Bob Breunig

Robert Paul Breunig (born July 4, 1953) is a former American football linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League from 1975 to 1984. He played college football at Arizona State University and was drafted in the third round of the 1975 NFL Draft.

Early years
Breunig attended Alhambra High School in Phoenix, Arizona, where he was named an All-American in football, after leading his team in scoring and rushing as a fullback. He was also the wrestling AAA heavyweight champion, achieving a 41-1 record between his junior and senior seasons.

College career
Breunig signed with Arizona State University and became a starter by his second year, while leading the team in tackles with 91 (including 19 against the Air Force Academy). He would remain the team leader in tackles with 117 as a junior and 145 as a senior. Breuning ended his college career as a first team All-America and a three time All-Western Athletic Conference selection, ranking 5th in career tackles (353) and 3th in career solo tackles (206). He played in the East-West Shrine Game, the Hula Bowl and the Coaches All-America Game.

While at college, he remained a wrestler, winning the Western Athletic Conference heavyweight championship. In 1996 he was named to the "All Time" Arizona State University Team. In 1999 he was chosen as the Butkus Silver Anniversary Award Winner. In 2000, he was included in the Arizona Athletes of the Century list and on the Arizona All-Century high school football team. In 2010 he was inducted into the Arizona High School Sports Hall of Fame.

Professional career
Breunig was selected in the third round of the 1975 NFL Draft, as part of the Dallas Cowboys' Dirty Dozen draft. In 1976, he became a starter at outside linebacker, replacing the retired Dave Edwards.

In 1977, he replaced the retired Lee Roy Jordan as the team's middle linebacker, making him just the third player in franchise history to hold the position as a regular starter. From that position, he led the team in tackles six seasons, breaking the team's single-season tackling record in 1981.

Breuning started 117 straight games, until missing half of the 1984 season because of back problems that led to his retirement. He ended his career as the franchise's second-leading tackler, having played ten seasons, appearing in 21 playoff games, six NFC championships and three Super Bowls. He was an All Pro four times and a three-time Pro Bowl selection.