Dick Lynch
Sport: Football
Born: April 29, 1936
Died: September 24, 2008
Town: Bound Brook
Richard Dennis Lynch was born April 29, 1936 in Oceanside, NY and grew up in Bound Brook. Fast, smart and tough, he excelled in football and boxing and was the star of the football squad at Phillipsburg Catholic High in Clinton. A standout running back and linebacker, Dick was also a fine pass-catcher and kick returner. He attracted attention from several major colleges and accepted a scholarship to Notre Dame.
Dick earned a letter as a sophomore in 1955 and the starting halfback on the 1956 team led by Heisman winner Paul Hornung.
As a senior, Dick was a leader of the Top 10 squad that ended Oklahoma’s 47-game winning streak. Dick was a difference-maker in the game, playing great at linebacker and scoring the only touchdown late in the 4th quarter of a historic 7–0 win. Dick won his final game as a collegian, a 54–21 wipeout of SMU in the Cotton Bowl.
The Washington Redskins drafted Dick with their sixth-round pick in 1958. The ’Skins played him at cornerback as a rookie and he picked off two passes in limited duty. That summer, Washington traded Dick to the New York Giants. He joined Jimmy Patton, Lindon Crow and Dick Nolan in a defensive backfield that helped New York reach the famous championship game against the Colts.
In 1961, Dick led the NFL with 9 interceptions. In 1963 he led the league with 9 again, returning three for touchdowns. Dick was named a First-Team All-Pro and played in his one and only Pro Bowl. The 1963 season was the team’s last good one for many years. As age and injuries caught up with the team’s stars, Dick was one of the few veteran holdovers. He played through the 1966 season and retired with 37 career interceptions.
As popular as Dick was on the field, he had even more fans once he moved to the broadcast booth. He mixed color commentary with war stories from the Giants’ glory days. He also had an endearing way of mangling player names.
Dick spent four decades calling Giants games, including all four Super Bowls. His last game was the 2008 Super Bowl win over the Patriots. He was battling leukemia at the time. He passed away the following September at his home in Queens. One of his sons, Richard Jr., had predeceased him in the terror attacks of September 11, 2001.
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