Donald Ray Gibbs was an American football punter who played college football for TCU Horned Frogs and played professionally for the New Orleans Saints of the NFL.
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| Position: | Punter | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | December 31, 1945 Tyler, Texas | ||||||||||
| Died: | February 21, 2006 (aged 60) | ||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 205 lb (93 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Robert E. Lee High School | ||||||||||
| College: | TCU | ||||||||||
| Undrafted: | 1968 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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Gibbs born on December 31, 1945, to Clyde and Frances Gibbs.[1] He played high school football at Robert E. Lee High School where he not only punted but also played quarterback.[1][2] In 1963 he led Robert E. Lee to its first winning record in football.[1] In 1965 he won the Troy V. Post Award as "1965 Young Texan of the Year."[1][2]
Gibbs said of becoming TCU's punter "I feel like a freak, standing off to one side of the field and just kicking the ball. It's a little boring and I miss playing quarterback. But if this is the best way I can help the team, then I'm for it.[2] At TCU Gibbs was not only the team's punter but also the holder for placekicker Bruce Alford. Alford, who played several years in the NFL, said of Gibbs "Donnie knows just how I like the ball to sit. He has sure, quick hands and takes the snap and gets it down in a hurry...It's like a quarterback who gets used to taking a snapback from one center. It sure would upset me if I didn't have Donnie."[3] In 1966, he was named to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram All-Southwest Conference Team after recording a 43.1 yard per punt average through 9 games.[4] After college Gibbs played quarterback and punter for the Fort Worth Braves of the Texas Football League from 1968 through 1971.[5][6]
Gibbs played for the Saints in 1974. He asked for a tryout as a 29 year old and beat out Steve O'Neal – holder of the NFL record for longest punt ever – for the punting job.[7][8] Gibbs had spent the prior two years selling women's clothing.[8] His first game with the Saints was against the San Francisco 49ers and started well as he executed two coffin corner kicks to pin the 49ers deep in their own zone.[8] But disaster struck late in the game when he fumbled a perfect snap to set up the 49ers' winning score.[7][8][9][10] Gibbs said of the play "I just flat dropped it. I wasn't concentrating on fielding the snap. I went in there and didn't do my first job, catch the ball."[9] He was waived by the Saints before their next game and replaced by veteran Tom Blanchard.[11][12]
Gibbs died on February 21, 2006, in Pennsylvania at the age of 60.[1] He was survived by three daughters and a son.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Hicks, Phil (March 10, 2006). "Services Set for Former Lee Great". Tyler Morning Telegraph. p. 4B. Retrieved August 19, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c Moore, Dick (September 11, 1965). "Donnie has kick(s) coming". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 2. Retrieved August 19, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Trinkle, Jim (September 7, 1966). "Best foot in Frog football". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. pp. 1-D–2-D. Retrieved August 19, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Trinkle, Jim (November 27, 1966). "Four sophs make S-T's All-SWC". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 3-B. Retrieved August 19, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Thomas, Van (July 26, 1969). "Braves will meet Lake Charles here tonight". Longview News-Journal. p. 1-B. Retrieved August 19, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "6 Braves named all-stars". January 9, 1971. p. 4-C. Retrieved August 19, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Cleveland, Rick (September 16, 1974). "49ers take 17-13 Saints gift". Hattiesburg American. p. 11. Retrieved August 19, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d Palmer, Al (September 16, 1974). "Gibbs' muffed punt snap draws North's criticism". Pensacola News Journal. pp. 1C–2C. Retrieved August 19, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Griffin, Bob (September 20, 1974). "Gibbs Just Flat Dropped the Ball". Shreveport Journal. p. B7. Retrieved August 19, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Byrd, Jerry (September 16, 1974). "All Saints Needed Was a Kick in the End". Shreveport Journal. p. 1C. Retrieved August 19, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Saints drop Donnie Gibbs". Clarion-Ledger. September 20, 1974. p. 4. Retrieved August 19, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Saints replace Donnie Gibbs". South Idaho Press. September 20, 1974. p. 6. Retrieved August 19, 2022 – via newspapers.com.