Dean Steinkuhler
Encyclopedia
College career
Steinkuhler attended the University of Nebraska, where he won the Outland TrophyOutland Trophy
The Outland Trophy is awarded to the best United States college football interior lineman by the Football Writers Association of America. It is named after John H. Outland. One of only a few players ever to be named All-America at two positions, Outland garnered consensus All-America honors in...
, given to the nation's top offensive lineman, in 1983. This marked the third consecutive time a Cornhusker
Nebraska Cornhuskers
The Nebraska Cornhuskers is the name given to several sports teams of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The university is a member of the Big Ten Conference...
had won the award as Dave Rimington
Dave Rimington
Dave Brian Rimington is a former American football center. He is considered by many to be the greatest center in the history of college football.-College career:...
had won back to back Outland Trophies in 1981 and 1982. Steinkuhler also won the Lombardi Award
Lombardi Award
The Rotary Lombardi Award is awarded annually to the best college football lineman or linebacker. The Lombardi Award program was approved by the Rotary Club in Houston in 1970 shortly after the death of Vince Lombardi. The committee outlined the criteria for eligibility for the award, which...
in 1983, marking the second consecutive year a Nebraska player had won that award as Rimington had also won the Lombardi in 1982. Nebraska
Nebraska Cornhuskers football
The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A...
is the only team that has had consecutive winners of both of these awards. Steinkuhler is one of eight Nebraska winners of the Outland Trophy and one of five Nebraska winners of the Lombardi Award. Nebraska players have won nine Outland Trophys overall, by far the most in the nation. Oklahoma has the second most with four. He is, along with fellow Nebraska Cornhuskers Rich Glover
Rich Glover
Richard Edward "Richie" Glover is a former professional football player, a defensive tackle for the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL. He played college football at Nebraska under head coach Bob Devaney. Glover played his high school football at Snyder High School in Jersey City, NJ...
, Dave Rimington and Ndamukong Suh
Ndamukong Suh
Ndamukong Suh is an American football defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Lions 2nd overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at Nebraska....
, one of only thirteen players to have won both the Outland Trophy and the Lombardi Award. In 1999 Steinkuhler was selected to the Nebraska All-Century Football Team via fan poll and was named to the All-Century Nebraska football team by Gannett News Service. He is one of only sixteen Cornhuskers to have his jersey (#71) retired by the team.
Steinkuhler is also remembered for being the player who picked up quarterback Turner Gill
Turner Gill
Turner Hillery Gill is an American football coach who most recently served as the head coach at Kansas from 2010-2011, and was one of 11 African-American head coaches in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision at the time of his hiring.-College:Gill graduated from Arlington Heights High...
's intentional fumble in the 1984 Orange Bowl
1984 Orange Bowl
The 1984 Orange Bowl was the 50th annual Orange Bowl Classic, played on January 2, 1984, between the unbeaten Nebraska Cornhuskers and the once-beaten Miami Hurricanes, for the national championship. After leading 31-17 in the fourth quarter, Miami held on for a 31-30 victory...
and ran it 19 yards for a touchdown in a play dubbed the "Fumblerooski
Fumblerooski
In American football, the fumblerooski is a trick play, most famously used by the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers against the University of Miami Hurricanes in the 1984 Orange Bowl. It was invented by John Heisman....
".
Collegiate All-Century Teams
In 1999 Steinkuhler was selected as a third team offensive guard by Sports IllustratedSports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
in their "NCAA Football All-Century Team". The starters were Jim Parker
Jim Parker (American football)
James Thomas "Jim" Parker was a college and professional American football player in the 1950s and '60s. He is a member of the College and Professional Football Halls of Fame.-College career:...
of Ohio State and John Hannah of Alabama, the second team consisted of Bob Suffridge
Bob Suffridge
Robert Lee "Bob" Suffridge was an American football player in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football at the University of Tennessee, where he was later inducted into the school's hall of fame and the College Football Hall of Fame...
of Tennessee and Bill Fischer of Notre Dame and the other third team player was Aaron Taylor of Nebraska. Steinkuhler was one of six Nebraska Cornhuskers on this All-Century Team 85 man roster; the others being Glover, Johnny Rodgers
Johnny Rodgers
Johnny Steven Rodgers is a former American college football player voted the University of Nebraska's "Player of the Century" and the winner of the 1972 Heisman Trophy.-College career:...
, Rimington, Tommie Frazier
Tommie Frazier
Tommie James Frazier, Jr. is a former American football player and coach in the United States. He played quarterback for the Nebraska Cornhuskers....
and Taylor.
In 1999 Steinkuhler was selected as an offensive guard to the Walter Camp Football Foundation
Walter Camp Football Foundation
The Walter Camp Football Foundation is one of the organizations whose College Football All-America Team is recognized by the NCAA. The organization also presents various awards.-Awards:*Walter Camp Player of the Year*CT Player of the Year...
College Football All Century Team. The other offensive guards selected were John Hannah of Alabama, Aaron Taylor of Nebraska, Brad Budde
Brad Budde
Brad Edward Budde is a former American football offensive guard in the National Football League .-College career:...
of USC, Will Shields
Will Shields
Will Herthie Shields is a former American football offensive guard. He attended the University of Nebraska and played his entire NFL career with the Kansas City Chiefs. In his 14 seasons in the NFL, Shields never missed a game...
of Nebraska and Jim Parker of Ohio State. Steinkuhler was one of six Nebraska Cornhuskers selected to this team; the others being Rodgers, Rimington, Shields, Frazier and Taylor.
Steinkuhler is one of 54 players and one of five Cornhuskers named to both the Sports Illustrated and Walter Camp All-Century teams.
Professional career
Steinkuhler was the second overall pick in the 1984 NFL Draft, taken by the Houston Oilers. He was an Oilers co-rookie of the year. He played both offensive guard and offensive tackle with the Oilers after playing solely offensive guard in college. He played eight seasons with the Oilers (some of those alongside fellow former Husker teammate Mike RozierMike Rozier
Michael Rozier is a former American collegiate and professional football running back who won the Heisman Trophy in 1983. He was born in Camden, New Jersey. Mike and his wife, Rochelle, an attorney, reside in South Jersey and together they have one son. Mike has two other children who reside in...
) before retiring in 1991.
Personal
Steinkuhler hailed from Burr, Nebraska, which, according to the 2000 census, has a population of just 66 people. It is thought to be the smallest town to ever produce an All-American. He played eight-man football at nearby Sterling High School. His sons Ty and Baker have both followed in his footsteps; Ty is a graduate defensive tackle and Baker is a redshirt freshman defensive lineman at Nebraska. Baker is the third Steinkuhler to play for Nebraska. Ty and Baker both played at Lincoln Southwest High SchoolLincoln Southwest High School
Lincoln Southwest High School is a public secondary school located in Lincoln, Nebraska, USA and rests on 74 acres adjacent to Wilderness Park. It is part of the Lincoln Public Schools school district. When the school opened its doors in August 2002, it had 1,150 students from grades 9-12, and 77...
and Syracuse-Dunbar-Avoca High School.