Ron Essink

Games played:	83
Games started:	70
Fumble recoveries:	2

Ron Essink
No. 64
Position:	Offensive tackle
Personal information
Born:	July 30, 1958 (age 65); Zeeland, Michigan, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight:	260 lb (118 kg)
Career information
High school:	Zeeland (MI)
College:	Grand Valley State
NFL draft:	1980 / Round: 10 / Pick: 265
Career history
	Seattle Seahawks (1980–1986); Dallas Cowboys (1987)*;
	* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
	All-American (1979); 2× All-GLIAC (1978, 1979); 2× All-NAIA District 23 (1978, 1979); Wrestling All-American (1979);
Career NFL statistics
Games played:
Games played:	83
Games started:	70
Fumble recoveries:	2
	Player stats at PFR

Ronald Arden Essink (born July 30, 1958) is a former

offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the Seattle Seahawks. He played college football at Grand Valley State University

.

Early life

Essink attended Zeeland High School, where he played as a tight end. He began practicing wrestling as a senior, going undefeated and winning the heavyweight Class B title, which was the school's first state title in any sport.^[1]

He accepted a football scholarship from

offensive tackle because of an injury to a starter. He would become an NCAA Division II and NAIA All-American

.

As a junior, he helped the team achieve the best record (9–3) in school history and qualify to the playoffs for the first time. They lost against

Elon College in the semifinals of the NAIA

playoffs.

He also practiced

All-American recognition after placing seventh at the NCAA Division I

championships.

In 1991, he was inducted into the Grand Valley State University Athletics Hall of Fame.[2]

Professional career

Seattle Seahawks

Essink was selected by the

left tackle, when he passed Louis Bullard on the depth chart. On November 27, he scored a touchdown on a two-yard pass from Jim Zorn, for the only Seahawks' points in a 7–51 loss against the Dallas Cowboys

.

He was the regular starter at

left tackle

and Essink ended up missing the entire season because of elbow injuries.

In 1987, he was sidelined with a pulled groin muscle he suffered in the second day of training camp. On August 25, he was traded to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a fifth round draft choice (#120-Chris Gaines).^[4]

Dallas Cowboys

In

left tackle. On September 1, he announced his retirement from professional football, one week after being traded. He had undergone 6 surgeries on both elbows in the previous two years.^[5]

Personal life

After football, he returned to Zeeland High School, to become a teacher and a wrestling coach. He also worked for the Zeeland Street Department.

References

^ "Ron Essink, Tom Kragt and Jim Rynsburger to be enshrined together". Retrieved January 12, 2019.
^ "Ron Essink - Class of 1991 - Hall of Fame - Grand Valley State University". Retrieved January 12, 2019.
^ "Ron Essink". databaseSports.com. Archived from the original on February 18, 2010. Retrieved February 16, 2010.
^ "Veteran tackle Ron Essink, who has walked out of..." Retrieved January 12, 2019.
^ "Essink retires; Cowboys cut 8". Retrieved January 12, 2019.

[1] "Ron Essink, Tom Kragt and Jim Rynsburger to be enshrined together". Retrieved January 12, 2019.

[2] "Ron Essink - Class of 1991 - Hall of Fame - Grand Valley State University". Retrieved January 12, 2019.

[dbs-3] "Ron Essink". databaseSports.com. Archived from the original on February 18, 2010. Retrieved February 16, 2010.

[4] "Veteran tackle Ron Essink, who has walked out of..." Retrieved January 12, 2019.

[5] "Essink retires; Cowboys cut 8". Retrieved January 12, 2019.

[1]

[4]

[5]