Michael Downs
Encyclopedia
Michael Lynn Downs is a former American football
safety in the NFL
, having played for the Dallas Cowboys
(1981-1988) and the Phoenix Cardinals
(1989). He is a 1977 graduate of South Oak Cliff High School
in Dallas.
in Dallas, Texas. During high school, he was a member of the Honor Society. He served as team captain of the football
team and was selected as an All-District in football
. He also was a letterman in Track and Field
.
Downs graduated from Rice University
in 1981. He received a BA in Business Management, Political Science and Physical Education. While in college he was selected as All-Southwest conference and All-American honorable mention in football, as well as having served as team captain.
He was also punked by UT running back, Earl Campbell.
in 1981 as a rookie free agent safety from Rice University
.
He was so impressive, that he became the third rookie in Cowboys history to begin the season as a starter. Playing against the Washington Redskins
in the season opener, he intercepted a Joe Theismann
pass in the first quarter.
Downs was a ball hawk and a playmaker from the start. He intercepted 7 passes his rookie season in only 15 games and he had
three straight games with an interception.
He played for the Cowboys from 1981 to 1988, garnering All-NFC honors twice (1984 and 1985) and All-Pro recognition once (1984).
Downs led the team in tackles for three seasons and led the team in interceptions for two. He served as team captain for the Cowboys in 1984 and 1985.
His best season came in 1984, when he led the team in interceptions with 7 and had 3.5 sacks, and was named All-Pro and All-NFC.
Downs was also an excellent tackler, leading the secondary in tackles from 1981 to 1987. He also went over the 100 tackle mark for four consecutive seasons (1983 to 1986).
From 1982 to 1984, Downs scored a defensive touchdown each year.
In 1989, Downs was released during training camp. He signed with the Phoenix Cardinals where he played his last season. The last week of October the Cardinals came into Texas Stadium
and defeated the Cowboys. Gene Stallings
(former Cowboys' secondary coach, then the Cardinals' head coach), and Dennis Thurman
(former Cowboys' defensive back, then Cardinals' secondary coach) were also part of the team.
Downs helped anchor the Cowboys secondary for most of the eighties decade. He played nine seasons in the NFL, recorded 8 sacks, 35 interceptions with 470 return yards and three touchdowns (one from int return and two from fumble returns).
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 in the NFL
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...
, having played 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...
(1981-1988) and the Phoenix Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1989). He is a 1977 graduate of South Oak Cliff High School
South Oak Cliff High School
South Oak Cliff High School is a public secondary school located in the Oak Cliff area of Dallas, Texas...
in Dallas.
Early life
Downs graduated from South Oak Cliff High SchoolSouth Oak Cliff High School
South Oak Cliff High School is a public secondary school located in the Oak Cliff area of Dallas, Texas...
in Dallas, Texas. During high school, he was a member of the Honor Society. He served as team captain of the 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...
team and was selected as an All-District in 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...
. He also was a letterman in Track and Field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
.
Downs graduated from Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
in 1981. He received a BA in Business Management, Political Science and Physical Education. While in college he was selected as All-Southwest conference and All-American honorable mention in football, as well as having served as team captain.
He was also punked by UT running back, Earl Campbell.
Professional career
He was signed 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 1981 as a rookie free agent safety from Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
.
He was so impressive, that he became the third rookie in Cowboys history to begin the season as a starter. Playing against the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
in the season opener, he intercepted a Joe Theismann
Joe Theismann
Joseph Robert "Joe" Theismann is a former quarterback in the National Football League and Canadian Football League . He achieved his most enduring fame in his 12 seasons playing for the Washington Redskins, where he was a two-time Pro Bowler and quarterback of the winning team in Super Bowl XVII...
pass in the first quarter.
Downs was a ball hawk and a playmaker from the start. He intercepted 7 passes his rookie season in only 15 games and he had
three straight games with an interception.
He played for the Cowboys from 1981 to 1988, garnering All-NFC honors twice (1984 and 1985) and All-Pro recognition once (1984).
Downs led the team in tackles for three seasons and led the team in interceptions for two. He served as team captain for the Cowboys in 1984 and 1985.
His best season came in 1984, when he led the team in interceptions with 7 and had 3.5 sacks, and was named All-Pro and All-NFC.
Downs was also an excellent tackler, leading the secondary in tackles from 1981 to 1987. He also went over the 100 tackle mark for four consecutive seasons (1983 to 1986).
From 1982 to 1984, Downs scored a defensive touchdown each year.
In 1989, Downs was released during training camp. He signed with the Phoenix Cardinals where he played his last season. The last week of October the Cardinals came into Texas Stadium
Texas Stadium
Texas Stadium was a football stadium in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. The stadium opened on September 17, 1971.Built to replace the aging Cotton Bowl, it was the home field of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, and had a seating capacity of 65,675...
and defeated the Cowboys. Gene Stallings
Gene Stallings
Eugene Clifton Stallings, Jr. is a former American football player and coach. He played college football at Texas A&M University , where he was one of the "Junction Boys", and later served as the head coach at his alma mater from 1965 to 1971. Stallings was also the head coach of the St...
(former Cowboys' secondary coach, then the Cardinals' head coach), and Dennis Thurman
Dennis Thurman
Dennis Lee Thurman is a retired American football cornerback in the National Football League.- Early life :...
(former Cowboys' defensive back, then Cardinals' secondary coach) were also part of the team.
Downs helped anchor the Cowboys secondary for most of the eighties decade. He played nine seasons in the NFL, recorded 8 sacks, 35 interceptions with 470 return yards and three touchdowns (one from int return and two from fumble returns).