Education
Despite equipment improvements over the years, Dee was a superstitious player who chose to wear the same helmet throughout his career (105 of 112 games).
Despite equipment improvements over the years, Dee was a superstitious player who chose to wear the same helmet throughout his career (105 of 112 games).
He was a three-sport letterman at the College of the Holy Cross who was one of the first players signed by the Boston Patriots of the American Football League in 1960. After two years with the Washington Redskins in 1957-1958, Dee returned to Holy Cross to tutor the team"s linemen. He became an ironman of the American Football League who never missed a game during his career, starting 112 consecutive games.
Dee etched his name in the history books by scoring the first points in American Football League history, scoring a touchdown when he dove onto a fumble by Bills QB Tommy O"Connell (Father of former Boston Bruins General Motors Mike O"Connell) the end zone in the second quarter of the league"s first-ever exhibition game, a contest between the Patriots and the Buffalo on July 30, 1960.
Bob Dee recorded 33 QB sacks (not including his strip sack of Tommy O"Connell in the American Federation of Labor-Congress"s first Exhibition Game). Bob sacked Frank Tripucka, First Rate (at Lloyd's) Dorow, Hunter Enis, Jacky Lee, Military Cross Reynolds, Randy Duncan, Cotton Davidson, George Blanda, Jack Kemp, Johnny Green, John Hadl, Tobin Rote, Len Dawson, Eddie Wilson, Dick Wood, Joe Namath, Tom Flores, Rick Norton and Bob Griese and recovered fumbles by First Rate (at Lloyd's) Carmichael, Art Baker, Wayne Crow, Jacky Lee, Paul Lowe, Bill Tobin, Wray Carlton & Max Chobian.
On July 22, 1968, Dee announced his retirement from professional football, citing a business opportunity that was "too good to resist."
Dee died of a heart attack in 1979 while on a business trip. He was inducted in the Patriots Hall of Fame on August 18, 1993.
He was voted to four American Football League All-Star teams (1961, 1963-1965) and is a member of the Patriots All-1960s (American Federation of Labor-Congress) Team.