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George Andrie
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George Joseph Andrie (April 20, 1940 – August 21, 2018) was an American professional football defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. Prior to his NFL career he played college football at Marquette University, which dropped its program after his junior season.
Key Information
Early life
[edit]Born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Andrie graduated from Catholic Central High School in 1958. He chose to play football across Lake Michigan at Marquette, where his older brother Stan had played on the line in the early 1950s. The Marquette football team was historically known as the "Golden Avalanche", as well as the other Marquette nicknames of Hilltoppers and Warriors.[1]
During his sophomore and junior seasons (1959, 1960), he led Marquette in receiving both years from his slotback position.[2] As a two-way player, he was also ranked among the team's tackle leaders, registering over 80 tackles as a defensive lineman. After a 3–6 season in 1960 under head coach Lisle Blackbourn, the university dropped the football program in December,[3] citing financial issues.[4][5][6][7]
After the school limited his scholarship to just the tuition fees, he explored an opportunity to transfer to Tulsa in 1961, but decided to return to Marquette, soon after visiting the school's campus. Unsure of his future at the professional level, he focused on academics and worked on his physical conditioning during his senior year.[1]
In 1991, he was inducted into the Marquette Athletics Hall of Fame.[8]
Professional career
[edit]Idle in his senior season, he was off the radar of most pro teams, except for the Dallas Cowboys, who had just completed their second season in 1961 with a 4–9–1 record. Their player personnel director was Gil Brandt, who was born and raised in Milwaukee and was a Wisconsin alumnus.[1] They selected Andrie in the sixth round (82nd overall) of the 1962 NFL draft as a defensive end. In his first season, he won the starting job at right defensive end (replacing Nate Borden) and also made the NFL All-Rookie team.[9]
In 1964, after playing on the left side of the defense, he was switched back to his original position at right defensive end, where he stayed throughout his career. He played most of his career next to future Hall of Fame defensive tackle Bob Lilly. Together they helped to form the Cowboys' original "Doomsday Defense".
In the frigid 1967 NFL Championship Game against the Green Bay Packers, often referred to as the Ice Bowl, he picked up a Bart Starr fumble and ran it in for a touchdown, scoring six of the Cowboys' 17 points in the loss.[10] In 1970, he competed in Super Bowl V in Miami, the first after the merger with the American Football League. The Cowboys faced the Baltimore Colts, but lost 16–13 in a game remembered for the record eleven turnovers (both teams), as well as ten penalties committed by the Cowboys.[11] Andrie knocked out Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas with a shoulder tackle in the second quarter.[12][13] The next year in the second quarter of the NFC championship game against San Francisco, he intercepted a John Brodie screen pass near the 49ers' 10-yard line and advanced it to the two, setting up the game's first score (the winning touchdown by running back Calvin Hill).[14][15][16] Two weeks later in New Orleans, the Cowboys defeated the Miami Dolphins 24–3 in Super Bowl VI.
The NFL didn't recognize quarterback sacks as an official stat until 1982; however, the Cowboys have their own records, dating back before the 1982 season. According to the Cowboys' stats, Andrie is unofficially credited with a total of 97 sacks, leading the Cowboys in sacks each year from 1964 to 1967, with a high of 18.5 in 1966. Andrie also had eight straight games with a sack from 1966 to 1967, making it the fourth longest such streak in club history. He ranks fifth on the team's All-time sack leaders list.
