Ron Howard (American football)

Ronald Ford Howard (born March 3, 1951) is a retired professional American football tight end who played in six seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys (1974–1975), the Seattle Seahawks (1976–1978) and the Buffalo Bills (1979).

Early years

Howard played varsity football, basketball and track for Pasco High School for three years. As a senior, Howard led the Pasco basketball squad to a 25-1 record, with the one loss coming in the state championship game to Snohomish High School in overtime. He was a high school All-American in basketball and All-conference in football as a tight end. He went on to play basketball at Seattle University, where he was a two-year starter at forward.

In 2006, he was inducted into the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association Hall of Fame.

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

Howard was a basketball player who had never played a down of college football, that the Dallas Cowboys signed as an undrafted free agent in 1974 and converted into a tight end. This was one of the innovative personnel decisions the Cowboys were renowned for.

Howard declined an offer to play professional basketball in France, so he could play for the Cowboys. In his two years with the team, he earned the nickname "Dr. W." while playing as the Wedge Buster in the special teams unit. He played in Super Bowl X.

Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks selected him from the Cowboys roster in the 1976 NFL Expansion Draft. He was named the starter at tight end and became the team's second leading receiver. His 37 receptions in 1976, was a team record for tight ends that lasted 26 years until it was broken by Itula Mili in 2002. He played three seasons for the Seahawks, before injuries limited his production and was eventually waived.

Buffalo Bills

In 1979, he signed with the Buffalo Bills and only played in 1 game.

Personal life

Howard spent 10 years as an ironworker in skyscraper construction. He once was a student teacher and gym class instructor at Asa Mercer Junior High School in Seattle. He currently works at Aki Kurose Middle School Academy, also in Seattle, as its assistant principal.