Joe Dudek
| Date of birth | January 22, 1964 |
|---|---|
| Place of birth | Dorchester, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Halfback |
| College | Plymouth State University |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1987 | Denver Broncos |
| Career stats | |
| |
Joseph Anthony "Joe" Dudek (born January 22, 1964) is an American former football player.
Dudek received national attention when he was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated's December 2, 1985 issue as the magazine's pick for the Heisman Trophy after he broke Walter Payton's NCAA record for career touchdowns.[1] Dudek finished ninth in the voting, the best result ever for a non-Division I player.
Dudek finished his collegiate career with ten school records, and holds the NCAA record for career 100-yard rushing games, (30) and games with two or more touchdowns (24). Plymouth State went 37-6 during his time there, reaching the Eastern College Athletic Conference playoffs twice and earning their first-ever NCAA playoff appearance. To this date, Dudek's jersey is the only one that Plymouth State has retired.[2]
Dudek played two games for the Denver Broncos in 1987 (during the 1987 NFL players' strike),[3] rushing for 154 yards and two touchdowns.[4]
Dudek was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1997. As of December 2009, he lives in Auburn, New Hampshire with his wife and their two children, and works for Southern Wine & Spirits.[5]
His son, Joey, plays ice hockey at Boston College and was drafted 152nd overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils.
References
- ↑ "What The Heck, Why Not Dudek?" Sports Illustrated 2 December 1985
- ↑ "#22 Joe Dudek" Plymouth State University
- ↑ "The Story of Bo and Joe", Grantland.com, December 7, 2012
- ↑ "Joe Dudek Profile" databasefootball.com
- ↑ "Where are they now? Plymouth State Football Legend Joe Dudek" The Citizen October 26, 2010