Former Cowboys receiver Lance Rentzel dies at 82
Lance Rentzel, who played nine NFL seasons after being drafted in 1965, died Sunday at age 82. He recorded 2,985 receiving yards and 26 touchdowns during three seasons with the Cowboys.
nypost.comFormer Cowboys receiver Lance Rentzel died Sunday at age 82. The former Oklahoma standout was drafted 23rd overall in 1965 by the Vikings and played two seasons in Minnesota. His first season was spent as a punt returner, during which he set the then-record for the longest punt return at 101 yards.
His second season was cut short by an ankle injury and off-the-field issues. During that season, he drove to a playground in St. , where he exposed himself to two younger girls. Rentzel pleaded guilty to a reduced disorderly conduct charge and promised to receive psychiatric care, avoiding jail time.
The team traded him to the Dallas Cowboys for a third-round pick. With the Cowboys, Rentzel recorded 2,985 receiving yards and 26 touchdowns over three seasons. His best season came in 1969, when he led the league in yards per catch and touchdowns while compiling 960 yards.
In 1970, he was arrested after exposing himself to a 10-year-old girl in University Park, Texas. He received five years’ probation and mandatory psychiatric care. His wife divorced him after the arrest, and he was traded to the Rams.
He retired from the NFL in 1975 after nine seasons and later moved to Virginia, where he worked in computers until his death.
