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Dale Dodrill
- February 7, 1926
- January 18, 2019
- 92 years
About Dale Dodrill
Dale Dodrill, 92, American football player (Pittsburgh Steelers).
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Full Biography
|Dale Fike Dodrill (February 7, 1926 – January 18, 2019) was an American professional football player who was a defensive tackle for nine seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Colorado A&M Aggies (now Colorado State Rams).
Early life
Dodrill was born to George Dodrill and Lettie (Fike) Dodrill on February 27, 1926, in Stockton, Kansas. The family farmed in Rooks County, Kansas and Dale attended Plainville, Kansas schools. In 1937, the Dodrill family moved to Fort Collins, Colorado and then to Loveland, Colorado. In 1942, Dodrill played on the Loveland High School state championship football team. Dodrill was selected into the United States Army right out of high school, serving in the 30th Infantry Division during World War II. Dodrill's brother Garrett died in a prison camp in the Philippines during the war.
College career
In 1947, Dodrill enrolled at Colorado A&M (Colorado State University) to play football for the Rams. Dodrill played both sides of the ball for the Rams helping the team to its first post season appearance, the 1949 Raisin Bowl. Dodrill was selected All-Skyline Athletic Conference in 1948, 1949 and 1950. He was selected to play in the East-West Shrine game in 1949 and the College All-Star game in 1951. In 1952, Dodrill won the Nye Trophy as the most outstanding Colorado State male athlete. Dodrill was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 1993.
Professional career
Dodrill was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers 67th overall in the sixth round of the 1951 NFL draft. During his nine-year career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dodrill posted career numbers of 10 interceptions and 11 recovered fumbles. One fumble recovery was returned for a touchdown. Dodrill was voted to the NFL Pro Bowl four times (1954, 1955, 1956, 1958) and named First-team All-Pro in 1954.
In 2007, Dodrill was honored by the Pittsburgh Steelers during their 75th Season Celebration. Dodrill was named to the Pittsburgh Steelers Legends team as one of the Steelers’ best players from the pre-1970 era. Dodrill was inducted into the Pittsburgh Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016.
Coaching career
After retiring from pro football, Dodrill coached the defensive line for the Denver Broncos from 1960 to 1963 and again in 1966.
Later and personal life
Dodrill married Janette Briggs on February 28, 1954. The couple has three sons, Garrett, Michael and David. In 1961, Dodrill started Dodrill Insurance in Denver, Colorado. After building a successful business, Dodrill sold Dodrill Insurance to his sons in 1991. Michael died in 1964 and Janette in 2015.
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dale_Dodrill
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- October 21, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Dale Dodrill's archived record and the sources above.
1.In what city and state was Dale Fike Dodrill born?
- A.Fort Collins, Colorado
- B.Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- C.Stockton, Kansascorrect
- D.Loveland, Colorado
Dale Fike Dodrill was born on February 27, 1926, in Stockton, Kansas.
Source: Early life section
2.What military branch did Dale Fike Dodrill serve in during World War II?
- A.United States Armycorrect
- B.United States Marine Corps
- C.United States Navy
- D.United States Air Force
Dale Fike Dodrill was selected into the United States Army right out of high school.
Source: Early life section
3.Which bowl game did Dale Fike Dodrill help the Colorado A&M Rams reach in 1949?
- A.Sugar Bowl
- B.Orange Bowl
- C.Raisin Bowlcorrect
- D.Rose Bowl
Dale Fike Dodrill helped his college team to its first post season appearance, the 1949 Raisin Bowl.
Source: College career section
4.How many times was Dale Fike Dodrill selected for the NFL Pro Bowl during his professional career?
- A.Four timescorrect
- B.Six times
- C.Five times
- D.Three times
Dale Fike Dodrill was voted to the NFL Pro Bowl four times during his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Source: Professional career section
5.In which round of the 1951 NFL draft was Dale Fike Dodrill selected?
- A.First round
- B.Third round
- C.Sixth roundcorrect
- D.Ninth round
The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Dale Fike Dodrill 67th overall in the sixth round of the 1951 NFL draft.
Source: Professional career section
6.Which professional football team did Dale Fike Dodrill coach the defensive line for starting in 1960?
- A.Pittsburgh Steelers
- B.Kansas City Chiefs
- C.Dallas Cowboys
- D.Denver Broncoscorrect
After retiring from professional play, Dale Fike Dodrill coached the defensive line for the Denver Broncos.
Source: Coaching career section
7.What was the name of the insurance business founded by Dale Fike Dodrill in 1961?
- A.Colorado Life Assurance
- B.Dodrill Insurancecorrect
- C.Fike Professional Insurance
- D.Steelers Insurance Group
In 1961, Dale Fike Dodrill started Dodrill Insurance in Denver, Colorado.
Source: Later and personal life section
8.What award did Dale Fike Dodrill win in 1952 for being the most outstanding Colorado State male athlete?
- A.Skyline Athletic Award
- B.Heisman Trophy
- C.All-Star Excellence Medal
- D.Nye Trophycorrect
In 1952, Dale Fike Dodrill won the Nye Trophy as the most outstanding Colorado State male athlete.
Source: College career section
9.Which division did Dale Fike Dodrill serve in during his military service in World War II?
- A.101st Airborne Division
- B.1st Infantry Division
- C.82nd Airborne Division
- D.30th Infantry Divisioncorrect
Dale Fike Dodrill served in the 30th Infantry Division during World War II.
Source: Early life section
10.How many interceptions did Dale Fike Dodrill record during his nine seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers?
- A.11
- B.8
- C.9
- D.10correct
During his nine-year career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dale Fike Dodrill posted career numbers of 10 interceptions.
Source: Professional career section
11.In what year was Dale Fike Dodrill inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame?
- A.1996
- B.1990
- C.1993correct
- D.1985
Dale Fike Dodrill was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 1993.
Source: College career section
12.What is the name of Dale Fike Dodrill's wife?
- A.Mary Louise
- B.Sarah Dodrill
- C.Lettie Fike
- D.Janette Briggscorrect
Dale Fike Dodrill married Janette Briggs on February 28, 1954.
Source: Later and personal life section
13.Dale Fike Dodrill was named to the Pittsburgh Steelers Legends team as a best player from which era?
- A.Pre-1960
- B.Pre-1970correct
- C.Post-1970
- D.Post-1980
Dale Fike Dodrill was named to the Pittsburgh Steelers Legends team as one of the Steelers' best players from the pre-1970 era.
Source: Professional career section
14.Which of Dale Fike Dodrill's sons passed away in 1964?
- A.George
- B.Michaelcorrect
- C.David
- D.Garrett
The biography notes that Dale Fike Dodrill's son Michael died in 1964.
Source: Later and personal life section
15.To whom did Dale Fike Dodrill sell his insurance business in 1991?
- A.His brother
- B.An anonymous investor
- C.His sonscorrect
- D.A private corporation
After building a successful business, Dale Fike Dodrill sold Dodrill Insurance to his sons in 1991.
Source: Later and personal life section
16.In what year was Dale Fike Dodrill inducted into the Pittsburgh Pro Football Hall of Fame?
- A.2016correct
- B.2019
- C.2007
- D.2012
Dale Fike Dodrill was inducted into the Pittsburgh Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016.
Source: Professional career section
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