Richard Dent starred at Murphy High School in Atlanta in the 1970s and became one of the greatest defensive ends of his era. Dent’s impact was recognized on March 27, 2013 when the City of Atlanta recognized “Richard Dent Day” and enshrined him into the “Hometown Hall of Famers.” Dent was recruited by coaching legend John Merritt and earned a scholarship to play at Tennessee State. He finished his TSU career with 158 tackles, 39.5 sacks and six fumble recoveries and was taken by the Chicago Bears in the eighth round of the 1983 NFL Draft. Dent played every game during his rookie season and went on to have a 14-year professional career (1983-97). He led the NFC with 17.5 sacks in 1984 and had double-digit sacks in eight of the next 10 seasons. Dent was the Super Bowl XX MVP, the first former Georgia high school player to earn that distinction, in the Bears’ 46-10 triumph over New England and wrapped up his career as the Bears’ all-time sack leader (124.5). Dent’s career sack tally (137.5) is tied for 10th-most in NFL history. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011, the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Black College Football Hall of Fame in 2015.
