Fred Dryer - NFL Career

NFL Career

Dryer was drafted in the first round of the 1969 NFL Draft by the New York Giants and won a starting job as a rookie. He was the starting right defensive end from 1969 through 1971. He led the team in quarterback sacks each of those three seasons with 8½ in 1969, 12 in 1970 and 8½ in 1971. He was among the defensive leaders in other categories as well. In 1969 he tallied 58 tackles (39 solo), six passes deflected and forced two fumbles and recovered two. The next season Dryer was an alternate to the Pro Bowl but could not play due to a bruised hip. He was Second-team All-NFC after recording 69 tackles (53 solo) four pass deflections, three forced fumbles, while recovering two to go along with his 12 sacks. In 1971 he again led team with 8½ sacks, and totaled 62 tackles (33 solo). Dryer also deflected two passes, forced two more fumbles and recovered two for the third consecutive season.

Dryer was traded to the New England Patriots in February 1972 for three draft choices (a first, second, and sixth), then on draft day of that year he was dealt to the Los Angeles Rams for a first round draft pick and backup defensive end Rick Cash. In his first year with the Rams he backed up left defensive end Jack Youngblood making only four starts but playing in every game despite a broken hand and broken nose. His primary role in 1972 was to come in on likely passing downs and rush the passer. He had 40 tackles (17 solo) and 4½ sacks.

In 1973, Dryer started all 14 games on the right side and became the only NFL player ever to have two safeties in the same game by dumping opposing passers in the end zone twice in the fourth quarter. He ended the season with 10 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and recovered 3 fumbles (all three were second on the top-ranked Rams defense). After the season he was a Second-team All-NFC pick by Pro Football Weekly. He finished the season with 39 tackles (21 solo) s passed knocked down, three forced fumbles and three fumbles recovered.

In 1974 he had 15 sacks, which co-led (with Youngblood) the NFL (unofficially, sacks were not officially recognized by the NFL until 1982) and was voted the Rams Outstanding Defensive Lineman and was named All-Pro and All-NFC. Statistically, he had another solid year versus the run, totaling 49 tackles (34 solo) and two forced fumbles.

Dryer scored his first NFL touchdown in 1975 on a 20-yard interception return against Philadelphia. After scoring his touchdown against the Eagles, Dryer promised that if he ever scored another, he would set his hair on fire in the end zone. Against the Eagles that day, he chose to celebrate by "rolling six", a touchdown celebration where the player scoring rolls the ball like an imaginary pair of dice with some of his teammates looking on. He ended 1975 with 12 sacks, behind only Jack Youngblood and was voted All-NFC. Additionally, Dryer played in the 1975 Pro Bowl, was a Second-team All-Pro selection as well. Statistically, Dryer was excellent against the run with 61 tackles (39 solo) and two passes deflection, two fumbles recovered to go along with the 20 yard TD interception.

Due to rule changes in NFL offensive line Dryer's play started to decline some. Always a small player, the new rules heavily favored larger players. Dryer coped with a 55-tackle, 5-sack season (33 solo). He did deflect two passes and for three fumbles in 1976 which were along the team leaders. In 1977 Dryer adopted a new diet and was winning praises from NFL sportwriters for the start he had. He recorded 35 tackles (28 solo) and 6 sacks. He also knocked down four passes, recovered three fumbles and caused one fumble. The next season, 1978 was much of the same. Dryer was the starting right defensive end on the NFL's #1 defense. Personally, he had 51 tackles (33 solo) and forced two fumbles, recovered three, blocked a kick and blocked one pass on route to a Ram record of 12-4.

He played in Super Bowl XIV when the Rams met the Pittsburgh Steelers after the 1979 season. That season he was honorable mention All-NFC after recording 49 tackles (31 solo) 10 sacks and three forced fumbles and recovered one. Against the New York Giants on October 28, 1979, Dryer recorded a career-high 5 sacks. In 1980 Dryer split time his right defensive end position with third-year player Reggie Doss. They combined for 67 tackles (Dryer 31, 20 solo) and 12 sacks (Dryer 5½, Doss 6½).

Dryer ended his career with 104 career sacks, although since he played prior to 1982 when sacks became an official statistic they are not credited in the NFL record books. Dryer played on a tough Los Angeles Ram defense that during the decade of the 1970s, allowed fewer points, fewer total yards, fewer rushing yards, and sacked more quarterbacks than any other defense during that time-frame.

In January, 1981, Dryer made the cover of Interview magazine, published by Andy Warhol from the late 1960s through the early 1990s and was considered the very essence of "magazine chic". The magazine was noted for the full face Warhol-designed covers that featured prominent newsmakers. Dryer was the first and (probably) only NFL player to make the cover amongst people like Cher, Sting, Truman Capote, John Travolta, Mick Jagger, and many other "A" list celebs and the avant-garde.

In 2003 the NFL Alumni presented Dryer with its Career Achievement Award which is presented to former NFL players "For Getting to the Top of His Field".