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Dan Turk
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Dan Turk
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Daniel Anthony Turk (June 25, 1962 – December 23, 2000) was an American professional football center and long snapper in the National Football League (NFL) for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Oakland Raiders, and Washington Redskins. He played college football at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Key Information

Early life

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Turk attended James Madison High School. He accepted a football scholarship from Drake University. He transferred to the University of Wisconsin–Madison after his sophomore season.

As a junior, he started every game at center as part of an offensive line that also included future NFL players Jeff Dellenbach, Kevin Belcher and Bob Landsee. As a senior, he received UPI second-team All-Big Ten honors.[1]

Professional career

[edit]

Pittsburgh Steelers

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Turk was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth round (101st overall) of the 1985 NFL draft.[2] He also was selected by the Jacksonville Bulls in the 1985 USFL Territorial Draft. As a rookie, he missed all but one game during the season with a broken right wrist.

In 1986, he started the season opener against the Seattle Seahawks in place of an injured Mike Webster, who had a streak of 150 consecutive games starts come to an end, while recovering from a dislocated elbow.[3] He would also start the next 3 games in place of an injured Webster. On April 13, 1987, he was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for a sixth-round draft choice (#141-Tim Johnson).

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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In 1987, after the NFLPA strike was declared on the third week of the season, those contests were canceled (reducing the 16 game season to 15) and the NFL decided that the games would be played with replacement players. He crossed the picket line to be a part of the Buccaneer replacement team for the sixth game against the Minnesota Vikings. He was the only regular Buccaneer player to cross the picket line, that didn't need to receive treatment for injuries (3 other players had this situation).[4] He had one start at center and 2 at guard during the season.

In 1988, he started 10 games at right guard. On June 6, 1989, he was declared a free agent, after the Buccaneers withdraw their contract offer.

Oakland Raiders

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In June 1989, he signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Raiders. He started 5 games at center.

In 1995, as a result of a training camp injury to Don Mosebar, Turk became the fourth starting center in Raider history. That year, he started all 16 games, between Steve Wisniewski at left guard and Kevin Gogan at right guard, for a team finishing with a won-lost record of 8-8, Mike White's first year as head coach.

Washington Redskins

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On July 7, 1997, he signed as a free agent with the Washington Redskins to be the long snapper, becoming along with his brother Matt Turk, the first brother-to-brother snapper-punter combination in NFL history.[5][6][7]

In 1999, in his final season with the Redskins and in the NFL, Turk botched several snaps during the regular season. During his last game, a divisional round contest of the 1999–2000 NFL playoffs against his former club, the Buccaneers, he dribbled the snap to holder Brad Johnson, that could have resulted in a game-winning 51-yard field goal.[8] He was not re-signed after the season. It was later revealed that during these later games, he had been playing with a large, malignant tumor in his chest due to undiagnosed mediastinal germ cell tumors.

Personal life

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On December 23, 2000, Turk died from testicular cancer at age 38 after being diagnosed earlier that year in April.[9][10] His brother is former NFL punter Matt Turk. His nephew Michael Turk was a punter for the Arizona State Sun Devils and the Oklahoma Sooners in college, and was signed by the Miami Dolphins in 2023 but was waived before the preseason.

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Dan Turk

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from Grokipedia
Daniel Anthony Turk (June 25, 1962 – December 23, 2000) was an American professional football and who played fifteen seasons in the (NFL). Born in , , Turk attended the University of , where he earned second-team All-Big Ten honors as a senior in 1984. Selected by the in the fourth round (101st overall) of the , he began his career with the Steelers for two seasons (1985–1986) before being traded to the in 1987, where he played two more years and notably crossed the 1987 NFLPA strike picket line as the only active roster player for the Buccaneers to appear in a replacement game. Turk then spent eight seasons with the Los Angeles/ from 1989 to 1996, primarily serving as their while starting all 16 games at in 1995, and concluded his career with three seasons for the Washington Redskins (1997–1999), appearing in a total of 218 regular-season games across his tenure. One of Turk's most memorable moments came in the 1999 NFC Divisional playoff game against , where a botched long snap on a potential game-winning attempt in the final minutes led to an incompletion and eliminated from the postseason. The older brother of longtime punter , Dan Turk retired after the 1999 season but was diagnosed with shortly thereafter; he succumbed to the disease at his home in , at the age of 38, prompting tributes from his former teams including a by before their next game.

