Dat Nguyen

Dat Nguyen is a Vietnamese-American business owner and former professional football player who was a linebacker for seven seasons with the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). Before the NFL, he played college football for the Texas A&M Aggies, earning unanimous All-American honors and the Bednarik and Lombardi Awards. He finished his career at Texas A&M as the all-time leading tackler. He is the first Vietnamese-American to be drafted, play, and be recognized as an All-Pro in the NFL. In 2017, Nguyen was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

Nguyen went into college with a lot to prove after being labeled "too small" for Division 1. During his time at Texas A&M, Nguyen crushed school records with 51 consecutive starts, 517 career tackles, and 30 double-digit tackle games, and he is the only Aggie ever to lead the school in tackles for four consecutive years. In 1999, Nguyen was drafted to the Dallas Cowboys in the third round where he would spend all seven years of his pro career. In his first full season with the NFL he recorded 112 tackles and was a 2003 second team All-Pro. He led the Cowboys in tackles for three season of his seven seasons.

After retirement, Nguyen served as an assistant coach for the Cowboys and Texas A&M. He hosted a radio show on 1250 ESPN in San Antonio. Nguyen utilizes all he learned from his time in sports in his new venture as a business owner. Nguyen is the owner and operator of Chick-fil-A's Montgomery Plaza location in Fort Worth, Texas. He serves on the board of directors for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Brazos Valley and San Antonio and the San Antonio Sports Foundation, which focuses on improving school facilities and playgrounds. He also works with Hill County Daily Bread, which provides physical, emotional, and spiritual support to the impoverished.

The Texas A&M Athletics documentary, *All American: The Dat Nguyen Story" details how he used his athletic platform to break stereotypes in sports and is available on Texas A&M athletics' website and smart TVs.