Professional Football Player. Born Dennis Wayne Byrd, he attended Lincolnton High School (North Carolina), and played collegiate football at North Carolina State University. While with the Wolfpack, Byrd achieved All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors three-times, and consensus All-American status twice, (playing at the defensive-tackle position). He was chosen by the Boston Patriots during the 1st round of the 1968 NFL Draft, and played at the defensive-end position in 14 games with them; but an injury sustained during his college playing days, from which he never fully recovered, forced him into retirement at the end of that season. After his football career, Byrd was an educator and high school football coach for 30 years. He was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 2007, in addition to his uniform number 77 being retired by the Wolfpack. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2010 but did not live to attend the induction cemermony. He died from a heart attack following back surgery. He is not to be confused with the later Dennis Byrd who played with the New York Jets during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Professional Football Player. Born Dennis Wayne Byrd, he attended Lincolnton High School (North Carolina), and played collegiate football at North Carolina State University. While with the Wolfpack, Byrd achieved All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors three-times, and consensus All-American status twice, (playing at the defensive-tackle position). He was chosen by the Boston Patriots during the 1st round of the 1968 NFL Draft, and played at the defensive-end position in 14 games with them; but an injury sustained during his college playing days, from which he never fully recovered, forced him into retirement at the end of that season. After his football career, Byrd was an educator and high school football coach for 30 years. He was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 2007, in addition to his uniform number 77 being retired by the Wolfpack. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2010 but did not live to attend the induction cemermony. He died from a heart attack following back surgery. He is not to be confused with the later Dennis Byrd who played with the New York Jets during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Bio by: C.S.
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