Don Perkins, a six-time Pro Bowl working again with the Dallas Cowboys within the Sixties, died on Thursday. He was 84.
The Cowboys and the University of New Mexico, the place Perkins was a standout participant earlier than his skilled profession, introduced the loss of life. Neither announcement mentioned the place he died, and neither cited the trigger.
Perkins rushed for six,217 yards in 107 video games with the Cowboys from 1961 to 1968. He is fourth on the crew’s profession listing behind two Pro Football Hall of Famers — Emmitt Smith, the N.F.L. profession dashing chief, and Tony Dorsett — and the Cowboys’ present working again, Ezekiel Elliott. Perkins’s 42 dashing touchdowns rank fifth within the crew’s historical past.
While he was initially drafted by the Baltimore Colts within the ninth spherical of the 1960 draft, Perkins had already signed a private providers contract with the enlargement Cowboys. Dallas acquired his rights after sending the Colts a ninth-round draft decide.
Perkins missed the Cowboys’ inaugural season in 1960 due to a damaged foot. He rushed for 815 yards in 1961, and completed third within the voting for N.F.L. rookie of the 12 months, behind Mike Ditka and Fran Tarkenton. He had a career-best 945 yards dashing in 1962.
Donald Anthony Perkins was born on March 4, 1938, in Waterloo, Iowa. He performed for New Mexico from 1957 to 1959 and was a crew captain his closing two seasons. The Lobos’ coach at the time, the long run Hall of Famer Marv Levy, has mentioned that Perkins was one of many biggest gamers he ever coached.
Perkins returned to the Albuquerque space after his professional soccer profession was over. He later labored as a tv and radio soccer analyst.
Information on survivors was not instantly accessible.
“Don is one of the greatest Lobos, and certainly one of the greatest football players to play for U.N.M.,” New Mexico’s athletic director, Eddie Nuñez, mentioned. “He came back to New Mexico and worked for the state and was a tremendous ambassador for so many.”
