Dave Herman obit

David Jon Herman of the Jets has died

 

He was not on the list.

David “Dave” Herman died peacefully at the age of 81 years in Westchester County, NY on October 19, 2022. Dave was born to Richard and Hazel Herman in Bryan, Ohio on September 3, 1941. He was raised on a farm in the town of Edon, Ohio as the second of six siblings. From these humble beginnings, he achieved greatness as a collegiate and professional football player for the Michigan State Spartans and the New York Jets, respectively. The pinnacle of his decade-long professional athletic career was a victory in Super Bowl III during which he started as right tackle, moving from his regular role of right guard. His time in the NFL brought him to Valhalla, NY, where he lived happily for his entire life. Though a fierce competitor on the field, at heart, Dave was a gentle man whose greatest joys were the times spent at his home with his family. He took great pride in his responsibilities as a husband and father and worked tirelessly to provide a truly wonderful life for his wife and children. It is from their father that his children learned how to achieve their own successes. Whether as a literal coach of one of their teams or as a fan providing support from the stands, Dave was always cheering them on. Regardless of the circumstances, to Dave, it was important that as he gave them the tools to forge their own paths because, as he was fond of saying, “you never know when your Super Bowl will be”. Dave married his wife Roma on November 30, 1980. She was the love of his life and remained by his side until his passing. Their marriage was one of true commitment to one another, and in 42 years they were very rarely apart, choosing to spend nearly all their time together. It is with the utmost love and admiration that Roma lays her husband to rest, and she respectfully requests her privacy at this time. Dave is survived by Roma, as well as by his four children, Rick, Sandy, David, and Mark, as well as four of his siblings, Tom, Nancy, Sandy, and Jeff. Dave was also a proud grandfather to five grandchildren, Ricky, Katlyn, Anna, Jon, and Mercy. He joins his parents, Richard and Hazel, as well as his older brother Dick in his passing. Dave will be remembered by his family as a hero.

Herman was born in Bryan, Ohio, on September 3, 1941. He was raised on a chicken farm in nearby Edon, Ohio, where he attended Edon High School. He then studied at Michigan State University, where he played football for the Spartans. He was selected by the New York Giants in the eighth round (110th overall) of the 1963 NFL Draft, but did not sign. He was also selected by the New York Jets in the 27th round (211th overall) of the 1964 AFL draft. He later revealed that he chose the Jets because they offered him $100 more than the Giants.

During his 1964 rookie season, Herman played in five games, but missed the rest of the year due to an ankle injury. From 1965 to 1968, he started all 14 of the Jets' regular season games. He was named to the AFL All-Star team in 1968 and 1969.

Herman was the starting right guard for the franchise during the 1968 season. His fellow starting offensive linemen that year included left tackle Winston Hill, left guard Randy Rasmussen, center John Schmidt, and right tackle Sam Walton. In preparation for Super Bowl III, Jets coach Weeb Ewbank moved Herman from right guard to right tackle to defend against Baltimore Colts' defensive lineman Bubba Smith. Bob Talamini replaced Herman at right guard and Sam Walton, a rookie, was benched. Herman's ability to neutralize the pass rush of Bubba Smith enabled Joe Namath to enjoy a solid game passing, hitting on 17 of 28 passes. It also helped open the running lanes for Jet fullback Matt Snell, who rushed for 121 yards as the Jets beat the heavily-favored Baltimore Colts 16–7.

The AFL merged with the NFL before the 1970 season.  Herman again started all 14 games for the Jets in 1970 and 1971. He announced his retirement in April 1974.

After retiring from professional football, Herman was employed as an account executive for Blair Television Company. He also worked in radio sports programming, partnering with Marty Glickman to announce Jets games on WOR Radio Network from 1974 to 1978. He later became a financial planner in New York City.

Herman was diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy in 2014. He died on October 19, 2022, in Valhalla, Westchester County, New York. He was 81 years old.

Career information

College: Michigan State

NFL Draft:            1963 / Round: 8 / Pick: 110

AFL Draft:            1963 / Round: 27 / Pick: 211

Career history

    New York Jets (1964–1973)

Career highlights and awards

    Super Bowl champion (III)

    AFL champion (1968)

    2× AFL All-Star (1968, 1969)

3× All-AFL (1967, 1968, 1969)