Buddy Dial

Gilbert Leroy "Buddy" Dial (January 17, 1937 – February 29, 2008) was an American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys.

Early life
Dial was born in Ponca City, Oklahoma, but grew up in Magnolia, Texas. He attended and played high school football at Magnolia High School.

College career
Dial played as an end at Rice University from 1956 to 1958 and was selected an All-American in 1958.

He was a complete end that played both ways. He stood 6–1 and weighed 185.

In 1956 he had 21 receptions, averaged 17 yards on each, made five touchdowns, and was selected sophomore lineman of the year in the Southwest Conference.

In 1957 he had 21 receptions, averaged 24 yards. He made all-Southwest, helped Rice to the conference championship, played with Rice in the Cotton Bowl, and was named to the all-bowls all-star team.

In 1958 he caught 19 passes, averaged 14 yards on each, was his team’s co-captain and Most Valuable Player, and was consensus All-America. The Columbus Touchdown Club named him Lineman of the Year.

For his career at Rice he had 13 touchdowns, tying the school record set by another Hall of Fame end, James "Froggie" Williams 1946–1949.

He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993.

Professional career
Dial was drafted in the second round of the 1959 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. He played for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1959 to 1963.

He became a star with the Steelers, where he teamed with quarterback Bobby Layne. He held the team record for touchdown catches in a season (12).

Dial was an all-pro with the Steelers three times.

Perhaps Dial's most famous moment was when he scored a touchdown against the Cowboys in 1962 and as he ran into the endzone, a loud explosive charge was set off right in front of him, heavily startling Dial, a moment that has been remembered as one of the NFL's greatest follies.

He was traded to the Dallas Cowboys in 1963, but injuries limited his playing time in Dallas in 1964, 1965 and 1966.

Dial finished his career with 261 receptions for 5,436 yards (20.8 yards per rec. avg.), and 44 touchdowns, and 14 yards on four rushes (3.5 yards per rush avg.). He was selected to the Pro Bowl twice, in 1961 and 1963.

Injuries during his NFL career led to significant health problems brought on by the abuse of painkilling drugs, and Dial went through years of difficulties before treatment in the late 1980s.