Charlie Waters
Encyclopedia
Charlie Tutan Waters is a former American football
safety for the Dallas Cowboys
from 1970-1981 in the National Football League
. He spent one season (2006) as a radio broadcaster for the Dallas Cowboys radio network.
at North Augusta High School, that he made the 1965 Shrine Bowl
, even though he had been a wide receiver
earlier in his career.
Waters signed a football
scholarship at Clemson University
and by the spring of 1968 as a junior, he was competing with Billy Ammons for the starting quarterback
job. When Ammons hurt his knee in spring practice, Waters won the position.
The defending ACC
champions started the season 0-3-1. When Ammons’ knee healed, he took over the starting job and Waters shifted to split end for the remaining 15 games of his Clemson career.
He wasn't the strongest or the fastest player, but he was athletic and smart.
That year the Tigers won four of their last six games to finish second in the ACC
.
A three-year letterman from 1967–69, Waters was an All-ACC
selection in 1969 at wide receiver
as a senior. During his Clemson career, he caught 68 passes for 1,196 yards and 17.1 yards per catch, to go along with four touchdown
receptions. He still ranks eighth all-time for yards per reception and eighteenth all-time in receiving yards.
Waters was inducted into the Clemson Hall of Fame in 1981.
He also was inducted into the North Augusta and South Carolina halls of fame.
in the third round of the 1970 NFL Draft
.
Although he nearly was released during training camp, Waters was converted to defensive back
and started his rookie year as a backup to Cliff Harris
at free safety. He ended up starting 6 games after Harris had to serve military duty. Waters had 5 interceptions that season, as the Cowboys would go on to lose Super Bowl V
. His performance was good enough to make the NFL all-rookie team as a free safety in 1970
.
The next year he was moved to cornerback
, where he struggled for four years in a backup role.
Waters was moved to Strong Safety in 1975
to replace Cowboys great Cornell Green. He responded with 3 interceptions for 55 yards and a touchdown
. That season, Cowboys would end up reaching Super Bowl X
before losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers
.
As a strong safety he became an All-Pro
and along with Cliff Harris
, formed one of the most feared safety tandems of that era.
He was like a coach on the field, with excellent instincts and the athletic ability, to become one of the league’s top defensive players of the decade. His courage and knowledge of the game earned him the respect of both opponents and teammates.
Waters made his first All-Pro
team in 1976
with 3 interceptions. He returned to the Pro Bowl
the next year after getting 3 more interceptions, as the Cowboys would end up winning Super Bowl XII
.
1978
was the last year Waters would go to the Pro Bowl
. He had a safety and 4 interceptions. That year the Cowboys would end up losing Super Bowl XIII
.
He was selected All-Pro
twice (1977
and 1978
) and to the Pro Bowl
three consecutive seasons (1976
-1978
).
Waters injured his knee before the start of the 1979 season
, and would sit out the entire year. He returned in 1980
and had 5 interceptions. After getting 3 interceptions in 1981
, he retired with 50 interceptions, the second-most in franchise history.
Waters played 12 seasons in the NFL with the Cowboys, never experienced a losing season and only missed the playoffs one time during that span. He played in five Super Bowl
s: V
, VI
, X
, XII
, and XIII
, with victories in VI
and XII
.
He holds the NFL records for most playoff interceptions with 9.
He also has the unique achievement of blocking 4 punts in 2 consecutive games.
To this day, he is one of the most revered and respected players in Dallas Cowboys
history.
and San Francisco 49ers
, Waters retired and became an NFL and college football
coach
. He was the defensive coordinator
for the Denver Broncos
in 1993/1994 and then for the University of Oregon
.
He was nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame
in 2001, but was not elected.
In 2006, the Dallas Cowboys
hired Waters as the new color commentator
for the Cowboys Radio Network, working alongside Brad Sham
when former color commentator and Dallas quarterback
Babe Laufenberg
resigned his post to spend time with his family.
Outside of football, he works with longtime teammate Cliff Harris
at a gas marketing company. In February 2007, Waters announced that he would be leaving the radio booth after only one season, citing a busy work schedule that did not allow him enough time to prepare for the game broadcasts.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
safety for the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
from 1970-1981 in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He spent one season (2006) as a radio broadcaster for the Dallas Cowboys radio network.
Early years
He was a good enough quarterbackQuarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
at North Augusta High School, that he made the 1965 Shrine Bowl
Shrine Bowl
The Shrine Bowl was a former postseason college football bowl game. The first game was played on December 18, 1948, at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Arkansas between Hardin-Simmons University and Ouachita Baptist College....
