Don Nottingham

Don Nottingham (born June 26, 1949) is a former American football running back who played for the Baltimore Colts and Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was affectionately referred to as 'The Human Bowling Ball' because of his short but robust frame.[1][2][3]

This article is about the professional football player. For Don Nottingham, the singer in Straight No Chaser, see Don Nottingham (professional musician).

Don Nottingham
No. 36
Position:Running back
Personal information
Born: (1949-06-26) June 26, 1949
Widen, West Virginia
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school:Ravenna (OH)
College:Kent State
NFL Draft:1971 / Round: 17 / Pick: 441
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Early career and college

He attended Ravenna High School in Ravenna, Ohio and played college football at nearby Kent State University. He was a three-year letterman, and captained the team his senior year. He finished his college career with 2,515 yards on 602 carries. He also made the first-team All-Mid-American Conference teams in 1969 and 1970.

Professional career

Nottingham was selected in the 17th round of the 1971 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Colts, the second to last pick. He spent two full years with the team, and was traded midway through the 1973 NFL season to the Dolphins. He was part of the Dolphins team that won Super Bowl VIII over the Minnesota Vikings 24-7. He gained the starting role after Larry Csonka left for the World Football League in 1975 and finished in the top ten of all running backs for rushing touchdowns during the 1974, 1975, and 1976 seasons. Nottingham broke his left shoulder blade in August 1978[4] and sat out the entire 1978 season on injured reserve, then retired in March 1979 to sell insurance.[5] He finished his career with 2,496 yards and 34 touchdowns on 611 carries, as well as 67 catches for 502 yards.

Career statistics

Regular season
    Rushing   Receiving
Season Team League GP Att Yds TD Rec Yds TD
1971 Baltimore NFL 14 95 388 5 15 88 0
1972 Baltimore NFL 14 123 466 3 25 191 0
1973 Bal/Mia NFL 14 52 252 1 3 26 0
1974 Miami NFL 14 66 273 8 3 40 0
1975 Miami NFL 14 168 718 12 9 66 0
1976 Miami NFL 14 63 185 3 4 33 0
1977 Miami NFL 14 44 214 2 8 58 0
Regular season totals 98 611 2496 34 67 502 0

References
  1. Zucco, Tom (September 16, 1980). "Insurance agent Don Nottingham still looks like a fullback". Largo-Seminole Times. Clearwater, Florida. p. 4.
  2. Marks, Andy (January 6, 2009). "Miami's unlikely turnaround excites local insurer, former Dolphin". Ocala.com. Retrieved April 20, 2013.
  3. "Photo: Don Nottingham". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. July 25, 1972. p. 8.
  4. "Dolphins place Nottingham in injured reserve list". Sarasota Journal. UPI. August 16, 1978. p. 2B.
  5. "Nottingham retires". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Associated Press. March 29, 1979. p. 4B.
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