Ron Widby, the SEC’s player of the year in 1967 and betting on the Dallas Cowboys’ first Super Bowl championship, died. He was 75 years old.
Widby, who lived in Allen, Texas, died on Tuesday. He had been in poor health for the past few years.
Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, Widby played six seasons in the NFL, starting his career with the Cowboys after being originally drafted by the New Orleans Saints in 1967. He played 81 games in the NFL, and his 84-yard punt in 1968 remains the record for Dallas for the longest punt.
Widby averaged 42 yards per punt in his career and ended his NFL career with two seasons at Green Bay. In his first season with the Packers, Widby completed the only two passes of his career, including one for a touchdown.
He was selected in three professional drafts in two sports. In addition to being drafted by New Orleans in 1967, Widby was drafted by the New Orleans Buccaneers in the 1967 ABA draft and by the Chicago Bulls in the NBA draft in the same year.
Widby played a season with the Bucs at ABA before returning to football.
At the University of Tennessee, Widby became the only athlete to receive varsity letters in four sports. He played three seasons on the football team, three on the basketball team, one on the baseball team and one year playing golf.
He led the NCAA with a punting average of 43.8 yards in 1966. In basketball, Widby was the SEC’s Player of the Year in 1967 after taking Tennessee to the SEC championship that season.