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{{Short description|American football player (1934–2023)}}
{{BLP unsourced|date=September 2014}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox gridiron football person
{{Use American English|date=April 2023}}
|image=
{{Infobox NFL biography
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1934|11|22|mf=y}}
| name = Don McIlhenny
|birth_place=[[Cleveland, OH]]
| position = [[Halfback (American football)|Halfback]]
|death_date=
| number = 42, 35
|College=[[Southern Methodist University|Southern Methodist]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1934|11|22}}
|Position=[[Halfback (American football)|Halfback]]
| birth_place = [[Cleveland, Ohio]], U.S.
|DraftedYear=1956
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2023|4|18|1934|11|22}}
|DraftedRound=3
| death_place =
|DraftedPick=27
| height_ft = 6
|years=1956<br>1957-1959<br>1960-1961<br>1961
| height_in = 0
|teams=[[Detroit Lions]]<br>[[Green Bay Packers]]<br>[[Dallas Cowboys]]<br>[[San Francisco 49ers]]
| weight_lbs = 197
|DatabaseFootball=MCILHDON01
| high_school = [[Hillsboro High School (Tennessee)|Hillsboro]] {{nowrap|([[Nashville, Tennessee]])}}
|PFR=McIlDo00
| college = [[SMU Mustangs football|Southern Methodist]]
|NFL=MCI110744
| draftyear = 1956
}}
| draftround = 3
| draftpick = 27
| pastteams =
* [[Detroit Lions]] ({{NFL Year|1956}})
* [[Green Bay Packers]] ({{NFL Year|1957}}–{{NFL Year|1959}})
* [[Dallas Cowboys]] ({{NFL Year|1960}}–{{NFL Year|1961}})
* [[San Francisco 49ers]] ([[1961 NFL season|1961]])
| highlights =
* [[Southwest Conference|SWC]] Sophomore of the Year (1953)
| statlabel1 = Rushing Yards
| statvalue1 = 1,581
| pfr = McIlDo00
| statlabel2 = TD
| statvalue2 = 7
| statlabel3 = Games Played
| statvalue3 = 64
}}'''Donald Brookes McIlhenny''' (November 22, 1934 – April 18, 2023) was an American professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[Halfback (American football)|halfback]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) for the [[Detroit Lions]], [[Green Bay Packers]], [[Dallas Cowboys]], and [[San Francisco 49ers]]. He played [[college football]] for the [[SMU Mustangs football|SMU Mustangs]].


==Early years==
'''Donald Brookes McIlhenny''' (born November 22, 1934 in [[Cleveland, Ohio]]) is a former [[American football]] [[Halfback (American football)|halfback]] in the [[National Football League]] for the [[Detroit Lions]], [[Green Bay Packers]], [[Dallas Cowboys]], and the [[San Francisco 49ers]]. He played [[college football]] at [[Southern Methodist University]] and was [[NFL Draft|drafted]] in the third round of the [[1956 NFL Draft]]. McIlhenny was also selected by the [[Dallas Cowboys]] in the [[1960 NFL Expansion Draft]].
McIlhenny attended [[Hillsboro High School (Tennessee)|Hillsboro High School]] in [[Nashville, Tennessee]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Check out these photos of Hillsboro High School through the years |url=https://www.tennessean.com/picture-gallery/news/education/2018/07/26/hillsboro-high-school-through-the-years/37138201/ |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=The Tennessean |language=en-US}}</ref> He accepted a football scholarship from [[Southern Methodist University]]. As a junior, he was third on the [[SMU Mustangs football|Mustangs]] with 62 carries for 316 yards (5.1-yard avg.). As a senior, he led the team with 104 carries for 544 yards (5.2-yard avg.).


McIlhenny was a teammate of future [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]]rs [[Raymond Berry]] and [[Forrest Gregg]].

===Professional career===

===Detroit Lions===
McIlhenny was selected in the third round (27th overall) of the [[1956 NFL draft]] by the [[Detroit Lions]]. As a rookie, he was the team's leading rusher during the first four games of the season, before injuries limited his productivity and finished with 372 rushing yards in 9 games.

On July 25, 1957, he was traded to the [[Green Bay Packers]] along with offensive tackles [[Ollie Spencer]] and [[Norm Masters]], and offensive guard [[Jim Salsbury]], in exchange for quarterback [[Tobin Rote]] and defensive back [[Val Joe Walker]].<ref>{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=110&dat=19570726&id=gpBOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=u0IDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4391,4343866 | title=Lions Get Rote, Walker in Trade with Packers | access-date=February 3, 2023}}</ref>

===Green Bay Packers===
The [[Green Bay Packers]] used him as a reserve halfback for 4 seasons. He led the team in rushing in [[1957 NFL season|1957]] with 100 carries for 384 yards and was fifth in the league in kickoff return average (25.9 yards).

===Dallas Cowboys===
McIlhenny was selected by the [[Dallas Cowboys]] in the [[1960 NFL Expansion Draft]], becoming the first starting halfback in franchise history. In the Cowboys [[1960 Dallas Cowboys season|1960 inaugural season]], he scored the first rushing [[touchdown]] for the Cowboys and was second on the team in rushing with 96 carries for 321 yards in 11 games (7 starts). He was waived on October 11, [[1961 NFL season|1961]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19611012&id=U3RQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PhEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5740,819107 | title=Browns Just Another Club, Says Vince | access-date=February 3, 2023 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

===San Francisco 49ers===
McIlhenny was claimed off waivers by the [[San Francisco 49ers]] and played in 5 games during the [[1961 NFL season|1961 season]].

