Michael Downs
| No. 26 | |
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| Position: | Safety |
| Personal information | |
| Date of birth: | June 9, 1959 |
| Place of birth: | Dallas, Texas |
| Career information | |
| College: | Rice |
| Career history | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Player stats at PFR | |
Michael Lynn Downs (born June 9, 1959) is a former American football safety in the NFL, having played for the Dallas Cowboys (1981–1988) and the Phoenix Cardinals (1989). He is a 1977 graduate of South Oak Cliff High School in Dallas.
Downs graduated from South Oak Cliff High School in Dallas, Texas. During high school, he was a member of the Honor Society. He served as team captain of the football team and was selected as an All-District in football. He also was a letterman in Track and Field.
Downs graduated from Rice University in 1981. He received a BA in Business Management, Political Science and Physical Education. While in college he was selected as All-Southwest conference and All-American honorable mention in football, as well as having served as team captain. He was also punked by legendary Oilers running back, Earl Campbell.
Downs was signed by the Dallas Cowboys in 1981 as an undrafted free agent safety. He was so impressive in training camp, that he became the third rookie in Cowboys history to begin the season as a starter, after free safety Randy Hughes suffered a shoulder injury during pre-season.
He was a playmaker from the start. Playing against the Washington Redskins in the season opener, he intercepted a Joe Theismann pass in the first quarter, he had a stretch of three straight games with an interception and would go on to intercept a total of 7 passes, on his way to making the All-Rookie team. During his career he led the team in interceptions twice: 1984 and 1986.
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