Role American football player Name Dave Pureifory | College Eastern Michigan Positions Defensive end | |
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Date of birth (1949-07-12)July 12, 1949 Date of death March 5, 2009(2009-03-05) (aged 59) NFL draft 1972 / Round: 6 / Pick: 142 Died March 5, 2009, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States Education Eastern Michigan University | ||
Place of birth Pensacola, Florida Place of death Ann Arbor, Michigan | ||
Dave Pureifory (July 12, 1949 – March 5, 2009) was a professional American football defensive end for three teams in an eleven-year career in the National Football League.
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Early life
Pureifory was born in Pensacola, Florida and grew up in Ecorse, Michigan. Following his graduation from Ecorse High School in 1968, he attended college at Eastern Michigan University where he played football.
Football career
He was drafted in the 6th round of the 1972 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers, where he played primarily in a backup role as defensive tackle. While he was known for his play on defense, for two games in 1975 he was called upon to fill-in for injured Kicker Chester Marcol. In four extra point attempts, Pureifory was successful twice;.
The Packers traded Pureifory to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a fifth-round selection in a draft day trade in 1978. The Steelers subsequent moved him to the New England Patriots for their 1979 sixth-round pick. The Patriots released him prior to the 1978 season. He was picked up by the Cincinnati Bengals, but went to the Detroit Lions mid-season as a free agent. It was in Detroit where he saw his greatest success, starting every game he played there, and winning Detroit's Most Valuable Defensive Player honors in 1980. While having one of his best seasons in 1982, Pureifory sustained leg injuries that ended his NFL career. Nonetheless, he later played with the Michigan Panthers and Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League.
Post-football career
In 1981 Purifory was elected to Eastern Michigan’s Athletic Hall of Fame. He died March 5, 2009 in Ypsilanti, Michigan, from pancreatic cancer at the age of 59.