Michael Francis Dukes (March 16, 1936 – June 16, 2008) was an American collegiate and professional football player who was best known as a linebacker for the original Houston Oilers. Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Dukes attended Southwest DeKalb High School in Decatur, Georgia and then played in college for Clemson University. He then played the 1959 season for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League.[1][2] Dukes left the NFL for the upstart American Football League where he played eleven seasons for the Oilers, Boston Patriots and New York Jets. He played for the first two championship teams of the American Football League, the 1960 and 1961 Oilers, and was selected to the UPI All-AFL Team in 1961.
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Personal information | |
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Born: | (1936-03-16)March 16, 1936 Louisville, Kentucky |
Died: | June 16, 2008(2008-06-16) (aged 72) Beaumont, Texas |
Career information | |
High school: | Decatur (GA) Southwest DeKalb |
College: | Clemson |
Position: | Linebacker |
NFL Draft: | 1959 / Round: 14 / Pick: 162 |
Career history | |
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Career highlights and awards | |
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Player stats at PFR | |
Dukes died in an automobile accident on Interstate 10 in Beaumont, Texas on June 16, 2008, at age 72.[3]
His interment was at Oak Bluff Memorial Park in Port Neches.
San Francisco 49ers 1959 NFL draft selections | |
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Houston Oilers 1960 AFL champions (inaugural season roster) | |
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Houston Oilers 1961 AFL champions | |
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