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'Daniel Oliver Hampton' (born September 19, 1957) is a retired Hall of Fame American football defensive tackle who played twelve seasons for the Chicago Bears from 1979 to 1990 in the National Football League. The son of Robert and Joan Hampton.

Contents

High school

College

NFL

Notes

External links

High school

Graduated from Jacksonville High School in Jacksonville, AR, in 1975. Played football his junior and senior year. Suffered a disabling fall from a tree that kept him out of organized sports from grades 7 to 10. Participated in band, playing saxophone and five other instruments. Jacksonville High School coach Bill Reed is credited for "rescuing me" from the band.[1]

College

Hampton played college football at the Arkansas and was drafted in the first round of the 1979 NFL Draft by the Bears. Part of a Razorback team that thumped the highly favored Oklahoma Sooners in the 1978 Orange Bowl by a score of 31-6. Several key Razorback players had been suspended for the game by Arkansas Head Coach Lou Holtz which left the team short-handed. As a senior Hampton was All-America and recorded 18 quarterback sacks. He was also named the Southwest Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 1978. In addition, that same season, Hampton was named by the Houston Post and the SWC Player of the Year[2]. He was a four-year letterman, a three-year starter at Arkansas and a two-time All-Conference selection. He was also a member of the Razorback All-Decade team of the 1970s.
In 1991 he was elected to the University of Arkansas Sports Hall of Honor and the following year he was voted to the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. In 1994 Hampton was voted to the All-Century team of the University of Arkansas.

NFL

He was selected to four Pro Bowls and was a key defensive member of the Bears' Super Bowl XX win against the New England Patriots in 1985. Hampton was a versatile defensive lineman, making All-Pro at both defensive end and defensive tackle. In all, Hampton was 1st or 2nd team All-Pro in 1980, 82, 84, 85, 86, and 88. He was voted the NFLPA NFC Defensive Lineman of the Year in 1984. His versatility likely cost him several post-season honors, for example, in 1986 he was an alternate for the Pro Bowl at both defensive end and defensive tackle. His playing both positions likely split the votes of his NFC peers. Hampton was also a 1st alternate for the Pro Bowl in 1988 and graded out as the top defender on the Bears that season, even though Mike Singeltary was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year.[3]
During his football career Hampton endured 10 knee surguries (five on each knee) and had two more just after finishing his 12th NFL season in 1990. Credited by the Chicago Bears as having 82 career sacks. [4] with a career high of 11-1/2 in both 1980 (as a DE) and 1984 (as DT). Was voted to the NFL All-Decade team of the 1980s and was the Pro Football Weekly NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1982.
Sports Illustrated's Paul Zimmerman relates an anecdote that when he picked fellow Bear DT Steve McMichael for his All-Pro team in 1985 he was chided a year later by Buddy Ryan, then the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. Ryan told Zimmerman that he was disappointed in him and that he thought Zimmerman knew football. He then pulled out Bears films and showed Zimmerman that "Hampton was the cornerstone to our 46 defense by drawing constant double teams".[5][6]
In his 1987 book "Fatso"[7] Hall of Fame defensive tackle Art Donovan called Dan the best defensive lineman in the NFL and "the closest thing to Gino Marchetti I've seen".
During Hampton's tenure in Chicago (1979-90), the Bears defense ranked #1 in the NFL in allowing the fewest rushing yards, the fewest rushing touchdowns, the fewest total yards, the fewest points and inflicted the most sacks[8]. Was part of 1984 Bear defense that set the NFL record for most sacks in a season, with 72, and is to co-holder of the record for most sacks in a game with 12. The latter occurred against the Detroit Lions on December 16, 1984. Earlier in that season the Bears sacked Viking quarterback Archie Manning 11 times, to tie the record for the second-most sacks in a game.
Hampton, who missed 23 games in his career due to severe knee injures, was a positive force on the Bear defense. From 1983-90, in games Hampton missed the Bears only won 33% of the time. In games he played they won 75%. When he was in the lineup the Bears sacked the quarterback 3.6 times a game and only 2.3 times a game without him. When Hampton played the defense gave up an average of 14 points a game and allowed 23 points a game in the games he missed, all seemingly remarkable statistics. [9]
In 1990 Hampton was the recipient of the George S. Halas Courage Award by the Pro Football Writers Association which is given to the player or coach who has performed with abandon despite injury. Other winners over the years have been Robert Edwards, Dick Butkus, as well as others.
Hampton was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002. He was inducted with Redskins head coach George Allen, Raiders tight end Dave Casper, Bills quarterback Jim Kelly and Steelers wide receiver John Stallworth.
Is a co-host for the syndicated ''Pro Football Weekly'' television show which is approaching its 20th season on the air. The show is hosted by a panel, ''Pro Football Weekly'' publisher/editor Hub Arkush as well as Chicago sportscaster Pat Boyle, and former Bear Tom Waddle.[10]

Notes

★ Feeling the Bears Super Bowl Shuffle was too cocky, Hampton declined involvement. [11]

★ His fierce style of play earned him the nickname of "Danimal".

External links

★ ''Pro Football Hall of Fame:'' Member profile