Early years

Early life

Dan Turk was born on June 25, 1962, in , . He grew up in the city as one of six brothers in a close-knit family led by their single mother, who supported them by working as a waitress and cleaning floors. This working-class upbringing in instilled a strong sense of Midwestern values and resilience in Turk and his siblings, with older brother Dan often serving as a to his younger brother Matt. Turk attended High School in , where he distinguished himself as a three-sport excelling in football, wrestling, and . His participation in highlighted his early athletic prowess and laid the foundation for his future in the sport. After graduating from high school, Turk continued his football career at .

College career

Turk began his college football career at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where he played offensive line from 1981 to 1982. After his sophomore season, he transferred to the ahead of the 1983 campaign. At , Turk transitioned to the center position on the offensive line for the Badgers, lettering in both of his seasons there (1983–1984). As a junior in 1983, he contributed to a team that finished with a 7–4 overall record and 5–4 mark in Big Ten play under head coach Dave McClain. Turk's senior year in 1984 marked a standout performance, earning him UPI second-team All-Big Ten honors as the Badgers' starting center. That season, Wisconsin compiled a 7–4–1 record (5–3–1 in conference), highlighted by a 16–14 upset victory over the sixth-ranked and a 10–10 tie with the 17th-ranked ; the team capped the year with a narrow 20–19 loss to in the Hall of Fame Bowl.

Professional career

Pittsburgh Steelers

Dan Turk was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth round, 101st overall, of the 1985 NFL Draft out of the University of Wisconsin. During his rookie season in 1985, Turk served primarily as a backup center behind veteran Mike Webster, appearing in just one game without recording a start due to a broken wrist injury. In 1986, his second year with the team, Turk saw expanded action, playing in all 16 games and earning four starts at center. These starts came in the first four games of the season, filling in for the injured Webster, whose streak of 150 consecutive starts was interrupted by an elbow injury. After two seasons with the Steelers, where he remained a depth player on the offensive line, Turk was traded to the on April 13, 1987, in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Dan Turk was traded to the from the Pittsburgh Steelers on April 13, 1987, in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick (No. 141 overall, used to select Tim Johnson). He had previously served as a backup center with the Steelers during his first two NFL seasons. During the 1987 NFLPA strike, which led to replacement games in Weeks 3 through 6, Turk was the only player from the Buccaneers' regular 45-man roster to cross the picket line. He participated solely in the team's final replacement game on October 18, 1987, against the Minnesota Vikings, starting at center for a squad otherwise composed of non-union players. As a center and long snapper for the Buccaneers, Turk appeared in 13 games during the 1987 season, starting three, primarily handling long-snapping duties without recorded fumbles or penalties. In 1988, he played in 12 games, starting 10, often at right guard but continuing his snapping responsibilities, though he incurred two holding penalties and two false starts over the season. Turk's tenure with Tampa Bay lasted two seasons, after which he departed as a to sign with the in 1989.

Oakland Raiders

Dan Turk joined the (then known as the Los Angeles Raiders until 1994) as a in 1989 after two seasons with the . Over the next eight years, from 1989 to 1996, he appeared in 128 games for the team, primarily serving as the on punt and units, a role that demanded precision and reliability in high-pressure situations. His tenure marked the longest stretch of his NFL career, during which he provided consistent special teams support while occasionally filling in at . Turk's contributions extended beyond routine snapping duties; he recorded two fumble recoveries during his time with the Raiders—one in 1993 and another in 1996—helping to secure possessions in key moments. The Raiders made three playoff appearances during his stint, in 1990 (reaching the ), 1991 (wild card round), and 1993 (divisional round), with Turk participating in all postseason games those years as a reliable special teams player. A standout season came in 1995, when Turk started all 16 games at , stepping into the offensive line role amid injuries and roster needs; this was a significant increase from his typical zero to five starts in prior years with the team. Overall, he logged 23 starts across his Raiders career, mostly in (five starts) and (two starts), underscoring his versatility as a depth player who could anchor the line when called upon.

Washington Redskins

Dan Turk signed with the Washington Redskins in 1997 as a free agent, transitioning from his role with the Oakland Raiders to serve primarily as the team's long snapper during the final three seasons of his NFL career. In this capacity, he also occasionally held for placekicks, leveraging his experience in special teams operations. A notable aspect of Turk's tenure came from 1997 to 1999, when he snapped to his brother, Matt Turk, the Redskins' punter, creating the first brother-to-brother long snapper-punter combination in NFL history. This family collaboration highlighted a unique on-field dynamic. Turk appeared in all 16 regular-season games each year from 1997 to 1999, accounting for 48 of his career total of 218 games played and none of his 40 career starts. He also participated in both of Washington's playoff games following the 1999 season. Turk's Redskins years were marked by consistent availability, with no major injuries reported disrupting his participation. However, in 1999, he struggled with several errant snaps during the and , including a critical low snap in the NFC Divisional playoff loss to the that prevented a potential game-tying attempt. The did not re-sign him after the 1999 campaign, leading Turk to retire from professional football at age 37.

