Ron Widby, SEC basketball player of the year and leader of the Dallas Cowboys’ first Super Bowl championship, died. He was 75 years old.
Widby, who lived in Allen, Texas, died Tuesday. It had been bad in recent years.
Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, Widby played six seasons in the NFL, beginning his career with the Cowboys after being initially signed by the New Orleans Saints in 1967. He played 81 games in the NFL and his 84-yard point in 1968. the Dallas record for the longest point is maintained.
Widby averaged 42 yards per point during his career and finished his NFL career with two seasons at Green Bay. In his first season with the Packers, Widby completed the only two steps of his career, including one for a touchdown.
He was selected in three professional drafts in two sports. In addition to being drafted by New Orleans in 1967, Widby was drafted by the New Orleans Buccaneers in the 1967 ABA draft and by the Chicago Bulls in the NBA draft that same year.
Widby played a season with the Bucs at the ABA before returning to football.
At the University of Tennessee, Widby became the only athlete to win college charts in four sports. He played three seasons on the football team, three on the basketball team, one on the baseball team and a year playing golf.
He led the NCAA with an average of 43.8 yards in 1966. In basketball, Widby was the SEC player of the year after leading Tennessee to the SEC championship this season.