Andrie played defensive end for the Cowboys for 11 seasons, registering 112 straight regular-season starts and only two missed games in his career, with a dislocated elbow in 1963. He was named to the Pro Bowl five straight times (1965–1969), All-Pro once and three times second-team All-Pro during his career. He was also named the Pro Bowl MVP in 1970, after a temporary retirement in training camp due to a $2,000 salary dispute.[17]
Personal life
[edit]Andrie worked with Cowboy teammate Lilly in a beer distribution business in Waco, before founding a promotional products company in 1979.[1][18]
Andrie has seven children with his wife, Mary Lou. Andrie was first diagnosed with dementia in 2014, and despite two claims filed in the 2017 NFL concussion settlement, those claims have been both denied, and his family is appealing both. Andrie's efforts in navigating the settlement has highlighted the complicated nature of the claims process in the settlement.[19][20]
In August 2018, Andrie died at age 78 at his home in Woodway, Texas,[21] and was buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Waco. He was one of at least 345 NFL players to be diagnosed after death with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), caused by repeated hits to the head.[22][23]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Wolf, Bob (February 1, 1979). "Andrie outlasted Marquette football". Milwaukee Journal. p. 3, part 3.
- ^ "Big Men Of The Midwest". Sports Illustrated. September 19, 1960. p. 76. Archived from the original on May 17, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
- ^ "Marquette gridders, coaches bewildered over drop move". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. December 11, 1960. p. 2B.
- ^ "Save football, alumni aim". Milwaukee Journal. December 10, 1960. p. 14.
- ^ "Marquette Drops Football, Track". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Associated Press. December 10, 1960. p. 10.
- ^ Bolchat, Rel (December 10, 1960). "MU drops football, basketball survives". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 3, part 2.
- ^ Riordon, Robert J (December 10, 1960). "'We want football!' MUers yell". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 1, part 1.
- ^ "George Andrie". Marquette University Athletics. Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on November 25, 2010. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ^ Lea, Bud (December 22, 1966). "Andrie left MU, found Cowboy ride to fame". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 1, part 2.
- ^ Maule, Tex (January 8, 1968). "The old pro goes in for six". Sports Illustrated. p. 10.
- ^ Bledsoe, Terry (January 18, 1971). "Colts survive Stupor Bowl". Milwaukee Journal. p. 10, part 2.
- ^ "Morrall the hero this time". Milwaukee Journal. January 18, 1971. p. 10, part 2.
- ^ Maule, Tex (January 25, 1971). "Eleven big mistakes". Sports Illustrated. p. 12.
- ^ McHugh, Roy (January 3, 1972). "Cowboys' Andrie gets in way of Forty Niners' Super bid". Pittsburgh Press. p. 26.
- ^ Bernstein, Ralph (January 3, 1972). "Andrie saw the screen, Brodie didn't see him". Reading Eagle. Associated Press. p. 24.
- ^ Bledsoe, Terry (January 3, 1972). "Giant thief name Andrie steals title for Cowboys". Milwaukee Journal. p. 11, part 2.
- ^ "Cowboy End Retires After Salary Dispute". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Associated Press. August 8, 1970. p. 13.
- ^ "Home page". George Andrie & Associates. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
- ^ "Why the NFL's Concussion Settlement Isn't Easy to Navigate".
- ^ "What It's Like to Navigate the NFL's Concussion Settlement Hellscape".
