Memorial Stadium hummed with anticipation. The opposing defensive end was a beast of a man, known for shattering tackles and sacking quarterbacks. As the snap count echoed, Dan Dierdorf shifted his weight, his eyes locked on the rusher. There was no panic in his stance, only calm certainty. With the ball snapped, he met the charge with a textbook punch, absorbing the impact like a fortress wall. The end bounced off him harmlessly, and Jim Hart had all day to find the receiver downfield. In that moment, Dierdorf wasn't just playing football; he was redefining what an offensive lineman could be.

Reader's Guide

Dierdorf's peak years were from 1974 to 1978, during which he started every game at right tackle for the Cardinals and did not allow a sack in the 1976 and 1977 seasons. He sustained a knee injury in 1979 but returned to start all 16 games in 1980 and 1981. He moved to center in 1982 and returned to right tackle in 1983 before retiring.

Did You Know?

• Dierdorf was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the second round (43rd overall) of the 1971 NFL draft.
• He did not allow a sack during the entire 1976 and 1977 seasons.
• Dierdorf received the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award from the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008.