Robert Newhouse

American football player (1950–2014)
the Anglican priest

Robert Fulton Newhouse (January 9, 1950 – July 22, 2014) was an American professional football player who was a fullback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys for twelve seasons. He played college football for the Houston Cougars.

Newhouse was selected 35th overall in the second round of the 1972 NFL draft by the Dallas Cowboys. Steelers assistant personnel director Bill Nunn and head coach Chuck Noll both had preferred him over Franco Harris, but Pittsburgh picked the latter 13th overall in the first round. Although he had the ability to play running back, he unselfishly made the switch to fullback in order to help the team as a rookie. In 1975 he was named the regular starter at fullback, replacing the retired Walt Garrison. Considered small for his position, he played bigger than his size. Newhouse was built very low to the ground and had enormous leg strength. He thrived on second effort, picking up the nicknames The House and The Human Bowling Ball. Newhouse was tough to bring down, "like trying to tackle a fire hydrant," at and , with arguably the largest thighs in the NFL ( in circumference together). Newhouse was also effective as the primary running back and led the Cowboys in rushing in 1975 with 930 yards, eventually running his way through 4,784 rushing yards, 956 receiving yards and 31 touchdowns during his notable career. His longest run from scrimmage as a professional was a 54 yard gain against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1973. While Newhouse was on the team, the Cowboys went to three Super Bowls, winning Super Bowl XII against the Denver Broncos in 1977. His most notable career highlight and Super Bowl moment was the 29 yard touchdown pass he threw (going to his left) to Golden Richards in Super Bowl XII. Newhouse played sparingly, backing up Ron Springs during his last three seasons. He retired at the end of the 1983 season, as the fourth all time leading rusher in team history, after playing for 12 years. Newhouse was inducted into the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame.

Year Team Games Rushing Receiving GP GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD 1972 DAL 14 0 28 116 4.1 19 1 1 8 8.0 8 0 1973 DAL 14 6 84 436 5.2 54 1 9 87 9.7 38 1 1974 DAL 14 2 124 501 4.0 23 3 9 67 7.4 21 0 1975 DAL 14 13 209 930 4.4 29 2 34 275 8.1 23 0 1976 DAL 14 7 116 450 3.9 24 3 15 86 5.7 16 0 1977 DAL 14 14 180 721 4.0 29 3 16 106 6.6 41 1 1978 DAL 13 12 140 584 4.2 24 8 20 176 8.8 24 2 1979 DAL 14 11 124 449 3.6 21 3 7 55 7.9 21 1 1980 DAL 16 10 118 451 3.8 29 6 8 75 9.4 18 0 1981 DAL 16 0 14 33 2.4 6 0 1 21 21.0 21 0 1982 DAL 9 0 14 79 5.6 27 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 1983 DAL 16 0 9 34 3.8 8 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 168 75 1,160 4,784 4.1 54 31 120 956 8.0 41 5

Year Team Games Rushing Receiving GP GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD 1972 DAL 2 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 1973 DAL 2 1 20 55 2.8 19 0 1 4 4.0 0 0 1975 DAL 3 3 44 153 3.5 16 0 4 37 9.3 14 0 1976 DAL 1 1 9 25 2.8 6 0 2 19 9.5 14 0 1977 DAL 3 3 45 216 4.8 19 1 6 17 2.8 13 0 1978 DAL 2 1 9 7 0.8 5 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 1979 DAL 1 0 7 21 3.0 6 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 1980 DAL 3 3 24 121 5.0 18 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 1981 DAL 2 0 4 23 5.8 13 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 1982 DAL 3 1 12 30 2.5 5 1 1 11 11.0 11 0 1983 DAL 1 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 23 13 174 651 3.7 19 3 14 80 5.7 14 0

Newhouse married wife Nancy and together they had four children, including twin daughters. His youngest son Reggie Newhouse played for the Arizona Cardinals in 2004 and 2005. After his football playing career was over, he spent several years with the Dallas Cowboys working in the player relations department. His health started declining after suffering a heart stroke in 2010. Unable to get strong enough for a heart transplant procedure, on July 22, 2014, he died at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota of heart disease.