The Arizona Cardinals announced on Monday that former guard Conrad Dobler has died at the age of 72.
Dobler was infamously considered as the league’s dirtiest player during his time, a reputation he did not deny, telling Sports Illustrated in a 1977 interview, “I’ll do anything I can get away with to defend my quarterback.”
Dobler, a fifth-round pick of the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1972 NFL Draft, played the game his way, garnering three Pro Bowl honors in his ten NFL seasons, which included stints with the Cardinals, New Orleans Saints and Buffalo Bills.
“Our sympathies go out to Conrad Dobler’s family, friends, and former teammates,” Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill said in a statement. “He was the type of tough, physical, and fierce player who you loved to line up with as a teammate but hated to line up against as an opponent. On the field, Conrad contributed significantly to the success of the 1970s Cardiac Cards. Away from it, he gave genuine joy and caring to everyone who had the opportunity to be his friend, and that is what I will remember most.
Over the course of Dobler’s career, he spent his first six seasons with the Cardinals. Dobler and Hall of Fame offensive lineman Dan Dierdorf helped lead one the league’s top offensive lines. The duo allowed only eight sacks in 1975 and a league-low 40 sacks between 1975 and 1977. The Cardinals guard played for Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Don Coryell, who was just selected into the exclusive group this past week. Dobler and Coryell won NFC East division titles in 1974 and 1975.Dobler played two seasons for the Saints (1978-79) and two more for the Bills before retiring following the 1981 season.
