Frank Minnifield
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Position: | Cornerback | ||||||
Personal information | |||||||
Born: | Lexington, Kentucky,U.S. | January 1, 1960||||||
Height: | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||||||
Weight: | 180 lb (82 kg) | ||||||
Career information | |||||||
High school: | Clay(Lexington) | ||||||
College: | Louisville | ||||||
Undrafted: | 1983 | ||||||
Career history | |||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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Frank LyDale Minnifield(born January 1, 1960) is an American former professionalfootballplayer who was adefensive backfor theCleveland Brownsin theNational Football League(NFL) from 1984 to 1992. He playedcollege footballfor theLouisville Cardinals.
High school career
[edit]Minnifield attendedHenry Clay High Schoolin Lexington, Kentucky.
College career
[edit]Considered too small for college football at just 5'9 "and 140 pounds, he walked on to the football team at theUniversity of Louisville,earning a scholarship spot for his final three years. As a junior in 1981, he led the nation in average yards per kickoff return (30.4) and led his team in punt returns.
Professional career
[edit]After graduation in 1982, Minnifield joined theChicago Blitz(later theArizona Wranglers) of theUSFL.He successfully sued the Wranglers for the right to move to theNFL,and signed as a free agent with the Browns in 1984. Minnifield became a fixture at cornerback for Cleveland and was named to thePro Bowlfour straight years from 1986 to 1989. Known for his aggressive bump-and-run coverage and hard hitting style, he was named to theNFL 1980s All-Decade Teamas selected by voters of thePro Football Hall of Fame.He and fellow cornerbackHanford Dixonnamed theDawg Poundcheering section at Cleveland Stadium.[citation needed]
Personal
[edit]Upon retirement, Minnifield founded Minnifield All-Pro Homes, a homebuilding company in Lexington. In 1993, he became the first African American executive named to the LexingtonChamber of CommerceBoard, and as of 2000, he was the only African American home builder in Lexington.[1]
Minnifield's son,Chase,played in the NFL as a cornerback for theWashington Redskins.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"Minnifield, Frank · Notable Kentucky African Americans Database".nkaa.uky.edu.RetrievedOctober 16,2021.