Gail Cogdill

Cogdill was selected by the Detroit Lions in the sixth round, 63rd overall pick, of the 1960 NFL Draft.[1] He was offered more money ($7,000) by the Dallas Texans of the American Football League, but he signed with the Lions because he wanted to play in "the big league."[3]

In May 1960, Lions coach George Wilson touted Cogdill as "one of the top receivers to come into professional football in a long time."[10] As a rookie in 1960, he appeared in all 12 games for the Lions at the split end position and caught 43 passes for 642 yards.[1] He was selected by both the United Press International and The Sporting News for the NFL Rookie of the Year Award.[11][12] He was also selected to play in the 1961 Pro Bowl.[13]

In 1961, Cogdill had a strong second year with 45 passes for 956 yards and six touchdowns.[1] After a loss to Green Bay in November 1961, head coach George Wilson said Cogdill would become the best receiver in the NFL and described one of his catches as follows: "On the first catch, he reached behind his back with his left hand and pulled in the ball while in full stride. I think the whole stadium turned upside down with that one."[14]

Cogdill had his best season in 1962, catching 53 passes for 991 yards and seven touchdowns.[1] He continued to develop a reputation for circus catches.[15] Sports writer George Puscas later wrote about Cogdill's acrobatic catches and recalled: "He was the only football player I've ever seen who caused teammates to interrupt their own work to watch him do his."[9] After the 1962 season, Cogdill received second-team All-NFL honors from the Associated Press (AP) and United Press International (UPI). He was also selected to play in the 1963 Pro Bowl.[1]

In 1963, he caught 48 passes for 945 yards and a career-high 10 touchdowns. He was selected to play in his third Pro Bowl and was selected by the AP for the second consecutive year as a second-team All-NFL player.[1]

On November 1, 1964, he had the best game of his career against the Los Angeles Rams, catching seven passes for 165 yards.[16] Three weeks later, he suffered a shoulder injury that required surgery and resulted in his missing the remainder of the season.[17][18] Cogdill totaled 45 catches for 665 yards in 11 games in 1964.[1] At the end of the 1964 season, Cogdill criticized the Lions' coaching staff, expressed a desire to be traded, and added: "I feel dead around here. I used to enjoy playing football but not anymore. I've lost all my incentive."[19]

Cogdill fractured his right kneecap during the preseason in 1965.[20] He remained with the Lions for four additional years, but he continued to be impaired by a bad knee,[21] and never achieved the same level of performance, totaling 247 receiving yards in 1965, 411 in 1966, 322 in 1967, and 42 in 1968.[1] He was placed on waivers by the Lions in late October 1968.[21]

Cogdill played nine seasons with the Lions and, at the time of his departure, held two franchise records with 325 receptions and 5,221 receiving yards.[16] He currently ranks seventh in receptions and fifth in receiving yards in Lions history.[22]

In early November 1968, Cogdill was signed by Don Shula to play for the Baltimore Colts.[23] The Colts won the 1968 NFL championship and lost to the New York Jets in Super Bowl III. Cogdill appeared in five games for the Colts, but made no catches.[1] Cogdill became the first Washington State Cougar to play on a Super Bowl team.[24] The Colts cut Cogdill in September 1969, prior to the start of the regular season.[25]

In September 1969, Cogdill was signed by the Atlanta Falcons.[26] He appeared in 15 games for the 1969 Falcons, 13 as a starter, and caught 24 passes for 374 yards and five touchdowns.[1] In 1970, he appeared in 15 games,[1] but lost his starting job, after dropping two consecutive passes in an October 1970 loss to the Denver Broncos.[27] He caught only seven passes for 101 yards in 1970.[1] In June 1971, Cogdill announced his retirement from the NFL.[28]