- ^ "George Andrie, member of Cowboys' original Doomsday Defense, dies at 78". SportsDay. August 21, 2018. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
- ^ "The driving force behind Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)". Concussion Legacy Foundation. Archived from the original on July 2, 2023. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
- ^ Ken Belson and Benjamin Mueller (June 20, 2023). "Collective Force of Head Hits, Not Just the Number of Them, Increases Odds of C.T.E. The largest study of chronic traumatic encephalopathy to date found that the cumulative force of head hits absorbed by players in their careers is the best predictor of future brain disease". The New York Times. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
External links
[edit]- Career statistics from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference ·
- Video: Doomsday Warrior - The Story of George Andrie
- Obituary – George Andrie
- George Andrie at Find a Grave
George Andrie
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early life and education
Family background and upbringing
George Joseph Andrie was born on April 20, 1940, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Stanley Edward Andrie and Clara Rita Dzierwa Andrie.[6][1] Andrie grew up in Grand Rapids with several siblings, including brothers Stanley J. Andrie and James Andrie, and sisters Irene M. Andrie and Elizabeth Andrie (later Dochod).[6] His parents both predeceased him, with his father passing in 1970.[7] This family structure provided the foundational environment for his early years in a Midwestern industrial city, prior to his involvement in organized athletics.[8]High school athletics and college career at Marquette
Andrie attended Catholic Central High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan, graduating in 1958 after distinguishing himself as a standout two-way end on the football team.[8] His tall, slim build—later developing into a 6-foot-6, 250-pound frame—enabled versatile play on both sides of the ball, though his high school exploits garnered primarily local attention without broader national recruitment hype typical of elite prospects.[9] [1] Opting for Marquette University across Lake Michigan, partly to join his brother Stan, a guard on the team, Andrie transitioned to college football as a two-way standout, primarily at defensive end while contributing offensively as a tight end and wide receiver.[8] The Marquette program, competing in the independent division with modest competitive standing and resources, emphasized fundamental grit amid adapting to heightened physical demands; Andrie exemplified this by emerging as one of the team's leading defensive performers, amassing over 80 tackles across his career.[2] In 1959, he led the Golden Eagles in receiving with 22 catches for 357 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games, showcasing his athletic receiving skills alongside defensive contributions.[10] Andrie's college tenure, spanning approximately 1958 to 1960, honed his raw athleticism into disciplined play within a program that disbanded its football team after the 1960 season due to financial and administrative challenges, limiting his senior-year opportunities at Marquette but underscoring his adaptability in a non-elite environment.[8] This period marked his shift toward emphasizing defensive prowess, building the foundational tenacity that defined his later professional style, though detailed per-game tackle metrics remain sparse beyond aggregate leadership.[2]Professional football career
NFL draft and rookie season
The Dallas Cowboys selected George Andrie in the sixth round, 82nd overall, of the 1962 NFL Draft out of Marquette University.[1] The late-round pick stemmed from limited scouting visibility, as Marquette discontinued its football program before Andrie's senior season, depriving evaluators of recent game film despite his two-way college production and physical attributes—standing 6 feet 6 inches and weighing 250 pounds, traits that hinted at defensive end potential undervalued in an era favoring established programs.[4] As a rookie, Andrie secured the starting right defensive end position and appeared in all 14 games for the Cowboys, who finished 5-8-1 while allowing 402 points and ranking near the bottom in defensive efficiency.[11][1] Unofficial statistics credit him with 7 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries, reflecting nascent pass-rushing impact amid sparse era-specific tracking.[1] Transitioning to Tom Landry's intricate 4-3 flex schemes demanded rapid assimilation for newcomers on the third-year expansion franchise, where Landry observed that defensive cohesion typically required three years post-initial formation to mature, compounded by team-wide inexperience and injury issues.[12] Andrie's diligent preparation enabled quick adaptation, establishing him as a reliable edge presence from training camp onward.Tenure with the Dallas Cowboys and Doomsday Defense