Personal life

Family

Dan Turk was born and raised in Greenfield, a suburb of , , as one of six brothers in a close-knit headed by their single mother, who supported them by working as a waitress and laundress. The brothers spent much of their childhood playing football in the front yard, fostering a lifelong passion for the sport that influenced Turk's path to the and extended to several members. Turk maintained a particularly strong bond with his younger brother, Matt Turk, who followed in the family's athletic footsteps as a professional punter in the NFL, playing for teams including the Washington Redskins, Miami Dolphins, and Houston Texans over a 17-year career. The siblings also ventured into business together, launching Turk's Dog Depot in the 1990s to ship Vienna beef hot dogs reminiscent of those from their Milwaukee youth, reflecting their shared entrepreneurial spirit and nostalgia for home. Their fraternal connection extended to the field when Dan served as long snapper to Matt's punts during the 1997 season with the Redskins, marking the first such brother duo in NFL history. The Turk family's football legacy continued through Dan's nephew, , son of one of their brothers, who excelled as a college punter at and the before signing as an undrafted free agent with the in 2023. Michael's achievements, including strong performances at the NFL Combine, underscore the enduring influence of the Milwaukee-rooted family's emphasis on athletic discipline and special teams expertise.

Death

In April 2000, shortly after retiring from the at the end of the 1999 season, Dan Turk was diagnosed with . Turk waged an eight-month battle against the disease, which was kept private at his family's request. He underwent and but ultimately succumbed to the illness. On December 23, 2000, Turk died at his home in , at the age of 38. In the immediate aftermath, the Washington honored Turk with a in the locker room prior to their December 24 game against the , as announced by interim coach .

References

  1. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TurkDa20.htm
  2. https://www.bucpower.com/dan-turk.htm
  3. https://www.raiders.com/history/all-time-roster/bios-t/dan-turk
  4. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2000/01/16/redskins-cant-snap-to-it/4de59ca1-7fbf-41da-a46e-d6771b26cd0f/
  5. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2000/12/25/dan-turk-dies-from-cancer/fa9298a6-51c3-4d88-9d7d-126a62340837/
  6. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/46800371/daniel_anthony-turk
  7. https://www.chron.com/sports/texans/article/Justice-Every-day-like-Father-s-Day-for-Texans-1701610.php
  8. https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/t/turk00200.html
  9. https://profootballarchives.com/players/t/turk00200.html
  10. https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AXZDWSG7KDISYE8R/pages/A6GJBJD2MVJSP485?as=text&view=scroll
  11. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/wisconsin/1983-schedule.html
  12. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/11/19/1984-All-Big-Ten-Football-team/1750469688400/
  13. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/wisconsin/1984-schedule.html
  14. https://www.nytimes.com/1986/09/05/sports/sports-people-webster-streak-end.html
  15. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/09/03/NFL-Injury-Report/4140526104000/
  16. https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2000/12/25/ex-bucs-center-dan-turk-dies-from-cancer/
  17. https://www.prosportstransactions.com/football/DraftTrades/Years/1987.htm
  18. http://www.buccaneersfan.com/Pages/TeamZone/Gameday/Vikings/1987-10-18.htm
  19. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TurkDa20/gamelog/1996/
  20. https://americanfootballdatabase.fandom.com/wiki/Dan_Turk
  21. https://www.nytimes.com/2000/01/18/sports/plus-pro-football-washington-snapper-a-no-show.html
  22. https://www.nfl.com/news/texans-punter-inspired-by-memory-of-his-brother-09000d5d80132621
  23. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2001/01/03/turk-still-mourning-his-brother/
  24. https://dolphinswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/dolphins/2023/04/30/dolphins-udfa-michael-turk/79646247007/
  25. https://www.oudaily.com/sports/ou-football-former-arizona-state-punter-michael-turk-announces-transfer-to-sooners/article_e77fb032-fbe5-11eb-9276-87f5c47c711a.html
  26. https://www.nfl.com/news/punter-michael-turk-thrills-at-nfl-combine-with-25-bench-reps-0ap3000001103857
  27. http://thetcrc.org/celeb.html
  28. https://www.chicagotribune.com/2000/12/25/top-trainer-jerkens-in-critical-condition/
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