Richard Byrd (American football)

Richard Byrd
No. 71
PositionNose tackle
Personal information
Born (1962-03-20) March 20, 1962 (age 63)
Natchez, Mississippi, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight264 lb (120 kg)
Career information
High schoolJim Hill (Jackson, Mississippi)
CollegeSouthern Miss
NFL draft1985: 2nd round, 36th overall pick
Career history
Awards and highlights
  • First-team All-South Independent (1984)
  • Second-team All-South Independent (1983)
Career NFL statistics
Games played75
Games started42
Sacks5
Interceptions1
Fumble recoveries4
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Richard Ellen Byrd (born March 20, 1962) is an American former professional football player who was a nose tackle for five seasons with the Houston Oilers of the National Football League (NFL) from 1985 to 1989.[1][2]

Playing career

Richard Byrd played football for Jim Hill High School. Byrd played collegiately for the Southern Miss Golden Eagles. He earned All-South Independent second-team honors in 1983 and first-team honors in 1984.

He spent five years in the NFL on the Houston Oilers, who selected him in the second round of the 1985 NFL draft.[3][4]

References

  1. ^ Sentinel, Orlando (November 12, 1988). "Richard Byrd, Houston Oilers nose tackle, on..." OrlandoSentinel.com. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  2. ^ "Richard Byrd Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 30, 2025.Richard Byrd Stats (Pro-Football Reference)
  3. ^ "Richard Byrd Stats - Pro Football Archives". www.profootballarchives.com. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  4. ^ "1985 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 9, 2023.