Professional Football Player. For six seasons (1949 to 1954), he played at the left-defensive halfback and left-safety positions in the National Football League with the Detroit Lions, Washington Redskins and Los Angeles Rams. Born Donald LeRoy Doll, he attended Grant Union High School (Sacramento) and served with the United States Marine Corps during World War II, prior to playing collegiate football at the University of Southern California (USC). While with the Trojans, he achieved All-Pacific Coast Conference honors in 1948. Selected by Detroit during the 9th round of the 1948 NFL Draft, Doll recorded 21 kickoff returns, and led the NFL in return yardage with 536 during his rookie year in 1949. Also that year, he produced the first of three seasons with double-digit interceptions (1949 with 11, 1950 with 12 and 1953 with 10), and led the NFL in interception yardage with 301. He was a key member of the 1952 NFL Champion Lions' squad, and earned Pro-Bowl honors four consecutive years (1950 to 1953). Doll appeared in 71 career regular season games, compiling 41 interceptions for 617 yards with 2 touchdowns, and 32 kickoff returns for 808 yards. After retiring as a player, he returned to USC as a coach, and later served on the Lions' (1963 to 1964, 1978 to 1988), Baltimore Colts' (1974) and Miami Dolphins' (1975 to 1976) coaching staffs. He was named to the Lions' 75th Anniversary Team in 2008.
Professional Football Player. For six seasons (1949 to 1954), he played at the left-defensive halfback and left-safety positions in the National Football League with the Detroit Lions, Washington Redskins and Los Angeles Rams. Born Donald LeRoy Doll, he attended Grant Union High School (Sacramento) and served with the United States Marine Corps during World War II, prior to playing collegiate football at the University of Southern California (USC). While with the Trojans, he achieved All-Pacific Coast Conference honors in 1948. Selected by Detroit during the 9th round of the 1948 NFL Draft, Doll recorded 21 kickoff returns, and led the NFL in return yardage with 536 during his rookie year in 1949. Also that year, he produced the first of three seasons with double-digit interceptions (1949 with 11, 1950 with 12 and 1953 with 10), and led the NFL in interception yardage with 301. He was a key member of the 1952 NFL Champion Lions' squad, and earned Pro-Bowl honors four consecutive years (1950 to 1953). Doll appeared in 71 career regular season games, compiling 41 interceptions for 617 yards with 2 touchdowns, and 32 kickoff returns for 808 yards. After retiring as a player, he returned to USC as a coach, and later served on the Lions' (1963 to 1964, 1978 to 1988), Baltimore Colts' (1974) and Miami Dolphins' (1975 to 1976) coaching staffs. He was named to the Lions' 75th Anniversary Team in 2008.
Bio by: C.S.
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