Dave Widell was an American football player who played as a center in the National Football League (NFL) for ten seasons. He was born on December 2, 1963, in San Francisco, California, and attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he played college football for the California Golden Bears.
Widell was selected by the Denver Broncos in the fourth round of the 1985 NFL Draft. He spent his first three seasons with the Broncos, playing in 47 games and starting in 22 of them. In 1988, he signed with the Atlanta Falcons, where he played for four seasons. He started in all 16 games in each of his first three seasons with the Falcons and was named to the Pro Bowl in 1991.
After his stint with the Falcons, Widell played for the Kansas City Chiefs for two seasons, starting in 29 games. He then played for the Oakland Raiders for one season before finishing his career with the Seattle Seahawks in 1997.
Throughout his career, Widell was known for his toughness and durability. He played in 144 games and started in 105 of them. He was also known for his leadership and was often chosen as a team captain.
Widell retired from the NFL after the 1997 season and went on to work as a financial advisor. He also became involved in coaching youth football and was a volunteer coach for the Issaquah Youth Football Association in Washington.
Sadly, Widell passed away on March 11, 2015, at the age of 51. He is remembered as a dedicated and hardworking player who made a significant impact on the teams he played for.
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