WVU

WVU Football to Retire No. 66 in Honor of Mountaineer Legend Chuck Howley

Published

2 months ago

September 27, 2023

Image credit to WVU Athletics

The number 66 is going to be officially retired at WVU in honor of Chuck Howley later this season, as announced by the West Virginia Athletic Department on Wednesday.

This news comes just months after Howley was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. A ceremony will take place during WVU’s home game against BYU on Nov. 4.

The only five-sport letterman in WVU history & 2023 @ProFootballHOF inductee 🫡
Chuck Howley will have his number 6⃣6⃣ retired at the BYU game on Nov. 4!
🔗 https://t.co/AAHK9cSudW #HailWV pic.twitter.com/DtpgzT60xb
— West Virginia Football (@WVUfootball) September 27, 2023

Howley’s 66 will be the seventh number to ever be retired by the WVU football program. The other retired numbers are Major Harris (9), Ira “Rat” Rodgers (21), Sam Huff (75), Bruce Bosley (77) and Darryl Talley (90).

Current offensive lineman Ja’Quay Hubbard who wears No. 66 for the Mountaineers will finish his career in that number before it goes into permanent retirement, per WVU in the release about Howley.

A native of Wheeling, West Virginia, Howley played football (and other sports) at WVU in the mid to late 1950’s before being drafted with the number 11 overall pick by the Chicago Bears in 1958. After two season in Chicago, Howley found his way to the Cowboys, the franchise he would be most associated with spend the rest of his career. In Dallas, Howley became a five-time All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowler.

"You don't have to explain who he is. He's definitely a legend in the state of West Virginia."
Congrats to #⃣6⃣6⃣, Chuck Howley! pic.twitter.com/Y8uz9tCq96
— West Virginia Football (@WVUfootball) September 27, 2023

Howley also stands as the answer to the trivia question of being the only player to ever win Super Bowl MVP in a losing effort. He did so in Super Bowl V, a game Dallas lost to Johnny Unitas and Baltimore Colts. Howley, however, would claim a Super Bowl championship the next year in Super Bowl VI.