1. Douglas Wilkerson was an American professional football player who was a guard in the National Football League for the Houston Oilers and San Diego Chargers.
20 Facts About Doug Wilkerson
1. 2.
Doug Wilkerson was inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame.
3.
Doug Wilkerson played one season in the Austrian Football League for the Graz Giants in 1987.
4.
Doug Wilkerson was recruited by many of the college football powerhouses, including Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Duke and Wake Forest.
5.
The challenger refused to settle the wager, prompting Doug Wilkerson to knock him to the ground.
6.
Daugherty did not try to get involved, nor did Doug Wilkerson ask him to.
7.
Doug Wilkerson decided to attend the historically black college North Carolina Central University, known then as North Carolina College, where some of his former classmates were enrolled.
8.
At NCCU, Doug Wilkerson earned national honors as a lineman on both offense and defense.
9.
Doug Wilkerson was inducted into the North Carolina Central University Hall of Fame and the Black College Football Hall of Fame.
10.
Doug Wilkerson was selected by the Houston Oilers in the first round of the 1970 NFL draft with the 14th overall pick.
11.
Doug Wilkerson earned second-team All-Pro honors in 1979 and 1980 before being named to the first-team in 1982.
12.
In 1984, Doug Wilkerson was named the co-winner of the Chargers' Lineman of the Year.
13.
In 15 NFL seasons, Doug Wilkerson played in 204 regular-season games, starting 195.
14.
Doug Wilkerson ended his Chargers career with 195 games played, the second most in franchise history behind former teammate and fellow lineman Russ Washington.
15.
Doug Wilkerson did not miss a game with San Diego until his ninth season there and missed just eight games total in 14 years.
16.
Doug Wilkerson was named to the Chargers Hall of Fame, as well as their 40th and 50th anniversary teams.
17.
Doug Wilkerson was inducted into San Diego's Breitbard Hall of Fame.
18.
In 1987, Doug Wilkerson came out of retirement, signing and playing for the Graz Giants of the Austrian Football League.
19.
Doug Wilkerson was the Giants' first NFL player and helped them win the Austrian Bowl for the league championship.
20.
Doug Wilkerson died on February 21,2021, at the age of 73.