David Marshall Trout (born November 12, 1957) is a former kicker who played professional American football in the National Football League (NFL) for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1981 and 1987. He also played for the Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars of the United States Football League (USFL) from 1983 through 1985, helping the club win back-to-back league titles in 1984 and 1985.

David Trout
No. 1, 5
Position:Placekicker
Personal information
Born: (1957-11-12) November 12, 1957 (age 67)
Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height:5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Weight:165 lb (75 kg)
Career information
High school:Southmoreland (PA)
College:Pittsburgh
Undrafted:1981
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Field goals:12
Field goal attempts:19
Field goal %:63.2
Longest field goal:48
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

edit

While born in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, Trout lived much of his early life in Bolivia where his parents were missionaries. Here he conditioned his leg, playing soccer at the age of 12.[1] Trout would go on to attend Southmoreland High School in Alverton, Pennsylvania. From 1974 until 2024, Trout held the record for the longest field goal in school history at 48 yards.[2] After graduation, he would then attend the University of Pittsburgh where he was a placekicker for the Pittsburgh Panthers from 1977 until 1981.

Professional career

edit

Trout went undrafted in the 1981 NFL Draft. That same year, he signed with his hometown team, the Pittsburgh Steelers. During the 1981 season, Trout appeared in all 16 regular season games as the team's backup kicker, attempting 17 field goals, making 12 of them. He was released by the Steelers after the 1981 season.[3] In 1983 he would sign with the Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars of the USFL, where he was the team's starting kicker until the conclusion of the 1985 season. During his time with the Stars, he kicked for 116 field goal attempts, making 76.[4] In 1987, the Steelers would re-sign Trout where he would appear in three games. He would only make two field goal attempts all season, missing both of them. Trout did, however, make all 10 of his extra point attempts. He was cut by the Steelers after the 1987 season.[5]

Post-retirement

edit

After retiring from football, Trout worked as a missionary, building homes in Florida and then went into Youth Ministry where he was a Youth Pastor at St. Johns church in Turnersville, New Jersey. In 1994, he attended Piedmont College in North Carolina where he received an Airframe and Powerplant license to build and fly aircraft. He then used his degree to become a bush pilot, to bring supplies to the people. To do this Trout would have to fly in and out of Mexico, landing the small planes. The air strips were in mountainous regions and extremely small to land the planes. After leaving the mission, he returned to New Jersey and built houses in the area as a contractor. He now serves in Bolivia where he grew up working with mechanics on airplanes and inspecting.

Career stats

edit
Team Year XPM XPA FGM FGA PTS
Pittsburgh Steelers 1981 38 46 12 17 74
Philadelphia Stars 1983 37 40 28 42 121[6]
Philadelphia Stars 1984 49 53 26 40 127[7]
Baltimore Stars 1985 38 39 22 34 104[8]
Pittsburgh Steelers 1987 10 10 0 2 10

References

edit
  1. ^ https://steelerstakeaways.com/david-trout-steelers-kicker-1981-1987/
  2. ^ https://pafootballnews.com/pfn/protimes-pigskin-parlance-milestones-record-breakers-game-shakers-edition-1/
  3. ^ https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/troutdav01.htm
  4. ^ https://www.usflsite.com/players/David_Trout/p-troutdav001
  5. ^ https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/troutdav01/gamelog/1987/
  6. ^ "1983 USFL Statistics - USFL (United States Football League)". www.usflsite.com.
  7. ^ "1984 USFL Statistics - USFL (United States Football League)". www.usflsite.com.
  8. ^ "1985 USFL Statistics - USFL (United States Football League)". www.usflsite.com.
edit