SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — South Dakota has lost one of its legendary football players this week.
Doug Eggers, who grew up in Wagner, played five seasons in the NFL, including along side Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas of the Baltimore Colts.
Eggers died this week at the age of 93.
KELOLAND News sat down with a man who knew Eggers well, because his dad played with him in Baltimore.
Eggers graduated from South Dakota State University 1952, where he was a standout linebacker for the Jackrabbits.
After a stint in the Army, Eggers signed with the Baltimore Colts in January 1954.
He played with Buzz Nutter, who was the center back then. The two became close friends.
KELOLAND News talked with Buzz’s son Brian, who remembers his dad and Eggers hunting in South Dakota.
“The Eggers owned a lot of land in South Dakota and we would go out there every year to go pheasant hunting,” Brian Nutter said. “It was the greatest experience of my life, we had the best times, I probably went for 20 some years.”
Eggers played in 46 games for the Colts. The 6-foot, 213-pound linebacker is credited with four career pass interceptions and eight fumble recoveries.
Nutter says he remembers his dad telling him stories about how tough Eggers was as a linebacker.
“You’d love to meet him in a bar, but I don’t think I’d love to meet him on the football field, because he was hard, he was a man,” Nutter said.
In an interview with Ghosts of 33rd Street, Eggers talked about the year Johnny Unitas joined the team.
“He struggled a little bit the first part of that season that was in ’55,” Eggers said.
But Eggers says Unitas turned it around the following year thanks to another legendary quarterback, Otto Graham.
“Otto Graham gave him tips like put air under the ball, keep the receiver running and he passed on his knowledge to John,” Eggers said.
After pro football, Eggers went on to own an equipment company, but those who played football with him say he was a like a wrecking machine.
“He was tough as nails, because that was the way he was brought up, you know they were farmers and had a tough life and it just made them hard people, but he was a super gentleman, super,” Nutter said.
After playing with the Colts, Eggers went onto play with the Chicago Cardinals for a short time.
