Tom Franckhauser

No. 81, 32, 40

Position:

Cornerback

Personal information

Date of birth:

May 26, 1937

Place of birth:

Steubenville, Ohio

Date of death:

April 17, 1997 (aged 59)

Place of death:

Houston, Texas

Height:

6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)

Weight:

195 lb (88 kg)

Career information

High school:

Catholic Central (OH).

College:

Purdue

NFL Draft:

1959 / Round: 3 / Pick: 33

Career history

Career highlights and awards

Second-team All-Big Ten (1958)

Career NFL statistics

Games played:	58
Interceptions:	13
Player stats at NFL.com

Player stats at PFR

Games played:	58
Interceptions:	13
Player stats at NFL.com

Thomas Anthony Franckhauser (May 26, 1937 – April 17, 1997) was an American football cornerback who played in the National Football League for the Los Angeles Rams, the Dallas Cowboys, and the Minnesota Vikings. He played college football at Purdue University.

Known as "Knute", Franckhauser was born in Steubenville, Ohio, and played high school football there at Catholic Central High School.

He accepted a scholarship from Purdue University, where he became a three-year starter at offensive end. In 1957, he helped his team upset Michigan State University, which was ranked number one in the nation at the time. As a senior he was named the team's MVP.

Franckhauser was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the third round (33rd overall) of the 1959 NFL Draft. As a rookie, he focused on playing at cornerback and had three interceptions.

He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1960 NFL Expansion Draft. He became the first player in Dallas Cowboys history to carry the football during a regular season game as he returned the opening kickoff in their inaugural regular season game. He also became the first starter at left cornerback in franchise history and tied with Don Bishop, for the team lead in interceptions (3).

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