Dat Nguyen is the first Vietnamese-American to be drafted, play, and be recognized as an All-Pro in the NFL.
19 Facts About Dat Nguyen
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In 2017, Nguyen was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.
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Dat Nguyen's family left South Vietnam during the fall of Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War, and he was born in a refugee center at Fort Chaffee in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
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Dat Nguyen lived most of his childhood in the Gulf Coast town of Rockport, Texas.
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At Rockport-Fulton High School, Dat Nguyen played middle linebacker and handled punting duties.
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Dat Nguyen was recruited and received scholarship offers from Michigan, UCLA, Notre Dame, Texas, and Florida.
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Dat Nguyen is the only Aggie to ever lead the school in tackles for four consecutive years.
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Dat Nguyen was selected as a finalist for the Butkus Award, eventually becoming first runner-up.
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Dat Nguyen missed winning the Butkus Award by a single vote out of more than 45 votes cast.
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Dat Nguyen was named Defensive Player of the Game for the 1998 Cotton Bowl after recording a bowl-record 12 tackles, including three tackles for a loss, and an interception, which he lateraled to a teammate for a touchdown.
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On January 9,2017, the National Football Foundation announced Nguyen was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame, an impressive class that included Peyton Manning, Adrian N Peterson, Marshall Faulk, Steve Spurrier, and Brian Urlacher.
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Dat Nguyen made an impact with the Cowboys from the beginning, leading the team in special teams tackles as a rookie and becoming the Cowboys' starting middle linebacker in his second season, after Randall Godfrey left via free agency.
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In 2003, with Dat Nguyen leading the team in tackles, the Cowboys were the second-most effective defense in the NFL and he was selected second-team All-Pro by the Associated Press.
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Dat Nguyen finished the season with 31 tackles and one sack in eight appearances.
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Dat Nguyen officially retired from the NFL on March 3,2006, after a neck injury and knee problems, which hindered his performance, failed to improve.
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Dat Nguyen led the team in tackles three times, in 2001,2003, and 2004, and amassed 516 tackles in seven seasons, despite missing half of two separate seasons to injury.
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Dat Nguyen married his college sweetheart, Becky, and they have three daughters and twin boys.
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Dat Nguyen's family are Roman Catholic and attend mass at St Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Boerne, Texas.
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In May 2004, Dat Nguyen was awarded a Golden Torch Award at the Vietnamese American National Gala in Washington, DC He was featured in HBO's Hard Knocks.