Professional Football Player. He played the wide receiver position for the National Football League's Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, and Denver Broncos from 1973 to 1980. Born John Golden Richards, he played football collegiately at both Brigham Young University, where he starred at the wide receiver position and was All-WAC in 1971, and the University of Hawaii. He was drafted in the 2nd Round of the 1973 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys and went on to play for them for the next five years before being traded to the Chicago Bears in 1978. While with the Cowboys, he was deemed a "deep threat" at his position of wide receiver and played for the team during their Super Bowl XII-winning year of 1977. He went on to play for the Bears for one and half years before an injury ended his season in 1979. In May of 1980, he signed as a free agent with the Denver Broncos, but another injury cut short his stay with the team that year. He retired due to his injury and his career statistics included 122 receptions for 2,136 yards and 17 touchdowns. After his career, he had several personal issues that affected his life. In 2011, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. He passed away from congestive heart failure. Upon his death, he donated his brain to the Boston University Medical Center for research in studying the impact of concussions (CTE) on the brain.
Professional Football Player. He played the wide receiver position for the National Football League's Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, and Denver Broncos from 1973 to 1980. Born John Golden Richards, he played football collegiately at both Brigham Young University, where he starred at the wide receiver position and was All-WAC in 1971, and the University of Hawaii. He was drafted in the 2nd Round of the 1973 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys and went on to play for them for the next five years before being traded to the Chicago Bears in 1978. While with the Cowboys, he was deemed a "deep threat" at his position of wide receiver and played for the team during their Super Bowl XII-winning year of 1977. He went on to play for the Bears for one and half years before an injury ended his season in 1979. In May of 1980, he signed as a free agent with the Denver Broncos, but another injury cut short his stay with the team that year. He retired due to his injury and his career statistics included 122 receptions for 2,136 yards and 17 touchdowns. After his career, he had several personal issues that affected his life. In 2011, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. He passed away from congestive heart failure. Upon his death, he donated his brain to the Boston University Medical Center for research in studying the impact of concussions (CTE) on the brain.
Bio by: Mr. Badger Hawkeye
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