George Andrie joined the Dallas Cowboys as a sixth-round draft pick in 1962 and anchored the right defensive end position through the 1972 season, contributing to the franchise's defensive maturation amid its expansion from a nascent team to perennial contenders.[3] His role emphasized coordinated pressure from the front four, partnering with tackle Bob Lilly to disrupt offensive lines through disciplined gap control and pursuit, rather than relying on isolated dominance.[14] This collective approach defined the "Doomsday Defense," the moniker for Dallas's defenses spanning roughly 1966 to 1974, which prioritized unit cohesion to generate chaos for quarterbacks and ball carriers.[15] The defense's synergy was evident in high-stakes matchups, such as the 1966 NFL Championship Game on January 1, 1967, where Dallas challenged the Green Bay Packers in a 34-27 defeat, holding firm against a run-heavy attack led by Jim Taylor despite offensive turnovers undermining the effort.[16] In the subsequent year's Ice Bowl on December 31, 1967—played in -15°F conditions with wind chill dropping to -42°F—the unit's endurance shone as Andrie recovered a fumble from Packers quarterback Bart Starr at the Dallas 7-yard line, returning it for a touchdown that briefly narrowed Green Bay's lead to 14-10 before a 21-17 loss sealed by a late quarterback sneak.[4] These games highlighted the defense's ability to capitalize on opponent errors through relentless teamwork, though environmental extremes and strategic mismatches exposed vulnerabilities in sustaining leads.[14] Over the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Doomsday unit propelled Dallas to back-to-back NFL Championship appearances in 1966 and 1967, followed by Super Bowl V and VI berths after the 1970 and 1971 seasons, amassing turnovers and restricting scoring in playoff contexts.[17] Successes included a dominant Super Bowl VI performance on January 16, 1972, where the defense limited the Miami Dolphins to three points and forced multiple turnovers, enabling a 24-3 victory that ended Dallas's prior postseason frustrations.[18] Yet failures persisted, notably Super Bowl V's 16-13 overtime loss to the Baltimore Colts on January 17, 1971, where despite containing the run game, defensive lapses allowed a game-winning field goal after a late turnover.[14] Such outcomes underscored the defense's strength in forcing errors—evident in consistent fumble recoveries and interceptions across these runs—but also its dependence on complementary offensive execution to convert opportunities into wins.[15]Key achievements, statistics, and playing style
Andrie earned five consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 1965 to 1969, recognizing his consistent performance as a starting defensive end.[1] He was named First-Team All-Pro in 1969 by multiple outlets, reflecting his peak disruptive impact that year.[14] Over 11 NFL seasons with the Dallas Cowboys from 1962 to 1972, Andrie appeared in 141 games, starting 112 consecutively from 1964 onward, with estimated career totals of 98.5 sacks (unofficial, as the statistic was not officially tracked until 1982), 2 interceptions, and 13 fumble recoveries.[1] He led the Cowboys in sacks each year from 1964 to 1967, including a team-high 18.5 in 1966, though these figures derive from team and post-career reviews rather than contemporaneous records.[17] At 6 feet 6 inches and 250 pounds, Andrie employed a power-based pass rush, leveraging his height for superior pad level and reach to disrupt quarterbacks and contain runs, often collapsing pockets from the right defensive end position in Tom Landry's 4-3 scheme.[1] His technique emphasized strength and a relentless motor over speed, making him effective against the run by occupying blockers and freeing linebackers, though he lacked the elite quickness of contemporaries like Deacon Jones.[3] While era-limited stat-keeping may understate Andrie's pressures—sacks were not formalized, potentially masking indirect contributions—his totals pale against peers like Jones, who amassed an estimated 173.5 sacks over a similar timeframe, indicating solid rather than transcendent productivity when adjusted for opportunities in a balanced front four.[1] Back injuries, which plagued his later years and prompted retirement after 1972, curtailed longevity and peak output, limiting him to fewer games than durable elites and highlighting scheme dependencies in Landry's flex defense where individual stats often reflected collective efforts.[19]Super Bowl appearances and retirement
