Daniel Richard Ross (February 9, 1957 – May 16, 2006) was an American professional football player who was a tight end in the National Football League (NFL) for the Cincinnati Bengals (1979–1983, 1985), Seattle Seahawks (1985), and Green Bay Packers (1986). He also played for the New Orleans/Portland Breakers of the United States Football League (USFL) from 1984 to 1985. Early life Ross attended Everett High School in Everett, Massachusetts where, as a tight end, he starred on the football team. College career Ross played college football at Northeastern University in Boston from 1975 to 1978. He was named first-team selection on the College Football All-America Team in his senior year of 1978 while serving as team captain. He also earned the Bulger Lowe Award as the outstanding player in New England and the Harry Agganis Award as New England's outstanding senior. Ross left Northeastern as the Huskies' all-time leader in receptions (153), receiving touchdowns (13) and receiving yards (2,343). He also set the single-season records for those categories as well, with 68 receptions for 988 yards and seven touchdowns in his senior season. After his senior year, Northeastern retired jersey No. 84 in his honor. NFL career After graduating college in 1979, he was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals with the 30th pick in the second round of the 1979 NFL Draft. Ross' best season was in 1981, when he totaled 71 receptions for 910 yards and five touchdowns, helping lead the Bengals to Super Bowl XVI. His 71 receptions were a single-season franchise record, and would remain so until Carl Pickens had 99 in 1995. Ross had an outstanding performance in the Super Bowl, with a record 11 receptions for 104 yards and two touchdowns. His receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns were all the most by a tight end in Super Bowl history. However, the Bengals lost to the San Francisco 49ers, 26–21, preventing Ross from being the likely winner of the Super Bowl MVP award and first tight end to ever receive it. In addition to his impressive Super Bowl performance, Ross was the Bengals' leading receiver in both playoff wins that year, with six receptions for 71 yards in their 28-21 win over the Buffalo Bills and five receptions for 69 yards in their AFC title win over the San Diego Chargers, a game known as the Freezer Bowl and the coldest game ever played