Dan Grayson

Danny Ray Grayson (July 27, 1967 – August 1, 2021) was an American professional football linebacker who played one season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the seventh round of the 1990 NFL draft. He played college football at Wenatchee Valley College and Washington State University.

Dan Grayson

Personal information
Born	July 27, 1967 Paris, Texas, U.S.
Died	August 1, 2021(2021-08-01) (aged 54) Kennewick, Washington, U.S.
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight	240 lb (109 kg)
Career information
High school	Woodland (Woodland, Washington)
College	Wenatchee Valley (1986) Washington State (1987–1989)
NFL draft	1990: 7th round, 182nd overall pick
Career history
1990	Pittsburgh Steelers*
1991	San Francisco 49ers*
1992	Saskatchewan Roughriders
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Awards and highlights
First-team All-Pac-10 (1989)

Early life

Danny Ray Grayson was born on July 27, 1967, in Paris, Texas.^[1] He attended Woodland High School in Woodland, Washington.^[1]

College career

Grayson played college football at Wenatchee Valley College in 1986 as a wingback.^[1][2] He then joined the Washington State Cougars of Washington State University as a walk-on in 1987.^[2][1] After Grayson made a "spectacular" forced fumble in spring practice, head coach Dennis Erickson shouted, “Grayson! I’ll tell you what, you’re on scholarship right now!”^[2] Grayson became a starter at middle linebacker in 1988 and was a two-year letterman from 1988 to 1989.^[1][2] He was a first-team All-Pac-10 selection at linebacker his senior year in 1989.^[3]

Professional career

Grayson was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the seventh round, with the 182nd overall pick, of the 1990 NFL draft.^[1] He officially signed with the team on July 11, 1990.^[4] He was waived on August 20, 1990.^[5]

Grayson signed with the San Francisco 49ers on March 18, 1991.^[6] He was waived by the 49ers on August 21, 1991.^[7]

Grayson played in seven games for the with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League in 1992, recording 19 defensive tackles, four special teams tackles, and one sack.^[1]

Personal life

Grayson later worked at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.^[2] He died on August 1, 2021, in Kennewick, Washington at a Quality Inn he had been living at.^[1]

About ten years before his death, Grayson started having behavioral difficulties and also underwent a personality change.^[2] Due to this, Grayson believed he had chronic traumatic encephalopathy from his football career and had his brain donated to science.^[2]