, even though he had been a wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
earlier in his career.
Waters signed a football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
scholarship at Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
and by the spring of 1968 as a junior, he was competing with Billy Ammons for the starting quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
job. When Ammons hurt his knee in spring practice, Waters won the position.
The defending ACC
ACC
ACC may refer to:-Business:* ACC Limited, Indian cement manufacturer* ACCBank, Ireland* American Campus Communities, private student housing provider* American Communications Corp, cabling company in San Diego...
champions started the season 0-3-1. When Ammons’ knee healed, he took over the starting job and Waters shifted to split end for the remaining 15 games of his Clemson career.
He wasn't the strongest or the fastest player, but he was athletic and smart.
That year the Tigers won four of their last six games to finish second in the ACC
ACC
ACC may refer to:-Business:* ACC Limited, Indian cement manufacturer* ACCBank, Ireland* American Campus Communities, private student housing provider* American Communications Corp, cabling company in San Diego...
.
A three-year letterman from 1967–69, Waters was an All-ACC
ACC
ACC may refer to:-Business:* ACC Limited, Indian cement manufacturer* ACCBank, Ireland* American Campus Communities, private student housing provider* American Communications Corp, cabling company in San Diego...
selection in 1969 at wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
as a senior. During his Clemson career, he caught 68 passes for 1,196 yards and 17.1 yards per catch, to go along with four touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
receptions. He still ranks eighth all-time for yards per reception and eighteenth all-time in receiving yards.
Waters was inducted into the Clemson Hall of Fame in 1981.
He also was inducted into the North Augusta and South Carolina halls of fame.
Professional career
He was drafted by the Dallas CowboysDallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
in the third round of the 1970 NFL Draft
1970 NFL Draft
The 1970 National Football League Draft was held on January 27–28, 1970.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
.
Although he nearly was released during training camp, Waters was converted to defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
and started his rookie year as a backup to Cliff Harris
Cliff Harris
Clifford Allen Harris is a former professional American football safety who played for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League for ten seasons.-Professional career:...
at free safety. He ended up starting 6 games after Harris had to serve military duty. Waters had 5 interceptions that season, as the Cowboys would go on to lose Super Bowl V
Super Bowl V
Super Bowl V was an American football game played on January 17, 1971, at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, to decide the National Football League champion following the 1970 regular season...
. His performance was good enough to make the NFL all-rookie team as a free safety in 1970
1970 NFL season
The 1970 NFL season was the 51st regular season of the National Football League, and the first one after the AFL-NFL Merger.The merger forced a realignment between the combined league's clubs. Because there were 16 NFL teams and 10 AFL teams, three teams needed to transfer to balance the two new...
.
The next year he was moved to cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
, where he struggled for four years in a backup role.
Waters was moved to Strong Safety in 1975
1975 NFL season
The 1975 NFL season was the 56th regular season of the National Football League. It was also the first time that featured an entire season with no games ending in a tie. The league made two significant changes to increase the appeal of the game:...
to replace Cowboys great Cornell Green. He responded with 3 interceptions for 55 yards and a touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
. That season, Cowboys would end up reaching Super Bowl X
Super Bowl X
Super Bowl X was an American football game played on January 18, 1976 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1975 regular season....
before losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
.
As a strong safety he became an All-Pro
All-Pro
All-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season. It began as polls of sportswriters in the early 1920s...
and along with Cliff Harris
Cliff Harris
Clifford Allen Harris is a former professional American football safety who played for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League for ten seasons.-Professional career:...
, formed one of the most feared safety tandems of that era.
He was like a coach on the field, with excellent instincts and the athletic ability, to become one of the league’s top defensive players of the decade. His courage and knowledge of the game earned him the respect of both opponents and teammates.
Waters made his first All-Pro
All-Pro
All-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season. It began as polls of sportswriters in the early 1920s...
team in 1976
1976 NFL season
The 1976 NFL season was the 57th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 28 teams with the addition of the Seattle Seahawks and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers...
with 3 interceptions. He returned to the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
the next year after getting 3 more interceptions, as the Cowboys would end up winning Super Bowl XII
Super Bowl XII
Super Bowl XII was an American football game played on January 15, 1978 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1977 regular season...
.
