Ron McDole
Encyclopedia
Roland Owen "Ron" McDole (born September 9, 1939 in Chester
, Ohio
) is a former American collegiate and Professional Football
defensive end
from the University of Nebraska, Buffalo Bills
, and Washington Redskins
.
of the American Football League
from 1963 to 1970 after spending the 1962 season with the AFL's Houston Oilers, anchoring the left side of the Bills' great defensive line.
The Bills finished tied with the Boston Patriots
for the AFL's Eastern Division title in 1963, losing the playoff game to the Pats. They would win the division for the next three years, together with two American Football League
championships, in 1964 and in 1965. McDole and his defensive linemates (left tackle Jim Dunaway
, right tackle Tom Sestak
, and right end Tom Day
) held the opposition without a rushing touchdown
in 17 straight games over the 1964-1965 seasons. McDole was the defensive team captain during those years, an AFL All-Star
in 1965 and 1967. He was selected to the All-Time All-AFL
second team.
, under head coach George Allen
from 1971 to 1977, and, in his final year, under head coach Jack Pardee
. By that time, he was quite slow, not a big threat as a pass-rusher, but very stout against the run, rarely out of position, and quick to seize opportunities for turnovers. In 1972, the Redskins won the NFC championship game of the 1972-73 NFL playoffs against the Dallas Cowboys
, when they limited the Cowboys to 3 points, 96 rushing yards on 21 carries, and, despite Roger Staubach
as their quarterback, to 73 net passing yards, as McDole held his own against the opposing right offensive tackle, Rayfield Wright
, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
. But, though the defense allowed only 14 points, the team lost Super Bowl VII
to the Miami Dolphins
.
gave him the nickname "The Dancing Bear" after showing off his moves at a Georgetown nightspot.
Chester, Ohio
Chester is an unincorporated community in central Chester Township, Meigs County, Ohio, United States. It lies along the Shade River at the intersection of State Routes 7 and 248. Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 45720.-History:Chester is one the oldest...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
) is a former American collegiate and Professional Football
Professional football
In the United States and Canada, the term professional football includes the professional forms of American and Canadian gridiron football. In common usage, it refers to former and existing major football leagues in either country...
defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
from the University of Nebraska, Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and 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,...
.
Buffalo Bills
McDole played at left defensive end for the Buffalo BillsBuffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
from 1963 to 1970 after spending the 1962 season with the AFL's Houston Oilers, anchoring the left side of the Bills' great defensive line.
The Bills finished tied with the Boston Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
for the AFL's Eastern Division title in 1963, losing the playoff game to the Pats. They would win the division for the next three years, together with two American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
championships, in 1964 and in 1965. McDole and his defensive linemates (left tackle Jim Dunaway
Jim Dunaway
James Kenneth Dunaway born September 3, 1941 in Columbia, Mississippi) was an American football player. A defensive tackle, he played college football at the University of Mississippi, and played professionally in the American Football League for the Buffalo Bills, as part of a defensive line that...
, right tackle Tom Sestak
Tom Sestak
Thomas Joseph Sestak was an American collegiate Professional Football defensive lineman for the Buffalo Bills of the American Football League....
, and right end Tom Day
Tom Day
Thomas Frederick Day was an American football player. A defensive end, he played college football at North Carolina A&T State University, and professionally in the American Football League for the Buffalo Bills and the San Diego Chargers...
) held the opposition without a rushing 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:...
in 17 straight games over the 1964-1965 seasons. McDole was the defensive team captain during those years, an AFL All-Star
American Football League All-Star games
-All-League Teams:The Sporting News published American Football League All-League Teams for each season played by the American Football League, 1960 through 1969...
in 1965 and 1967. He was selected to the All-Time All-AFL
American Football League All-Time Team
The American Football League All- Time Team was selected on January 14, 1970. The first and second teams would be determined by a panel of members of the AFL's Hall of Fame Board of Selectors: Since the First team included two halfbacks, rather than a halfback and a fullback, Cookie Gilchrist, a...
second team.
Washington Redskins
From 1971 through 1978, McDole was a key defensive player at left defensive end for the NFL Washington RedskinsWashington 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,...
, under head coach George Allen
George Allen (football)
George Herbert Allen was an American football coach in the National Football League and the United States Football League. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002.-Early life:...
from 1971 to 1977, and, in his final year, under head coach Jack Pardee
Jack Pardee
-NFL:-External links:...
. By that time, he was quite slow, not a big threat as a pass-rusher, but very stout against the run, rarely out of position, and quick to seize opportunities for turnovers. In 1972, the Redskins won the NFC championship game of the 1972-73 NFL playoffs against 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...
, when they limited the Cowboys to 3 points, 96 rushing yards on 21 carries, and, despite Roger Staubach
Roger Staubach
Roger Thomas Staubach is a businessman, Heisman Trophy winner and legendary Hall of Fame former quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys from 1969 until 1979. Staubach was instrumental in developing the Cowboys into becoming one of the best teams of the 1970s and led the team to nine of the Cowboys'...
as their quarterback, to 73 net passing yards, as McDole held his own against the opposing right offensive tackle, Rayfield Wright
Rayfield Wright
Larry Rayfield Wright is a former American football offensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.-High school and college years:...
, a member of 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...
. But, though the defense allowed only 14 points, the team lost Super Bowl VII
Super Bowl VII
Super Bowl VII was an American football game played on January 14, 1973, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California, to decide the National Football League champion following the 1972 regular season...
to the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Career
Ron McDole has the most interceptions ever by a lineman, with 12. He is also ranked #44 on the all-time list of games played in the NFL.Personal
Teammate Sonny JurgensenSonny Jurgensen
Christian Adolph "Sonny" Jurgensen III is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983....
gave him the nickname "The Dancing Bear" after showing off his moves at a Georgetown nightspot.