Doug Wilkerson

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Doug Wilkerson
refer to caption
Wilkerson with the Chargers c. 1976
No. 63
Position:Guard
Personal information
Born:(1947-03-27)March 27, 1947
Fayetteville, North Carolina, U.S.
Died:February 21, 2021(2021-02-21) (aged 73)
Encinitas, California, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:253 lb (115 kg)
Career information
High school:E. E. Smith (Fayetteville)
College:North Carolina Central
NFL draft:1970 / Round: 1 / Pick: 14
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:204
Games started:195
Fumble recoveries:9
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Douglas Wilkerson (March 27, 1947 – February 21, 2021) was an American professional football guard who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Houston Oilers and San Diego Chargers. Named to the Pro Bowl three times, he was also a three-time All-Pro, including a first-team selection in 1982. He was inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame. He also played one season in the Austrian Football League for the Graz Giants in 1987.

Early life and college

Wilkerson was born on March 27, 1947, in

NCAA rules were broken, but Miller was both respected and feared. Daugherty did not try to get involved, nor did Wilkerson ask him to.[4]

Wilkerson decided to attend the historically black college

offensive tackle.[9]

North Carolina Central retired Wilkerson's No. 63 in 1970. He was inducted into the North Carolina Central University Hall of Fame and the Black College Football Hall of Fame.[10]

Professional career

Wilkerson was selected by the

1970 NFL Draft with the 14th overall pick.[5] The first offensive lineman drafted that year,[11] he is North Carolina Central's highest overall NFL draft selection.[5] As a rookie in 1970, Wilkerson also played as a defensive end.[12][13] After the season, he was traded to the San Diego Chargers for tight end Willie Frazier.[11]

Playing 14 seasons with San Diego, Wilkerson was named the team's Lineman of the Year seven times, including four straight from

Pro Bowls starting in 1980.[17] He earned second-team All-Pro honors in 1979 and 1980 before being named to the first-team in 1982.[15] In 1984, Wilkerson was named the co-winner of the Chargers' Lineman of the Year.[14] Two and a half weeks into training camp in 1985,[14] he announced his retirement.[18]

In 15 NFL seasons, Wilkerson played in 204 regular-season games, starting 195.

Breitbard Hall of Fame[2]

In 1987, Wilkerson came out or retirement signing and playing for the Graz Giants of the Austrian Football League, becoming the Giants' first NFL player.[20]

In his later years, Wilkerson was the strength and conditioning coach for the Los Angeles Raiders (1990–1994) and player relations executive for the St. Louis Rams (1995–1996).[21][22][23]

Personal life

Wilkerson died on February 21, 2021, at the age of 73.[24]

References

  1. ^ "On this Date 1947 - HOF Doug Wilkerson Born". North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e Magee, Jerry (February 19, 2005). "'Moosey' didn't care if moniker didn't fit". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. D-1.
  3. ^
    Newspapers.com
    .
  4. ^ Shanahan, Tom (February 23, 2021). "Air Coryell legend Doug Wilkerson's path to NFL was supposed to ride Duffy's Underground Railroad". The Shanahan Report. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c Serba, Kyle (May 3, 2010). "NCCU CENTENNIAL SPORTS HISTORY: DID YOU KNOW?". North Carolina Central University Athletics. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  6. Newspapers.com
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  9. Newspapers.com
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  10. ^ "Doug Wilkerson". BlackCollegeFootballHOF.org. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  11. ^
    Newspapers.com
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  12. Newspapers.com
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  13. Newspapers.com
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  14. ^ a b c d Judge, Clark (August 8, 1985). "Was Wilkerson forced to hang 'em up?". Evening Tribune. p. D-3.
  15. ^ a b c "Chargers legend Doug Wilkerson passes away at 73". NFL.com. February 22, 2021. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  16. ^ a b c Krasovic, Tom (February 22, 2021). "Ex-Chargers guard Doug Wilkerson, "Air Coryell" mainstay, dies at 73". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  17. ^ a b Weaver, Tim; Neumann, Thomas (September 8, 2020). "Homegrown Legends: Carolina's greatest products come home as virtual Panthers". USA Today. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  18. Newspapers.com
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  19. ^ Borquez, Gavino; Neumann, Thomas (August 29, 2019). "NFL 100: Best players in Chargers history". USA Today. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  20. ^ "Giants History". GrazGiants.at (in German). Retrieved February 23, 2021. Die Giants sind dabei federführend: Neben den ersten Field-Goal-Stangen holt man 1987 auch erstmals einen NFL-Profi (Doug Wilkerson) nach Graz
  21. Newspapers.com
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  23. Newspapers.com
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  24. ^ Elwood, Hayley (February 22, 2021). "Chargers Mourn Loss of Doug 'Moosie' Wilkerson". Chargers.com. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
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