Don Perkins, a six-time Pro Bowl who ran back with the Dallas Cowboys in the 1960s, died Thursday. He was 84 years old.
The University of New Mexico, where the Cowboys and Perkins were prominent players before their professional career, announced their death. Neither announcement states where he died, nor does he cite the cause.
Perkins rushed 6,217 yards in 107 games against the Cowboys from 1961 to 1968. He is fourth on the team’s career list after two Pro Football Halls of Fame (NFL career rush leaders Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett). Running back, Ezekiel Elliott. Perkins’ 42 rush touchdowns rank fifth in the team’s history.
He was first drafted by Baltimore Colts in the ninth round of the 1960 draft, but Perkins had already signed a personal services contract with the Extended Cowboys. Dallas acquired his rights after sending Colts a 9th round draft topic.
Perkins missed the opening season of the Cowboys in 1960 due to a broken leg. He rushed 815 yards in 1961, finishing third in this year’s NFL Rookie vote, behind Mike Ditka and Fran Tarkenton. He hurriedly had the best 945 yards of his career in 1962.
Donald Anthony Perkins was born on March 4, 1938 in Waterloo, Iowa. He played in New Mexico from 1957 to 1959 and was the team captain for his last two seasons. Marv Levy, the coach of Lobos at the time and the future Hall of Fame, says Perkins is one of the best players he has ever coached.
Perkins returned to the Albuquerque region after his professional football career was over. He later worked as a soccer analyst on television and radio.
Information on survivors was not immediately available.
“Don is one of the best Lobos and certainly one of the best soccer players to play at UNM,” said Edineñez, athletic director at the University of New Mexico. “He returned to New Mexico to work in the state and was a great ambassador for many.”