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WR
“I never doubted my ability. I knew all I needed was a chance to show what I could do. It was a challenge."
(Tulsa)...6'0'', 184...Wide Receiver ... 6-0, 184 ... Tulsa ... 1973-83 Dallas Cowboys11 seasons, 156 games ... Undrafted free agent, signed with Cowboys in 1973 ... Retired as the Cowboys’ all-time leader for receptions (489) and receiving yards (7,822)... Caught 48 touchdown passes... Named a first-team All-Pro three times... Selected to play in three Pro Bowls ... Member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1970s... Inserted into starting lineup in rookie season when a teammate got hurt and responded with 22 receptions for 388 yards and two touchdownsin 6 games ... Added two TD catches in a postseason win over the Los Angeles Ramsthat season ... Followed in 1974 with 62 catches for 1,087 yards ... Team leader in receptions and receiving yards four consecutive seasons, 1974-77 ... Led NFL with 870 receiving yards in 1977 ... Seven catches for 113 yards in 1977 postseason as Cowboys won Super Bowl XII... Made three Super Bowl appearancesin career ... Big-game reputation reflected in 68 receptions for 1,131 yards (16.6 average) and 8 TDs in 22 postseason games... Teamed with Roger Staubach for memorable 50-yard score late in 1975 divisional playoff gameat Minnesota, giving rise to the term “Hail Mary” pass ... Born Jan.12, 1951 in South River, New Jersey.
Undrafted out of the University of Tulsa, Drew Pearson made the Dallas roster as a free agent in 1973 because he could contribute on the Cowboys’ special teams. By the time his career ended 11 seasons and 156 regular-season games later, he had left his mark as the franchise’s all-time leader in most receiving categories and established himself as one of the National Football League’s best clutch performers.
Pearson’s big opportunity came midway through his rookie season when a teammate got injured. Starting six games, he finished with 22 receptions for 388 yards and two touchdowns. He added two TD catches in a postseason win over the Los Angeles Rams.
Quickly becoming the team’s main receiving threat, Pearson led the Cowboys with 62 catches for 1,087 yards in 1974 — the first of four consecutive seasons leading the team in both categories.
Pearson’s 870 receiving yards in his All-Pro season in 1977 led the NFL. He followed that regular season with seven catches for 113 yards in the postseason as the Cowboys won Super Bowl XII, one of his three Super Bowl appearances.
At the time of his retirement, Pearson was the Cowboys’ all-time leader for receptions (489) and receiving yards (7,822). He caught 48 touchdown passes. He was an All-Pro three times, a three-time Pro Bowl selection and a member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1970s.
Statistics alone don’t tell his story, however. It’s the big plays and when he made them that live in NFL lore. Pearson totaled 68 receptions for 1,131 yards (16.6 average) in 22 postseason games. He scored eight times, perhaps no touchdown more memorable than the 50-yard “Hail Mary” throw from Roger Staubach that beat the Minnesota Vikings in the waning seconds of their 1975 divisional playoff game, helping the Cowboys reach Super Bowl X.
Pearson was on the receiving end of three game-deciding plays that NFL Films put on one of its “Top 75 Plays in NFL History” lists, and he also delivered a key block on a fourth play: Tony Dorsett’s NFL record 99-yard TD run.
He was the team’s nominee for the NFL Man of the Year Award in 1980 and was voted into the Dallas Cowboys’ Ring of Honor in 2011.
Receiving
Rushing
Year
Team
G
No.
Yds.
Avg.
TD
1973
Dallas
14
22
388
17.6
2
1974
62
1087
17.5
3
6
2.0
0
1975
46
822
17.9
8
1
11
11.0
1976
58
806
13.9
20
10.0
1977
48
870
18.1
1978
16
44
714
16.2
29
9.7
1979
15
55
1026
18.7
27
9.0
1980
43
568
13.2
30
15.0
1981
38
614
31
10.3
1982
9
26
382
14.7
1983
47
545
11.6
5
13
6.5
Career Total
156
489
7822
16.0
21
189
1973 NFC – Minnesota Vikings 27, Dallas Cowboys 10
Pearson started at wide receiver. He had two receptions for 24 yards.
1975 NFC –Dallas Cowboys 37¸ Los Angeles Rams 7
Pearson started at wide receiver. He had five receptions for 46 yards.
