Chris Doleman trivia: 31 facts about the American football player

Chris Doleman was an American football defensive end player. He is member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2012.

He died at the age of 58. So let’s dive into some trivia and facts his life and career.

1. His full name was Christopher John Doleman
2. He was born on October 16, 1961
3. He died on January 28, 2020
4. He was an American football defensive end
5. He spent the majority of his career with the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL)
6. Doleman also played for the Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers
7. He was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection
8. And a three-time First-team All-Pro, recording 150.5 career sacks
9. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2012
10. Doleman attended William Penn Senior High School in York, Pennsylvania
11. He graduated in 1980
12. He spent a postgraduate year at Valley Forge Military Academy in 1981
13. Doleman played football collegiately at the University of Pittsburgh
14. He was a star linebacker and defensive end for the Pitt Panthers from 1981 to 1984
15. He ended his career at Pitt with 25 sacks
16. This was good for third all-time at the time of his departure
17. That total still ranks sixth in the Pitt annals
18. Doleman was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round (4th overall) of the 1985 NFL Draft
19. He began his NFL career as an outside linebacker (OLB) in the Vikings’ 3-4 defense
20. But for the 1987 season (Doleman’s third season) the team decided to switch to a 4-3 defense
21. This resulted in him being moved from his spot at OLB up to the defensive line to play as a defensive end
22. The move paid off for Doleman
23. He recorded 21 sacks in the 1989 season
24. This is the highest total recorded that season and the fourth highest total ever
25. The 21 sacks in a single season was a Vikings record until Jared Allen recorded 22 sacks in 2011
26. Doleman later played for the Atlanta Falcons and the San Francisco 49ers
27. He returned to the Vikings in 1999 for his final season
28. He was a first-team All-Pro in 1987, 1989 and 1992
29. He garnered second-team All-Pro selections in 1990 and 1993
30. On January 25, 2018, Doleman had brain surgery which was later diagnosed as glioblastoma
31. On January 28, 2020, Doleman died from the disease at the age of 58