Dave Ahrens

Dave Ahrens
No. 58, 57, 50
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1958-12-05) December 5, 1958 (age 66)
Cedar Falls, Iowa, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:238 lb (108 kg)
Career information
High school:Oregon
(Oregon, Wisconsin)
College:Wisconsin
NFL draft:1981 / round: 6 / pick: 143
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Sacks:3.0
Interceptions:1
Fumble recoveries:4
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Dave Ahrens (born December 5, 1958) is a former American football linebacker who played ten seasons in the National Football League (NFL).[1] The Cedar Falls, Iowa native played college football at the University of Wisconsin.

Early life

Ahrens played high school at Oregon High School in Oregon, Wisconsin, where he played fullback and linebacker and was named All-State by the Associated Press his senior year.[2] Ahrens started out at the University of Wisconsin playing fullback but switched to linebacker and was captain[3] and Team MVP of the 1980 Wisconsin Badgers football team.[4]

Professional career

St. Louis Cardinals

Ahrens was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the sixth round (143rd overall) of the 1981 NFL draft.[5] He recorded his only interception his rookie year, which was returned for a touchdown.[6] Ahrens played in all the games and started ten his rookie season, but his playing time diminished and after four years he was traded to the Indianapolis Colts[7] for a tenth-round pick in the 1986 NFL draft.[8]

Indianapolis Colts

Ahrens was traded to the Indianapolis Colts before the 1985 season. He did not start a single game in 1985 but had arguably his best NFL season in 1986, starting ten games,[9] and registering two quarterback sacks,[10] one of them helping the Colts secure their first win of the year late in the season against the Atlanta Falcons.[11]

Detroit Lions

Ahrens spent 1988 with the Detroit Lions but only played in half the games and was left unprotected.[12]

Miami Dolphins

Ahrens was signed by the Miami Dolphins before 1989[13] and recorded one sack with the team. Due to salary concerns, the Dolphins released him but he did sign a Plan B contract.[14]

Seattle Seahawks

Ahrens signed with the Seattle Seahawks in free agency before the 1990 season.[15] He was cut during final cuts[16] only to be re-signed by the team. Ahrens was placed on injured reserve following a broken leg against the Denver Broncos late in the season.[17]

Later life

Ahrens spent the 1991 season with the Colts as an assistant coach.[18] He was part of a large group of Colts players named in a 2011 concussion lawsuit against the NFL.[19]

References

  1. ^ "Dave Ahrens Archived 2010-11-21 at the Wayback Machine", databasefootball.com, retrieved 2010-10-08
  2. ^ "The University of Wisconsin Collection: Wisconsin football 1977: Wisconsin football 1977". digicoll.library.wisc.edu. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  3. ^ Galloway, Jason. "Badgers football: Seen and heard at Camp Randall Stadium". madison.com. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  4. ^ "The Top Badgers Since 1975". www.badgermaniac.com. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  5. ^ Boyles, Bob; Guido, Paul (January 1, 2009). The USA Today College Football Encyclopedia. Skyhorse Publishing Inc. ISBN 9781602396777.
  6. ^ "Dave Ahrens Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  7. ^ "Wednesday's Sports Transactions". UPI. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  8. ^ "1986 NFL Draft Pick Transactions". www.prosportstransactions.com. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  9. ^ "Dave Ahrens - The Pro Football Archives". www.profootballarchives.com. Archived from the original on May 8, 2021. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  10. ^ "Dave Ahrens". NFL.com. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  11. ^ "Indianapolis Colts Football". Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  12. ^ "Players Who Cashed In On Their Chance To Move". tribunedigital-chicagotribune. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  13. ^ "Free agency helped lesser players and hurt the Bears (April 3, 1989)". Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  14. ^ "Plan B: It Pays Not To Succeed So-so Players Find How To Get Ahead Without Really Vying". tribunedigital-sunsentinel. Retrieved May 11, 2017.[dead link‍]
  15. ^ "Deal For Marino Seen As Unlikely". tribunedigital-sunsentinel. Retrieved May 11, 2017.[dead link‍]
  16. ^ "ROUNDUP". The Washington Post. August 28, 1990. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  17. ^ "Sports | Woods Survives Return To Lb". community.seattletimes.nwsource.com. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  18. ^ "Dave Ahrens Coaching History - CoachTrees.com". www.coachtrees.com. Archived from the original on December 22, 2016. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  19. ^ "NFL reaches concussion settlement with former players, including about 136 former Colts". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved May 11, 2017.