1977 NFC –Dallas Cowboys 23¸ Minnesota Vikings 6
Pearson started at wide receiver. He had four receptions for 62 yards.
1978 NFC –Dallas Cowboys 28¸ Los Angeles Rams 0
Pearson started at wide receiver. He had two receptions for 19 yards.
1980 NFC – Philadelphia Eagles 20, Dallas Cowboys 7
Pearson started the game at wide receiver. He had two receptions for 15 yards and one pass attempt.
1981 NFC – San Francisco 49ers 28, Dallas Cowboys 27
Pearson started the game at wide receiver. He had one reception for 31 yards.
1982 NFC – Washington Redskins 31, Dallas Cowboys 17
Pearson started the game at wide receiver. He had five receptions for 55 yards and one rush for a loss of one yard.
Super Bowl X – Pittsburgh Steelers 21, Dallas Cowboys 17
Pearson started at wide receiver. He had two receptions for 59 yards and one touchdown.
Super Bowl XII – Dallas Cowboys 27, Denver Broncos 10
Pearson started at wide receiver. He had one reception for 13 yards.
Super Bowl XIII – Pittsburgh Steelers 35, Dallas Cowboys 31
Pearson started at wide receiver. He had four reception for 73 yards and one fumble.
All-League Teams
All-Pro: 1974 (AP, PFWA, PW) · 1976 (AP, PFWA, PW) · 1977 (AP, PFWA, NEA, PW)
All-Pro Second Team: 1974 (NEA)
All-NFC: 1974 (AP, UPI, SN, PW) · 1975 (PW) · 1976 (AP, UPI, SN, PW) · 1977 (UPI, SN, PW)
All-NFC Second Team: 1978 (UPI)
Pro Bowls
(3) – 1975, 1977, 1978
In the NFL Record Book (at time of his retirement following 1983 season)
Postseason Records
· [3rd] Most Consecutive Games with a Pass Reception – 22
· [3rd] Most Receptions, Career – 67
Team Records
Cowboys records held by Pearson
(Records through the 1983 season, Pearson’s final season with Dallas)
· [1st] Most Receptions, Career – 489
· [1st] Most Yards Receiving, Career – 7,822
· [1st] Most Consecutive Games with a Receptions – 58
· [2nd] Most Yards Receiving, Season – 1,087
· [3rd] Most Touchdown Receptions, Career – 48
· [3rd] Most Combined Yardage, Career – 8,180
· [1st] Most Receptions, Career – 67
· [1st] Most Yards Receiving, Career – 1,105
· [1st] Most Touchdown Receptions, Career – 8
· [1st] Highest Yardage Per Reception, Career – 16.5
· [1st] Most Consecutive Games with a Receptions – 22
· [2nd] Longest Pass Reception – 83 (from Staubach vs. L.A. Rams, Dec. 23, 1973)
· [Tied for 1st] Most Consecutive Games with a TD Reception – 2
· [Tied for 2nd] Most Receptions, Game – 7 (vs. Tampa Bay, Jan. 9, 1983)
· [4th] Most Points, Career – 51
League/Team Statistical Titles
NFL Statistical Championships
Pass Receiving Yardage Titles: 1977
Team Statistical Championships
Pass Reception Titles: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977
Pass Receiving Yardage Titles: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977
Pass Receiving TD Titles: 1975, 1976
Awards and Honors
· NFL All-Decade Team of 1970s
Year-by-Year Team Records
1973 Dallas Cowboys............... 10-4-0 (1st)
1974 Dallas Cowboys.................. 8-6-0 (3rd)
1975 Dallas Cowboys................. 10-4-0 (2nd)
1976 Dallas Cowboys............... 11-3-0 (1st)
1977 Dallas Cowboys............... 12-2-0 (1st)
1978 Dallas Cowboys............... 12-4-0 (1st)
1979 Dallas Cowboys............... 11-5-0 (1st)
1980 Dallas Cowboys............... 12-4-0 (2nd)
1981 Dallas Cowboys............... 12-4-0 (1st)
1982 Dallas Cowboys................. 6-3-0 (2nd)*
1983 Dallas Cowboys............... 12-4-0 (2nd)
* NFC regular season finish in strike-shortened season.
(Division Finish in Parentheses)
Qualified for Postseason in Bold
Full Name: Drew Pearson
Birthdate: January 12, 1951
Birthplace: South River, New Jersey
High School: South River (NJ)
Pro Career: 11 seasons, 156 games
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