1964 Profile: Dick Lynch

Cornerback
No. 22
Notre Dame
"Recognized as an All-NFL cornerback on defense, Dick Lynch hopes to gain that honor again this season. Now in his sixth season, he's the top man in a tough Giant secondary. Last season he led the NFL with nine interceptions for a total of 251 yards and a record three touchdowns. The old record of two TDs had been shared by 25 players.
Born April 29, 1936, he was a star offensive halfback at Notre Dame before the Redskins drafted him No. 6 in 1958. Dick came to the Giants a year later and has starred ever since."

-Dave Anderson, Pro Football Handbook 1964

"A bit of daring, long study of offensive formations and a knowledge of the strategy of most of the receivers he's required to defend against have made Dick Lynch an All-NFL corner man and a record-breaker on interceptions. Securing nine enemy forwards in '63, he returned them for a top total of 251 yards and an unprecedented three touchdowns.
Dick was born in Oceanside, New York."

-Don Schiffer, Pro Football 1964

" 'I get a real thrill out of seeing some quarterback like Johnny Unitas fading back waiting to throw a pass but not being able to let the ball go because I've got his receiver covered,' says defensive halfback Dick Lynch of the New York Giants. Lynch isn't boasting. He's just confident.
'Of course,' he adds in the next breath, 'I get beat, too. But that's part of the game. Nobody's gonna keep guys like Buddy Dial and Sonny Randle from catching a few.'
That's about all they catch against Lynch - a few. In 1961 Lynch only allowed an average of 1.6 passes per game to be completed in his sector. On the other hand, when it comes to interceptions, the 6'1", 200-pounder has few equals in the NFL. He's led the league twice in this department - 1961 and '63 - grabbing nine passes from the outstretched hands of opponents in each season.
But Lynch brushes aside his talent at intercepting passes.
'You don't get them yourself, the boys in the line make them for you by blitzing the quarterback,' he says.
Born April 29, 1936 in Oceanside, New York, Lynch attended high school in New Jersey and then went on to Notre Dame where he won letters in football, boxing and baseball. Dick played on both offense and defense for the Fighting Irish and scored the touchdown that beat Oklahoma, 7-0, in 1957, ending the Sooners' 47-game winning streak.
Drafted by the Washington Redskins in 1958, the corner back was traded to the Giants the following year.
Says New York coach Allie Sherman: 'Dick is maturing. He now has the experience and right mental attitude to go with his natural physical abilities.'
Last year Lynch set an NFL record by returning three of his interceptions for touchdowns. But does Dick miss the chance to play on offense?
'Not when I look at these 280-pound defensive linemen in pro ball,' he admits."

-Bill Wise, 1964 Official Pro Football Almanac

"When it comes to picking off enemy passes, Dick seems to have his own built-in radar system. The former Irish star was the NFL's co-champion in interceptions last season as he and the Chicago Bears' Roosevelt Taylor each grabbed nine. Lynch, however, picked up 251 yards on returns and ran back three for TDs, both loop highs for the campaign. Incidentally, those three TDs set an NFL mark. Dick's longest journey was for 82 yards. Lynch also led the league in 1961 with nine interceptions, swiping five in 1962. He came to the Giants from the Washington Redskins in the spring of 1959 in exchange for a fourth draft choice. Dick had originally been picked sixth by the Skin's for 1958."

-Complete Sports 1964 New York Giants