Andrie appeared in Super Bowl V on January 17, 1971, as the Dallas Cowboys faced the Baltimore Colts at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, resulting in a narrow 16-13 defeat marked by numerous turnovers and defensive lapses despite the Cowboys' overall talent.[20] As a starting defensive end, Andrie contributed significantly by delivering a hard hit on Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas early in the game, forcing an interception after a rushed pass under pressure, though Unitas sustained rib injuries that sidelined him.[20] The Cowboys' defense, including Andrie, generated pressure but could not overcome offensive miscues, such as missed field goals and fumbles, highlighting team-wide execution failures rather than isolated defensive shortcomings.[17] In Super Bowl VI on January 16, 1972, Andrie helped anchor the Cowboys' defense in a dominant 24-3 victory over the Miami Dolphins at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, securing Dallas's first NFL championship and thwarting Miami's undefeated season aspirations.[21] The Doomsday Defense limited the Dolphins to just 95 total yards and three points, with Andrie's veteran presence on the line contributing to consistent pressure on quarterback Bob Griese, including a key fumble recovery that aided field position advantages.[22] This performance underscored Andrie's role in high-stakes containment, as the unit's coordinated rush and coverage stifled Miami's no-huddle offense, reflecting the cumulative toll of rigorous preparation and physical conditioning over prior seasons. Andrie retired following the 1972 regular season at age 32, after appearing in only three games amid a sharp decline in snaps from his peak years, attributed primarily to chronic back injuries sustained from repeated high-impact collisions and the era's demanding training regimens.[1][23] These ailments, exacerbated by the physical demands of defensive end play—including frostbite effects from earlier games like the 1967 Ice Bowl—necessitated his exit, as medical evaluations indicated unsustainable risk of further deterioration despite his leadership value to younger linemen.[3] In his final campaign, Andrie recorded no official tackles in limited action, a stark contrast to his earlier sack-leading outputs, signaling the inevitable career arc driven by biomechanical wear rather than waning skill or voluntary choice.[1]Post-retirement life
Business activities and community involvement
After retiring from professional football in 1972, George Andrie settled in the Waco, Texas area and entered the beer distribution business in partnership with former Dallas Cowboys teammate Bob Lilly.[8] This venture capitalized on his local recognition while establishing a foothold in regional commerce, reflecting practical diversification into a stable industry post-athletics.[14] In 1979, Andrie founded George Andrie & Associates Inc., a promotional products company based in Waco that specializes in custom-branded items for marketing and brand promotion.[24][14] Established on August 24 of that year, the firm grew into a longstanding local enterprise, demonstrating sustained viability through targeted sales of imprinted apparel, gifts, and advertising specialties without reliance on ongoing athletic fame.[24] Andrie's management emphasized economic fundamentals, yielding independent wealth accumulation amid Waco's competitive market.[24] Andrie's business endeavors positioned him as a prominent figure in Waco's commercial landscape, fostering local economic contributions through job creation and supplier networks tied to his promotional operations.[24] While specific philanthropic initiatives remain sparsely documented, his role as a successful entrepreneur supported broader community stability by sustaining family-run enterprises that endured market challenges.[24]Family and personal relationships
George Andrie married Mary Lou Lorscheider in 1962, a union that lasted 56 years until his death in 2018.[6][14] The couple resided primarily in Waco, Texas, after Andrie's retirement from professional football, maintaining a low public profile focused on private family matters.[25] Andrie and Mary Lou had seven children: sons George G., Michael J., and Joseph; and daughters Margaret M. Ratliff, Deborah, Mary Brooks, and one additional daughter.[14][26] At the time of his passing, the family included 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.[27] Andrie regarded his family as his foremost accomplishment, prioritizing its stability and values over professional accolades in public reflections.[24] He and Mary Lou exemplified enduring commitment, with their children and descendants forming a close-knit unit that emphasized personal integrity amid his post-career seclusion from media scrutiny.[28]Health, death, and later recognition
Illnesses including dementia
In his later years, George Andrie was diagnosed with dementia by four neurologists, with symptoms emerging as early as 2003 in the form of psychotic episodes and a subsequent diagnosis of major depressive disorder, followed by progressive memory loss and cognitive decline requiring full-time caregiving.[29][30] His family, including daughter Mary Brooks, reported a marked deterioration in his condition over time, attributing it to repeated head trauma sustained during his NFL career, though definitive causation linking specific impacts to dementia remains empirically challenging without isolating variables like genetics or lifestyle factors.[31] Andrie also contended with congestive heart failure, which his family identified as a significant ongoing health burden independent of neurological issues.