Arizona Cardinals: Former blocker Conrad Dobler is dead at age of 72

Another member of the Arizona Cardinals family was lost when former offensive lineman Conrad Dobler died this past Monday. 

Many fans of the Arizona Cardinals are unaware of the great players that existed before the franchise moved to the desert back in 1988. Unfortunately, the Cards family lost another one of it’s favorite sons this past Monday.

Just one day after Super Bowl LVII was played, former Redbirds offensive lineman Conrad Dobler passed away at the age of 72. The three-time Pro Bowl guard was a member of the Cardinals from 1972-77, back when the team resided in St. Louis. No cause of death has been given for Dobler at the time of this writing.

Dobler started at right guard for a Cards line that included the likes of Dan Dierdorf, Tom Banks, Bob Young, Roger Finnie and Ernie McMillan. The 6 foot 3, 254 pounder was a part of the outstanding group that allowed just eight sacks of quarterback Jim Hart back in 1975.

Arizona Cardinals franchise once employed one of the NFL’s dirtiest players 

While with the Cardinals, Dobler earned a reputation as the dirtiest player in the National Football League. It was a distinction that landed him on the cover of Sports Illustrated back in 1977.

According to his Wikipedia page, Dobler once punched Joe Greene, spat on an injured Bill Bergey and kicked Merlin Olsen in the head. The Chicago native also admitted that he would hit defensive lineman in the solar plexus when they would raise their hands to knock down a pass.

Dobler was a fifth-round draft pick of the Cards back in ’72. The tenacious blocker played his college ball at the University of Wyoming, and was the 110th-overall selection.

St. Louis traded Dobler to the New Orleans Saints in 1978, where he would remain for two seasons. He played the final two campaigns of his professional career with the Buffalo Bills, before announcing his retirement from football in 1981.

Want your voice heard? Join the Raising Zona team!

Write for us!