Dave Rowe (American football)

Did You Know?

• Rowe co-founded the Professional Athletes Outreach ministry with eleven other NFL players.
• He used his Super Bowl winnings to buy a tractor for a farm he ran with two others near Seagrove, North Carolina.
• Rowe won an Emmy Award for his last broadcast, providing commentary on a game between Central Michigan and Georgia in 2008.

Early life

Dave Rowe was born on June 20, 1945, in Neptune City, New Jersey, and grew up in Deptford Township, New Jersey. At Deptford Township High School, he played football, basketball, and also competed in track and field. From his sophomore through senior years, he was the football team’s top tackle; at the start of his senior year in September 1962, he stood 6 feet 6 inches and weighed 245 pounds. That same year, he earned a spot on the South Jersey All-Scholastic first team.

As a junior in 1962, he was called the “bulwark” of the basketball team and was named to the Olympic Conference All-Star first team. In February 1963, he became the first Deptford basketball player to score over 1,000 points in a season. On the track team, he threw the shot put and discus, winning the Olympic Conference discus title. His wife, Faith, was his high school sweetheart.

Rowe credited his high school coaches and his Christian faith for encouraging him to attend college. Coach Roy Pickens noted Rowe’s friendly, gregarious nature and his willingness to help others, alongside his athletic talent.

College

Dave Rowe played college football at Penn State from 1963 to 1966, joining the program as a 6-foot-6, 274-pound tackle on the freshman team. He saw limited action as a sophomore in 1964 before becoming a starter at defensive tackle for his junior and senior seasons. Rowe was part of the first team coached by Joe Paterno in 1966. After a season-opening win over Maryland that year, the newly married Rowe spent the evening with his wife and family, missing Paterno’s 11 p.m. curfew.

He assumed Paterno would not mind given the circumstances, but Paterno berated him and kicked him off the team. Several senior teammates intervened, explaining that Rowe—who did not drink—was simply celebrating with family, not carousing. Paterno reinstated him, and Rowe worked his way back to the starting lineup within days. He became the first player drafted into the NFL from Paterno’s tenure as head coach.

In 1966, the Associated Press named Rowe second-team All-East at defensive tackle. He also played in the East-West Shrine Game, the Hula Bowl, and the Chicago College All-Star Game.

Professional career

The New Orleans Saints, a brand-new expansion team, picked Dave Rowe in the second round of the 1967 draft, 53rd overall. He played left defensive tackle as a rookie and started all 14 games that season. Rowe finished tied for fourth in the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year voting, behind future Hall of Famers Lem Barney and Alan Page and Pro Bowl safety Rick Volk, and UPI put him on its All-Rookie team. He recorded 5.5 sacks, second on the team to future Hall of Fame end Doug Atkins, who had 9.5.

The Saints went 3–11 in their first year. In Week 10, Rowe tore ligaments in his hand while facing Philadelphia’s Dick Hart and had surgery the day after the season ended. In 1968, Rowe and right tackle Mike Tilleman swapped spots, and Rowe started every game at right defensive tackle through 1970. He matched his rookie sack total with 5.5 in 1968 and made his only Pro Bowl appearance.

Bone chips in his elbow required another postseason surgery. That year, the Saints defense led the NFL in lowest opponent completion percentage (41.8%) and most fumble recoveries (26), anchored by 38-year-old Atkins (12.5 sacks, second-team All-Pro) and 32-year-old safety Dave Whitsell (six interceptions). Rowe had 4.5 sacks in 1969 but just one in 1970. During his four seasons with the team, the Saints never won more than five games.

San Diego Chargers, Oakland Raiders, Baltimore Colts

In late August 1974, the Patriots sent Rowe to the San Diego Chargers in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 1975 draft. He played left tackle in all 14 games he started. After Chargers defensive captain Coy Bacon stepped down to protest Monday practices, head coach Tommy Prothro gave Rowe the captaincy. That season, the Chargers went 5–9, giving Rowe his eighth straight losing year.

On September 23, 1975, just one game into the new season and still serving as defensive captain, Rowe was traded to the Oakland Raiders for an undisclosed draft pick. In Oakland, he played under Hall of Fame coach John Madden. Though he started only one regular-season game in 1975, he finally experienced a winning team and a playoff berth. The Raiders finished 11–3 but lost the AFC Championship Game to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Before the divisional playoff against the Cincinnati Bengals, defensive end Tony Cline was injured, so Rowe saw more playing time. In 1976, Rowe started all 14 games at nose tackle, nose guard, or middle guard. The Raiders used a three-man defensive line with Rowe in the middle, flanked by Otis Sistrunk and John Matuszak, and four linebackers. He recorded four sacks, his highest total since 1969.

Madden’s scheme asked the middle guard to absorb one or two blockers so the linebackers could make plays, a role that fit Rowe’s size and experience. The Raiders went 13–1 and won Super Bowl XI, beating the Minnesota Vikings 32–12. It was the first Super Bowl to feature a three-man defensive line. Before the game, Rowe felt conflicted and lacked motivation.

He talked with former Colts linebacker Don Shinnick, who used the Bible to help Rowe find focus and perspective, leading him to approach the game with humility and a focus on doing his best.