Early years

Howard attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School. He accepted a scholarship from Oregon State University and was a starter as a freshman at linebacker, but decided to transfer to Long Beach State at the end of the season.

He was named the starter at middle linebacker as a sophomore. As a senior he registered 89 tackles (51 solo), 6 tackles for loss and 2 fumble recoveries. He finished his career with 242 tackles, 17 sacks, 6 interceptions and 16 passes defensed.

In 1998, he was inducted into the Long Beach State Hall of Fame.

Professional career

Los Angeles Express (USFL)

Howard was selected in the 1984 USFL Territorial Draft by the Los Angeles Express. He was a starter the two years he played for the team.

Minnesota Vikings

He was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the third round of the 1984 NFL Supplemental Draft of USFL and CFL Players. In 1985, he replaced an injured Scott Studwell and received 4 starts after the twelfth game of the season. The next year he was named the starter at right outside linebacker and registered 88 tackles (55 solo) despite missing three games with a hyper-extended right elbow.

In 1987, he played in 10 games (7 starts) after missing four games with a sprained ankle and recorded 33 tackles (24 solo), 2 passes defensed and an interception. The next year he started in all the games, finishing with 46 tackles (31 solo), 3 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.

On October 12, 1989, he was sent to the Dallas Cowboys as part of the Herschel Walker trade.

Dallas Cowboys

In 1989, his playing time was limited because there were conditional draft picks attached to the Vikings traded players and the Dallas Cowboys wanted the selections instead of keeping Howard and the others. Head coach Jimmy Johnson eventually had second thoughts on the February 1 deadline and traded three future draft choices (third-round and tenth-round in 1990 and a third-round in 1991) to the Vikings for the right to retain the original full package of draft choices, plus Howard, Issiac Holt and Jesse Solomon.

On April 19, 1991, after not having any starts during his time with the Cowboys, he was traded to the New England Patriots along with linebacker Eugene Lockhart, cornerback Ron Francis, a 1991 first round pick (#11 Pat Harlow), and a 1991 second round pick (#41 Jerome Henderson), in exchange for the first overall draft pick of the 1991 NFL Draft (Russell Maryland).

New England Patriots

In 1991, he played in all 16 games (5 starts) at right outside linebacker, registering 60 tackles (40 solo), 3 passes defensed and one sack. The next year he played in 16 games (10 starts), finishing with 78 tackles (59 solo), 3 forced fumbles and 2 special teams tackles. He was released on July 24, 1993, after having a difference of opinion about his sprained toe with new head coach Bill Parcells.

Personal life

Howard owns a restaurant named David Howard's Seafood Cafe in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]