1978
1978 NFL season
The 1978 NFL season was the 59th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded the regular season from a 14-game schedule to 16. Furthermore, the playoff format was expanded from 8 teams to 10 teams by adding another wild card from each conference...
was the last year Waters would go to the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
. He had a safety and 4 interceptions. That year the Cowboys would end up losing Super Bowl XIII
Super Bowl XIII
Super Bowl XIII was an American football game played on January 21, 1979 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1978 regular season...
.
He was selected All-Pro
All-Pro
All-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season. It began as polls of sportswriters in the early 1920s...
twice (1977
1977 NFL season
The 1977 NFL season was the 58th regular season of the National Football League. The Seattle Seahawks were placed in the AFC West while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were slotted in the NFC Central....
and 1978
1978 NFL season
The 1978 NFL season was the 59th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded the regular season from a 14-game schedule to 16. Furthermore, the playoff format was expanded from 8 teams to 10 teams by adding another wild card from each conference...
) and to the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
three consecutive seasons (1976
1976 NFL season
The 1976 NFL season was the 57th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 28 teams with the addition of the Seattle Seahawks and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers...
-1978
1978 NFL season
The 1978 NFL season was the 59th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded the regular season from a 14-game schedule to 16. Furthermore, the playoff format was expanded from 8 teams to 10 teams by adding another wild card from each conference...
).
Waters injured his knee before the start of the 1979 season
1979 NFL season
The 1979 NFL season was the 60th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XIV when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Los Angeles Rams...
, and would sit out the entire year. He returned in 1980
1980 NFL season
The 1980 NFL season was the 61st regular season of the National Football League.After the league declined to approve the proposed move by the Raiders from Oakland, California to Los Angeles, the team along with the Los Angeles Coliseum sued the NFL for violating antitrust laws...
and had 5 interceptions. After getting 3 interceptions in 1981
1981 NFL season
The 1981 NFL season was the 62nd regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XVI when the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals.-Major rule changes:...
, he retired with 50 interceptions, the second-most in franchise history.
Waters played 12 seasons in the NFL with the Cowboys, never experienced a losing season and only missed the playoffs one time during that span. He played in five Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
s: V
Super Bowl V
Super Bowl V was an American football game played on January 17, 1971, at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, to decide the National Football League champion following the 1970 regular season...
, VI
Super Bowl VI
Super Bowl VI was an American football game played on January 16, 1972, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1971 regular season...
, X
Super Bowl X
Super Bowl X was an American football game played on January 18, 1976 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1975 regular season....
, XII
Super Bowl XII
Super Bowl XII was an American football game played on January 15, 1978 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1977 regular season...
, and XIII
Super Bowl XIII
Super Bowl XIII was an American football game played on January 21, 1979 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1978 regular season...
, with victories in VI
Super Bowl VI
Super Bowl VI was an American football game played on January 16, 1972, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1971 regular season...
and XII
Super Bowl XII
Super Bowl XII was an American football game played on January 15, 1978 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1977 regular season...
.
He holds the NFL records for most playoff interceptions with 9.
He also has the unique achievement of blocking 4 punts in 2 consecutive games.
To this day, he is one of the most revered and respected players in Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
history.
After retirement
After two losses in NFC championship games against the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
, Waters retired and became an NFL and college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
. He was the defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
for the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1993/1994 and then for the University of Oregon
Oregon Ducks football
The Oregon Ducks football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University of Oregon located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level in the Football Bowl Subdivision and is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. Known as the Ducks, the...
.
He was nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
in 2001, but was not elected.
In 2006, the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
hired Waters as the new color commentator
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
for the Cowboys Radio Network, working alongside Brad Sham
Brad Sham
Brad Michael Sham is an American sportscaster who is known as the "Voice of the Dallas Cowboys". Sham is currently heard on the Dallas Cowboys Radio Network, including the flagship stations 1080 AM KRLD, where Sham held the position of Sports Director between 1976 and 1981; and 105.3 KRLD-FM "The...
when former color commentator and Dallas quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Babe Laufenberg
Babe Laufenberg
Brandon Hugh 'Babe' Laufenberg is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League who played for the New Orleans Saints, San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, and the Kansas City Chiefs...
resigned his post to spend time with his family.
Outside of football, he works with longtime teammate Cliff Harris
Cliff Harris
Clifford Allen Harris is a former professional American football safety who played for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League for ten seasons.-Professional career:...
at a gas marketing company. In February 2007, Waters announced that he would be leaving the radio booth after only one season, citing a busy work schedule that did not allow him enough time to prepare for the game broadcasts.