Back in high school I ran for student body president. My campaign centered around one main idea – if elected I would abolish Mondays from the school week and ensure three day weekends for everyone.
Unfortunately I lost and we all have to get the week going on Monday. This can be good news though, and today it means that we find ourselves 24 hours closer to the 2015 regular season. In fact, exactly four weeks from today you’ll be procrastinating work and figuring out your dinner plans for Monday Night Football!
One day before that the Cowboys will begin their quest for Super Bowl 50 against the New York Giants. That moment is 27 days away and we’re going to continue our Countdown To Kickoff series highlighting the Greatest 27 in Dallas Cowboys History.
The Following Players Have All Worn 27 For The Dallas Cowboys:
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*Active player on the Dallas Cowboys roster
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony took place a little over a week ago out in Canton, Ohio. Among the members of the Class of 2015 was one of the finest centers to ever play the game, Minnesota Vikings Center Mick Tingelhoff.
The newest bust in Canton wasn’t even drafted in 1962, but still managed to put together a Hall of Fame resume. There were two other players that went undrafted that would find their way into the NFL… and specifically the Dallas Cowboys.
In 1962 The Greatest 34 in Dallas Cowboys History, Cornell Green, was signed to America’s Team after never having played football. The other? Well he was a University of Oregon Duck who ran track with another Pro Football Hall of Famer, Mel Renfro, that would go on to become the Greatest 27 in Dallas Cowboys History.
Mike Gaechter
Undrafted rookies can go on to do amazing things in the NFL. Take a look at current Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, he went undrafted and has become one of the top tier gunslingers in football.
When the Dallas Cowboys signed Mike Gaechter as an undrafted free agent in 1962 they saw results right away, specifically in Week 5 of his rookie year the Cowboys hosted the division rival Philadelphia Eagles at the Cotton Bowl.
Late in the fourth quarter Philly QB King Hill dropped back and threw towards the endzone. ‘Ol Mike Gaechter picked it off and ran it back – 100 yards for the score.
Gaechter The Strong Safety
The track background that fellow Duck Mel Renfro had helped him transition well to the cornerback position in the NFL. While track teammates at Oregon, the scampering Mike Gaechter was more cut out for the strong safety spot.
In 1963 he made the move and quickly developed a reputation as one of the more feared safeties in the league. In fact, in the 1966 NFL Championship Game Gaechter laid some serious wood on Boyd Dowler of the Green Bay Packers. Two weeks later in Super Bowl I Dowler was limited which allowed Max McGee to help lead the Pack to victory… despite a raging hangover (that’s a story for another day!).
#27: Mike Gaechter
The Dallas defense of the 1960s had 108 games influenced by the skills of Mike Gaechter. His 21 career interceptions are good for 13th in franchise history, and his 100-yard interception return was the longest in franchise history until Bryan McCann broke it in 2010.
Mike Gaechter helped the Dallas Cowboys last until the 1970s when the NFL merger happened and they really established themselves as one of the league’s most elite teams. His contributions are enough to establish Mike Gaechter as the Greatest 27 in Dallas Cowboys History.
Check back tomorrow to find out who the Greatest 26 in Dallas Cowboys History is!
UPDATE:
Tragically Mike Gaechter died as a result of heart failure on Monday, August 17th, at his home in Dallas. All of our thoughts and prayers here at Inside The Star are with his family during this time.
Want to share your opinions on who should be featured on our Countdown To Kickoff? Email me at rjochoa@insidethestar.com or Tweet @rjochoa.
RJ:
I thought it was ironic that you named Gaechter the greatest #27 on the very day he died. I’m sure he would have been pleased had he seen it.
Thank you very much, Fred.
I read about his passing at around 11pm that day. It hit me a little hard because of the post that had happened earlier. Thank you very much for the kind words, we’ll all miss Gaechter.
RJ,
Thank you so much for the recognition you have given Mike and his contributions to the Cowboys. Mike was my uncle and I’m very appreciative for your mentioning him and his accomplishments. He is deeply missed by all.
Rusty Gaechter