Honestly, if you ask most people under the age of 50 who Fred Dryer is, they’ll probably picture a gritty 1980s TV detective holding a .44 Magnum. They know Rick Hunter. They know the catchphrase "Works for me." But long before he was a staple of NBC’s primetime lineup, Fred Dryer football player was a terrifying, 6-foot-6 defensive end who essentially broke the NFL’s stat book in ways we still don't see today.
He wasn't your typical "grunt" in the trenches. Dryer was lean—almost too lean for the era—and played with a sort of frantic, high-speed intelligence.
The Record That Literally Nobody Has Broken
There is one specific reason Fred Dryer’s name is etched into NFL history with a permanent marker. On October 21, 1973, while playing for the Los Angeles Rams against the Green Bay Packers, Dryer did something that sounds like a glitch in a video game.
He recorded two safeties in a single game.
Not just in one season. Not just in a career. In one game. In the fourth quarter.
Basically, the Packers were backed up near their own goal line. Dryer blew past the offensive line and dumped Green Bay quarterback Scott Hunter in the end zone. Two points. A few minutes later, the Packers were stuck deep again. This time, they’d swapped quarterbacks to Jim Del Gaizo. It didn't matter. Dryer hunted him down too. Another safety.
To this day, he is the only player in the history of the National Football League to pull that off. It’s one of those weird, untouchable records like Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game. Every time a defensive player gets a safety today, the broadcasters have to dust off Dryer’s name.
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Why the New York Giants Let a Star Walk
Dryer didn't start in L.A., though he’s often remembered as a "West Coast guy." He was actually a first-round draft pick for the New York Giants back in 1969.
He was productive immediately. In his three seasons with the G-Men, he led the team in sacks every single year. You have to remember, the NFL didn't even track sacks as an official stat back then (that didn't happen until 1982), but team historians have gone back and done the math. Dryer was a beast in New York, racking up 8.5 sacks as a rookie and 12 the following year.
So why did they trade him?
Contract disputes. It’s the same old story. Dryer was a free spirit, and the Giants' management at the time was... let's just say "traditional." He ended up being traded to the New England Patriots, but he basically refused to play there. He wanted to be back in California where he grew up. He eventually forced his way to the Rams, and that's where the legend really took off.
The "Skinny" Defensive End Secret
One of the funniest things about Fred Dryer's career is the "armpit weight" story. It’s a classic bit of NFL lore that John Madden—who actually recruited Dryer to San Diego State—used to tell.
Dryer was naturally thin for a defensive end. He usually played at around 225 or 230 pounds, which is tiny compared to the 300-pound monsters we see now. The Rams wanted him heavier. To keep the coaches off his back during weigh-ins, Dryer would reportedly hide five-pound weights under his armpits or in his pockets just to hit the "official" team weight of 240.
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He didn't need the bulk. He used speed and a "hurtling, slashing" style to get around tackles who were much heavier than him.
The Jack Youngblood Partnership
When you talk about the 1970s Los Angeles Rams, you're talking about one of the most dominant defensive fronts ever assembled. Dryer played opposite Jack Youngblood.
In 1974, the duo was unstoppable. They actually co-led the league in sacks with 15 each. Think about that for a second. You have two guys on the same line both leading the league. It made the Rams a perennial playoff contender, leading them all the way to Super Bowl XIV against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Dryer didn't get his ring—the Steelers' "Steel Curtain" was just a bit too much in the fourth quarter—but his impact on that era of Rams football was massive.
Transitioning From the Gridiron to the Screen
Most athletes who try to act are, frankly, terrible. They get a cameo in a sitcom and look like they’re reading a grocery list.
Dryer was different.
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He had this natural, dry charisma. After he retired in 1981, he didn't just fade away. He started as a color commentator for CBS, but then he landed a guest spot on Cheers as Dave Richards, an old teammate of Sam Malone. He was so good that he was actually one of the finalists to play Sam Malone before Ted Danson got the part.
When Hunter premiered in 1984, it wasn't just a "football player trying to act." It was a legitimate hit that ran for seven seasons. He eventually even started producing and directing the show.
What You Can Learn From Fred Dryer's Career
Dryer's life is a masterclass in two things: specialization and reinvention.
On the field, he knew he couldn't out-muscle the giants, so he out-sprinted them. He found a niche—the speed rusher—before it was a common term. Off the field, he didn't let his identity end when he hung up the cleats.
If you're looking to dive deeper into his legacy, here are a few things you can actually do:
- Watch the 1973 "Safety Game": You can find highlights of the Rams vs. Packers game on various classic NFL archives. It’s a lesson in pure defensive persistence.
- Check the Sack Analytics: Since the NFL didn't track sacks officially during his career, look up the "unofficial" sack leaders on Pro Football Reference. You'll see Dryer consistently ranked among the elite of the 70s.
- Observe the Technique: If you're a student of the game, watch how Dryer used his hands. He was one of the early masters of the "swim" move, using his long arms to keep blockers from getting into his chest.
Fred Dryer remains a rare breed: an NFL record-holder who became a household name for something entirely different. Whether he was chasing down quarterbacks or chasing down TV villains, he did it with a style that was uniquely his own.