Chuck Howley

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Howley's journey began at West Virginia University, where he became the only athlete in school history to letter in five sports: football, track, wrestling, gymnastics, and swimming. He earned three consecutive All-Southern Conference selections and was named conference player of the year in 1957. After being drafted by the Chicago Bears, his career nearly ended in August 1959 following a knee injury at training camp in Rensselaer, Indiana. He retired to run a gas station but returned in 1961 after an alumni game. The Bears traded him to Dallas for second and ninth-round picks in the 1963 draft. In Dallas, he started as a strongside linebacker before switching to weakside in 1963. His resilience defined his tenure; he missed the 1972 playoffs due to a crackback block injury from Charley Taylor but returned briefly in 1973 before retiring for good.

In Their Own Story

The defining moment of Howley's career occurred during Super Bowl V against the Baltimore Colts. Despite Dallas losing 16–13, Howley intercepted two passes and forced a fumble to earn MVP honors. He later admitted he did not care about the award since his team lost, accepting it only because it came with a new station wagon for his wife. The following season, he helped the Cowboys secure victory in Super Bowl VI against the Miami Dolphins with a 41-yard interception and a fumble recovery. His defensive prowess included holding the record for the second-most interceptions by a linebacker in a single season (six in 1968) and recovering 18 career fumbles. One standout play was his 97-yard fumble return against the Atlanta Falcons on October 2, 1966, which remains the second-longest in franchise history. Although official sack stats were not kept during his era, unofficial records credit him with 26.5 sacks.

Reader's Guide

He was an original member of the legendary Doomsday Defense and appeared in two consecutive Super Bowls, winning one. His accolades include six Pro Bowl selections and five first-team All-Pro nods. In 1977, he became the fourth player inducted into the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor at Texas Stadium. On November 4, 2023, West Virginia University retired his number 66. Howley was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on February 9, 2023, and formally enshrined on August 5, with his son Scott delivering the speech. Beyond football, he founded Happy Hollow Ranch in Texas in 1977 for cattle and quarter horse operations.

Did You Know?

• Howley is the only player in NFL history to win Super Bowl MVP while on the losing team.
• He accepted his Super Bowl V MVP award primarily because it included a new station wagon he could give to his wife.
• At West Virginia University, he is the only athlete in school history to letter in five different sports: football, track, wrestling, gymnastics, and swimming.
• Howley's 97-yard fumble return against the Atlanta Falcons on October 2, 1966, remains the second-longest in Cowboys history.
• He was a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007 before finally being elected in 2023.