Wahoo McDaniel's Accolades From...

Wahoo McDaniel's football career, though perhaps overshadowed by his later wrestling fame, was nonetheless impactful and filled with notable achievements. A formidable linebacker, McDaniel made his mark in both college and the professional ranks. He was born June 19, 1938, in Bernice, Louisiana.

At the collegiate level, playing for the University of Oklahoma, McDaniel was a key member of a dominant program. He earned First-Team All-Big Eight honors, a testament to his prowess in a highly competitive conference. He was also a member of the 1956 Oklahoma Sooners National Championship team, cementing his place in college football history.

Transitioning to the American Football League (AFL), McDaniel continued to display his aggressive and impactful style of play. He was a five-time AFL All-Star, a remarkable feat showcasing his consistent high performance across multiple seasons and teams, including the Houston Oilers, Denver Broncos, New York Jets, and Miami Dolphins. His reputation as one of the hardest-hitting linebackers of his era solidified his standing. While exact individual defensive statistics like tackles and sacks from that era are often incomplete, his multiple All-Star selections clearly indicate his significant contributions to the teams he played for.

From Gridiron to Ring: Wahoo McDaniel's Accolades
Wahoo McDaniel's football career, though perhaps overshadowed by his later wrestling fame, was nonetheless impactful and filled with notable achievements. A formidable linebacker, McDaniel made his mark in both college and the professional ranks.

At the collegiate level, playing for the University of Oklahoma, McDaniel was a key member of a dominant program. He earned Second-Team All-Big Eight honors in 1959 and was a member of the 1956 Oklahoma Sooners National Championship team, cementing his place in college football history. He also showcased his versatility, playing as a punter and setting a school record with a 91-yard punt in 1958.

Transitioning to the American Football League (AFL), McDaniel continued to display his aggressive and impactful style of play. He was a five-time AFL All-Star, a remarkable feat showcasing his consistent high performance across multiple seasons and teams, including the Houston Oilers (where he won an AFL Championship in 1960), Denver Broncos, New York Jets, and Miami Dolphins. His reputation as one of the hardest-hitting linebackers of his era solidified his standing.

Demaryius was the first receiver taken in the 2010 NFL Draft. Thomas developed into an athletic mismatch and a yards-after-catch demon, especially after Peyton Manning joined the Broncos in 2012. Thomas emerged as the Broncos' No. 1 receiver and would earn five straight Pro Bowl selections as the team's number one receiver.

For his career, Thomas had 724 receptions for 9,763 yards and 63 TDs. Thomas ranks 53rd all-time in receiving yards in NFL history at the time of his retirement.