CARD: Hartford Colonials Team Set 2010 ACQUIRED: 2021, Future Considerations
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Dahna Deleston played S for Connecticut from 2005-’08.
In his Junior campaign he tallied 103 combined tackles, 2 tackles for loss 1.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble and an interception.
He then posted 60 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions and a forced fumble in 2008.
In Dahna’s final game, the 2009 International Bowl he intercepted a pass from Drew Wily late in the 4th quarter that he returned a school and game record 100 yards for a TD.
After the season he participated in the Texas versus The Nation All-Star Game.
He’d go undrafted and see time in the camp of the Chicago Bears in 2009 but not make the final roster.
Played with the Hartford Colonials of the original UFL in 2010.
When the team was folded before the 2011 season, Dahna was not resigned.
NOTES:
A nice little bonus card that I received when I picked up that huge influx of Frankfurt Galaxy cards and autographs- it was a nice little slice of history learning about Dahna.
Harold Jackson played college ball at Jackson State from 1964-68.
Not only was a prolific WR, but also a speedy track man, setting a record 9.3 second 100 yard dash at the school.
Led the SWAC in receiving in both 1965 (46 catches for 612 yards and 11 TDs), and in 1966 (56 catches for 878 yards and 8 TDs).
12th round pick of the Los Angeles Rams in 1968.
After appearing in just 2 games his rookie season, was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Led the league in receiving yards in ’69 with 1,116.
In 1972, led the NFL in both catches (62) and yards (1,048).
Harold was traded back to the Rams in 1973 for Roman Gabriel.
On 40 catches, he had a league leading 13 TDs.
Was traded to the New England Patriots in 1978.
In 1979, posted 1,013 yards receiving and a career high 22.5 yards per reception.
Played briefly in 1982 for the Vikings, and rounded out career in ’83 with the Seahawks.
Suited up during the Players Strike in ’87 for the Patriots, but didn’t play.
Has a long and prolific coaching career at a variety of pro, semi-rpo and college levels, as a positional and head coach.
Among his pro stops were with the Patriots (85-89), New Orleans Night (1991), Bucs (1992-93), Saints (1997-99), Hartford Colonials (2011), and Sacramento Mountain Lions (2012).
In 2014, Harold served as head coach for his Alma Mater Jackson State from 2014-15.
ACCOLADES:
AP 1973
2nd Team AP 1972, ’77
Pro Bowl 1969, ’72-73, ’75, ’77
Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame
NOTES:
I’ve never had anyone personalize my cards in quotations- but okay.
Despite finishing near the top of the statistical receiving charts at the time of his career- spanning 3 eras from the 60s to the 80s, Harold has not been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Whether it’s a combination of the infamous logger jam at receiver, or the fact his stats just don’t stand out as much because it was during the dead ball era, Harold is still waiting to hear his name called.
It’s interesting, cracking down on Harold’s stats, that he has such a high yards per reception (17.9 on 579 catches), but his longest catch is just 79 yards.
Great cards- Always love the Topps 71 set. It’s classy, and it’s grown on me over the years specifically. It’s still a casual collect for me, but among Topps sets it’s one of my favorites.
After I had received my autographs from Tim mangled in the mail back in 2012-ish, I decided to give him another shot in 2022. He still had quite a few cards that I had wanted to get signed, and some great set needs that appeared after the fact.
Although his Action Packed 1992 was not a set need, it’s a beautiful action shot of him playing with his notable reckless abandon, amazingly after his broken leg in Super Bowl XXIII left him with a metal rod down his leg. There’s a lot of great detail in the photo, with even a ‘waterboy’s’ face slightly out of focus- but watching in awe alongside a Bengals player.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