[25] Additionally, chronic back problems stemming from the physical demands of his position as a defensive end contributed to his retirement after the 1972 season and persisted as a source of discomfort in retirement, reflecting the cumulative toll of high-impact play without modern protective advancements.[23] While organizations like the Concussion Legacy Foundation associate such conditions with football's repetitive subconcussive trauma—evident in Andrie's case through family advocacy and posthumous brain analysis revealing advanced neuropathology—data on retired players indicate varied outcomes, with not all experiencing severe decline despite similar exposure, underscoring the probabilistic nature of risks rather than inevitable causation.[28] This aligns with broader empirical patterns where football's rewards, including socioeconomic gains, must be weighed against documented but non-universal health trade-offs, absent moralizing over participation choices.[32]Death and immediate aftermath
George Andrie died on August 21, 2018, at his home in Woodway, Texas, at the age of 78, from congestive heart failure.[8][25] He was surrounded by family members at the time of his passing, including his wife Mary Lou and children.[33] A Mass of Christian Burial was held on August 25, 2018, at 1:30 p.m. at St. Louis Catholic Church in Waco, Texas, followed by burial at Oakwood Cemetery.[25] The Dallas Cowboys organization issued a statement confirming the death and noting Andrie's foundational role in their defense during the 1960s and 1970s.[4] Immediate media coverage, including reports from ESPN and the Associated Press, focused on his contributions to the "Doomsday Defense" and appearances in the Ice Bowl and Super Bowls, portraying him as a stoic, team-oriented player rather than a spotlight-seeking figure.[4][34] Family statements emphasized his private nature and family devotion over public accolades.[35]Legacy in football and Hall of Fame debate
George Andrie's contributions to the Dallas Cowboys' Doomsday Defense established him as a foundational element in the unit's reputation for stifling opponents during the late 1960s and early 1970s, directly facilitating the team's sustained contention and culminating in a 24-3 victory over the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI on January 16, 1972.[17] Alongside Hall of Famer Bob Lilly, Andrie anchored the defensive line, emphasizing run disruption and quarterback pressure in an era where individual statistics like sacks were not officially recorded, rendering his influence measurable primarily through team outcomes such as allowing just 3 points in the Super Bowl and reaching consecutive NFL championship games in 1966 and 1967.[14] This collective defensive prowess underscored a causal link between Andrie's consistent performance—evidenced by five Pro Bowl selections from 1965 to 1969—and the Cowboys' transition from perennial contenders to champions, though his role was inherently team-oriented rather than stat-driven.[35] Andrie's Pro Football Hall of Fame candidacy remains a point of contention, with proponents highlighting his undervaluation due to the pre-sack-tracking era and his integral part in one of the NFL's most formidable defenses, arguing that his three second-team All-Pro nods (1966-1968) and one first-team selection (1969) merit recognition alongside peers like Lilly.[17] Advocates, including detailed case analyses, posit that Andrie's postseason exploits—such as recovering a fumble in the 1967 Ice Bowl—demonstrate elite impact overlooked by voters favoring flashier metrics, potentially reflecting broader Hall tendencies to undervalue defensive ends from expansion-era teams without MVP-level accolades.[36] However, counterarguments emphasize that his estimated sack totals (around 87 unofficially over 11 seasons) fall short of thresholds met by inducted contemporaries like Deacon Jones or Gino Marchetti, and the absence of league-wide awards or dominant individual seasons aligns with the Hall's meritocratic standards where only the most transcendent players from each position gain entry, as seen in the non-induction of similarly productive linemen like Jethro Pugh.[37] Despite periodic mentions on senior candidate lists, such as in 2023 Hall of Very Good discussions and broader seniors pools, Andrie has not advanced to finalist status, illustrating football's emphasis on verifiable dominance over narrative-driven claims to immortality.[38] This outcome reflects a realistic appraisal of achievements: Andrie earned Pro Bowl honors and a championship ring through on-field execution, but Hall enshrinement demands separation from solid contributors, a bar unmet amid competition from higher-impact defensive ends and potential voter oversight of era-specific contexts rather than systemic bias.[39] Critics of the process note occasional media emphasis on offensive stars or later-era players, yet Andrie's case ultimately hinges on empirical team success without the singular stats to override positional depth in Canton deliberations.[40]References
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