==Personal life and death==
McIlhenny and his wife, who died in 2018, had four children.<ref name = Watkins>{{cite news |last1=Watkins |first1=Calvin |title=Don Mcllhenny, who scored Cowboys’ first rushing TD, dies at 88 |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/cowboys/2023/04/19/don-mcllhenny-who-scored-cowboys-first-rushing-td-dies-at-88/ |newspaper=[[The Dallas Morning News]]|date = April 19, 2023|access-date = April 23, 2023}}</ref> Their son [[Lance McIlhenny]] played for [[Southern Methodist University]] and is the winningest [[quarterback]] in school and [[Southwest Conference]] history.<ref name = Watkins/>

McIlhenny died on April 18, 2023, at the age of 88, having suffered from [[Alzheimer's disease]] for ten years.<ref name = Watkins/>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Lions1956DraftPicks}}
{{1960 Dallas Cowboys}}
{{1960 Dallas Cowboys}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = McIlhenny, Don
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American football player
| DATE OF BIRTH = November 22, 1934
| PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Cleveland, OH]]
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McIlhenny, Don}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McIlhenny, Don}}
[[Category:1934 births]]
[[Category:1934 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:2023 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Cleveland, Ohio]]
[[Category:American football halfbacks]]
[[Category:American football halfbacks]]
[[Category:SMU Mustangs football players]]
[[Category:Dallas Cowboys players]]
[[Category:Deaths from Alzheimer's disease]]
[[Category:Detroit Lions players]]
[[Category:Detroit Lions players]]
[[Category:Green Bay Packers players]]
[[Category:Green Bay Packers players]]
[[Category:Dallas Cowboys players]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Houston]]
[[Category:SMU Mustangs football players]]
[[Category:San Francisco 49ers players]]
[[Category:San Francisco 49ers players]]


{{runningback-1930s-stub}}

Latest revision as of 12:26, 3 August 2024

Don McIlhenny
No. 42, 35
Position:Halfback
Personal information
Born:(1934-11-22)November 22, 1934
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Died:April 18, 2023(2023-04-18) (aged 88)
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:197 lb (89 kg)
Career information
High school:Hillsboro (Nashville, Tennessee)
College:Southern Methodist
NFL draft:1956 / round: 3 / pick: 27
Career history
Career highlights and awards
  • SWC Sophomore of the Year (1953)
Career NFL statistics
Rushing Yards:1,581
TD:7
Games Played:64
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Donald Brookes McIlhenny (November 22, 1934 – April 18, 2023) was an American professional football player who was a halfback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, and San Francisco 49ers. He played college football for the SMU Mustangs.

Early years

[edit]

McIlhenny attended Hillsboro High School in Nashville, Tennessee.[1] He accepted a football scholarship from Southern Methodist University. As a junior, he was third on the Mustangs with 62 carries for 316 yards (5.1-yard avg.). As a senior, he led the team with 104 carries for 544 yards (5.2-yard avg.).

McIlhenny was a teammate of future Pro Football Hall of Famers Raymond Berry and Forrest Gregg.

Professional career

[edit]

Detroit Lions

[edit]

McIlhenny was selected in the third round (27th overall) of the 1956 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions. As a rookie, he was the team's leading rusher during the first four games of the season, before injuries limited his productivity and finished with 372 rushing yards in 9 games.

On July 25, 1957, he was traded to the Green Bay Packers along with offensive tackles Ollie Spencer and Norm Masters, and offensive guard Jim Salsbury, in exchange for quarterback Tobin Rote and defensive back Val Joe Walker.[2]

Green Bay Packers

[edit]

The Green Bay Packers used him as a reserve halfback for 4 seasons. He led the team in rushing in 1957 with 100 carries for 384 yards and was fifth in the league in kickoff return average (25.9 yards).

Dallas Cowboys

[edit]

McIlhenny was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1960 NFL Expansion Draft, becoming the first starting halfback in franchise history. In the Cowboys 1960 inaugural season, he scored the first rushing touchdown for the Cowboys and was second on the team in rushing with 96 carries for 321 yards in 11 games (7 starts). He was waived on October 11, 1961.[3]

San Francisco 49ers

[edit]

McIlhenny was claimed off waivers by the San Francisco 49ers and played in 5 games during the 1961 season.

Personal life and death

[edit]

McIlhenny and his wife, who died in 2018, had four children.[4] Their son Lance McIlhenny played for Southern Methodist University and is the winningest quarterback in school and Southwest Conference history.[4]

McIlhenny died on April 18, 2023, at the age of 88, having suffered from Alzheimer's disease for ten years.[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Check out these photos of Hillsboro High School through the years". The Tennessean. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  2. ^ "Lions Get Rote, Walker in Trade with Packers". Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  3. ^ "Browns Just Another Club, Says Vince". Retrieved February 3, 2023.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ a b c Watkins, Calvin (April 19, 2023). "Don Mcllhenny, who scored Cowboys' first rushing TD, dies at 88". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved April 23, 2023.