Dave Tollefson
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Career Summary
Dave Tollefson is a former NFL defensive end who played 78 regular-season games for the Giants and Raiders.
NFL statistics credit Tollefson with 64 tackles, 10.5 sacks, five passes defensed and three forced fumbles.
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Early Life
Tollefson grew up in California's East Bay and was born in Walnut Creek.
The Giants reported that he grew up with his siblings and mother in the East Bay before his football career.
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High School
Tollefson attended Ygnacio Valley High School in Concord, California.
The Giants reported that he then played two seasons at Los Medanos Community College before continuing his football career.
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College Career
Tollefson played college football at Northwest Missouri State after two community-college seasons.
The NFL player profile identifies Northwest Missouri State as his college, while the Giants described him as a two-time all-conference selection there.
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Path to the NFL
Green Bay selected Tollefson with the 253rd pick in the 2006 NFL Draft.
A Raiders biography traces his subsequent practice-squad and NFL Europe experience before the Giants signed him from Oakland's practice squad in October 2007.
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NFL Career
Tollefson played five seasons with the Giants and one with Oakland.
His highest sack total came in 2011, when he recorded five for the Super Bowl XLVI champion Giants. He then played 15 games for Oakland in 2012.
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Career Accomplishments
Tollefson won Super Bowls XLII and XLVI with the Giants.
The Giants credited him with both championship teams and the Raiders biography recorded his 2011 career highs of five sacks, 21 tackles and one forced fumble.
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Playing Style
Tollefson developed as a versatile defensive lineman and special-teams contributor.
The Giants and Raiders described him as a high-effort role player capable of contributing in the defensive rotation and on special teams.
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Legacy
Tollefson's NFL legacy centers on a late-round path to two Super Bowl championships with the Giants.
After practice-squad stints, he became a six-season NFL contributor whose 2011 production helped a Giants championship defense.
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Post-Career
Tollefson retired as a Giant in 2014 after his final Oakland season.
The Giants reported that he had been out of football in 2013 and chose to retire with the team that gave him most of his NFL opportunities and both Super Bowl rings.
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Sources for this section
21491, 00-0024467, 1982-07-10, Dave Tollefson, David, Tollefson
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