Conrad Dobler , a former Arizona Cardinals guard who spent six seasons with the team in St. Louis and was regarded as the league’s dirtiest player at the time, passed away on Monday in Pueblo, Colorado, the team reported. He was 72.
Keep reading to find out more.
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He Was One Of The Best Defensive Guards
Throughout his ten-year career with the Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, and New Orleans Saints, Cobler was one of the best offensive guards in the NFL. From 1975 to 1977, the “troublemaker,” as he was frequently referred to and hilariously referred to himself in a Miller Lite commercial, was selected for three straight Pro Bowls.
Dobler’s Strategies Came In Handy
They allowed just eight sacks in 1975, which was a league-low, thanks to Dobler’s willingness to use any strategy necessary to keep Jim Hart, the quarterback, upright.
Doing Anything For The Game He Loved
Dobler said to Sports Illustrated in 1977 , “I’ll do anything I can get away with to protect my quarterback,” including holding, gouging the eyes, whipping the legs, and biting.
He Made The Wyoming Selection
Dobler, an undersized sixth-round selection out of Wyoming in 1972, made three straight Pro Bowls with St. Louis from 1975–77 before playing his final two seasons with the Saints and Bills. He was undersized at 6-foot-3 and 254 pounds.
How He Was Dubbed ‘Famous Troublemaker’
He enjoyed playing the bad guy, and in a 1987 Miller Lite commercial where he was dubbed “Famous Troublemaker,” he enraged viewers by debating the beer’s catchphrase “Tastes great/Less filling.”
How He Became Famous
Dobler gained notoriety by punching “Mean” Joe Greene, a star defensive lineman for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and by kicking rival Merlin Olsen of the Los Angeles Rams.
He Made History In The NFL Games
Dobler started 125 of the 129 NFL games in which he participated.
The Pokes Barely Got Lucky While Dobler Was Still Playing
In the wake of the Black 14 incident, the Pokes weren’t particularly successful during Dobler’s tenure, but the team did go 3-0 against Colorado State in Border War games.
He Struggled With Physical And Mental Health
Dobler, who was the subject of a well-known Miller Lite advertisement in the 1980s, struggled in both physical and mental health problems as a result of his playing career.
When He Retired
Dobler, a fifth-round selection in 1972, played for the Cardinals for his first six seasons before spending time with the New Orleans Saints and Buffalo Bills. He retired in 1981.
The Owner Of The Cardinals Statement
Michael Bidwill, the owner of the Cardinals, said in a statement that the player was “the kind of tough, physical, and fierce player that you love to line up with as a teammate and hate to line up against as an opponent.” Conrad “was a big reason for the success of the Cardiac Cards of the 1970s on the field.”
Memorial Service
Memorial services will be held in Kansas City, Missouri, later.
How His Wife Passed
After an accident in 2001, his wife Joy became paralyzed and passed away in 2018.
His Family
He leaves six children and 11 grandchildren behind.
