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Doug Kotar

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Doug Kotar
No. 44
Position:Running back
Personal information
Born:(1951-06-11)June 11, 1951
Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died:December 16, 1983(1983-12-16) (aged 32)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school:Canon-McMillan (PA)
College:Kentucky
Undrafted:1974
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics
Rushing attempts:900
Rushing yards:3,380
Rushing TDs:20
Player stats at PFR

Douglas Allan Kotar (June 11, 1951 – December 16, 1983) was an American football running back for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL).[1][2][3]

Early years

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Raised in Muse, Pennsylvania, Kotar graduated from Canon-McMillan High School and played college football at the University of Kentucky in Lexington.[3]

Career

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Unselected in the 1974 NFL draft, he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Pittsburgh Steelers.[1] Four days later, they traded him to the Giants (for Leo Gasienica), where he played for eight years. Linebacker Harry Carson, a teammate for six seasons, once described him as "a fighter you'd like to have with you in a foxhole."[1]

Though he was only 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m), Kotar rushed for 3,380 yards (while also receiving 1,022 yards) in his career, which was fourth most in Giants history, now ninth. Kotar was known for leading with his head while rushing, a fact that would come back to haunt him in later life.[4]

NFL career statistics

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Legend
Bold Career high
Year Team Games Rushing Receiving
GP GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD
1974 NYG 12 7 106 396 3.7 53 4 10 57 5.7 18 0
1975 NYG 14 6 122 378 3.1 46 6 9 86 9.6 17 0
1976 NYG 14 14 185 731 4.0 24 3 36 319 8.9 30 0
1977 NYG 12 11 132 480 3.6 32 2 15 73 4.9 13 0
1978 NYG 15 5 149 625 4.2 46 1 22 225 10.2 31 1
1979 NYG 16 14 160 616 3.9 32 3 25 230 9.2 37 0
1981 NYG 7 5 46 154 3.3 18 1 9 32 3.6 11 0
90 62 900 3,380 3.8 53 20 126 1,022 8.1 37 1

Retirement and later death

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Kotar retired after the first days training camp in July 1982, attributed to his knees and shoulder hurting, citing his family. Unfortunately, Kotar experienced massive headaches.[1] After concerns were expressed by his family, he had a CAT scan. Only weeks into his retirement, the doctors found a brain tumor. Kotar decided to go through with invasive surgery that involved opening his skull up. However, the doctors found that the tumor was malignant, and it could not be removed. By this point, his savings were wiped out due to the medical treatments.

Kotar would later experience partial paralysis and was moved to his hometown, undergoing radiation treatment over the next few months. Only four months before his death, he was visited by 45 Giant players, officials, and coaches. Carson later stated he was going to visit Kotar again as soon as the season ended, but he never got to as he died in his sleep just 16 months after diagnosis at age 32.[5][6]

He and his wife Donna (aged thirty) had two young children at the time of his death: Doug Jr. (aged ten) and Christie (aged seven).[3][7]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Litsky, Frank (December 17, 1983). "Kotar dies of tumor". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). (New York Times). p. 25.
  2. ^ "Former Giant Doug Kotar loses battle with cancer". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). news services. December 17, 1983. p. 16.
  3. ^ a b c "Gutty: Friends and teammates mourn Kotar". Pittsburgh Press. Associated Press. December 17, 1983. p. D1.
  4. ^ "Doug Kotar Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  5. ^ "Keith Olbermann Reflects on the Life and Career of Doug Kotar - YouTube". YouTube.
  6. ^ Wilhelm, Kathy (December 17, 1983). "Kotar was a fighter". The Day. (New London, Connecticut). Associated Press. p. 19.
  7. ^ Litsky, Frank (December 17, 1983). "Doug Kotar of Giants Dies; Ex Star of Backfield Was 32". The New York Times.
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