Michigan's Greatest Pro Football Players

Here is a short capsule of one of Michigan's 50 greatest pro football players. From time to time I'll highlight a former Michigander who grew up in this state and/or played high school football here before going on to star at the professional level. Players from high schools throughout the Upper and Lower Peninsulas have gone on to receive Hall of Fame enshrinement, earn All-Pro accolades and start in Super Bowls during their distinguished professional football careers.

Here is a small write up for George Andrie, one of the best Grand Rapids area football players, and one of the greatest defensive ends in Michigan gridiron history.

GEORGE ANDRIE

Despite playing only two years of college football before the program was terminated at Marquette University, Grand Rapids Catholic Central’s George Andrie turned out to be one of the most dominant defensive ends of his era.

Chosen in the sixth round by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1962 NFL draft, Andrie would go on to become an original member of the Cowboys’ legendary “Doomsday Defense.” Playing alongside Hall of Fame defensive tackle Bob Lilly for the majority of his career, Andrie would help lead Dallas to two NFC championship seasons and one Super Bowl title.

Andrie (6-foot-6, 250 pounds) played for the Cowboys his entire 11-year career from 1962 through 1972. After earning All-Rookie status his first season, Andrie would become an anchor along the Dallas front line starting at defensive end for 10 straight years. A strong pass rusher, Andrie led the Cowboys in quarterback sacks for four consecutive seasons from 1964 through 1967. He posted double-digit sack totals each year during that time span. In 1966, Andrie recorded 18.5 sacks, which is third most in Dallas history.

Andrie played in five straight Pro Bowls from 1965 through 1969. He is one of only 22 Cowboy players to make at least five Pro Bowls in team history. In his final Pro Bowl, Andrie was named the game’s MVP as the top lineman. He was named first team All-Pro once and second team All-Pro three times throughout his distinguished NFL career.

One of Andrie’s most memorable plays occurred in the 1967 NFL championship game against the Green Bay Packers on the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field. In what has become known to history as the “Ice Bowl,” Andrie made headlines returning a fumble for a touchdown giving the Cowboys their first points of the game. A late touchdown by Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr gave the Packers a hard fought 21-17 victory in one of the NFL’s most unforgettable games. Green Bay would go on to defeat the Oakland Raiders 33-14 in Super Bowl II.

In 1971, Andrie played in Super Bowl V for Dallas. The Cowboys lost to the Baltimore Colts on a last-second field goal. The next year, however, the Cowboys returned to the NFL title contest defeating the Miami Dolphins 24-3 in Super Bowl VI.

With 97 career sacks, Andrie was one of the most feared pass rushers of his day. Because of his exploits on the field, he was named No. 31 on the Web site dallascowboys.com list of the top 50 Dallas players of all time.

In 1991, Andrie was inducted into the Marquette University Athletics Hall of Fame.