Charles Louis Howley (born June 28, 1936) is a former American football linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons, primarily with the Dallas Cowboys. Howley spent his first two seasons with the Chicago Bears, who selected him seventh overall in the 1958 NFL Draft, before playing the remainder of his career for the Cowboys. Recognized as an original member of the Doomsday Defense, Howley received six Pro Bowl selections and five first-team All-Pro honors, while appearing in two consecutive Super Bowls and winning Super Bowl VI. He was also named the MVP of Super Bowl V and is the only player on a losing team to receive the award. For his accomplishments with Dallas, he was inducted to the Cowboys Ring of Honor in 1977.
Born and raised in Wheeling, West Virginia, Howley attended Warwood High School and graduated in 1954. He lettered in football, High school basketball, and baseball. In football, he was first-team all-state and all-OVAC as a senior. As a teenager he competed in gymnastics.
He played college football at West Virginia University in Morgantown, where he was a three-time All-Southern Conference selection and the conference player of the year in 1957. At WVU, Howley joined the Mu Mu chapter of the Sigma Chi Fraternity.

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