The Oregon Ducks start the 2024 season Aug. 31 at home against Idaho. The Oregonian/OregonLive will count down the days with mini-profiles of prominent former and current Ducks whose jersey numbers correspond with the days remaining until the opening kickoff.
Today, No. 56: Offensive tackle Gary Zimmerman.
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Gary Zimmerman
Bio: Zimmerman, out of Walnut High School (Fullerton, Calif.), is arguably the greatest offensive lineman to ever play at Oregon, especially when factoring in his success at the professional level.
Key achievements: Zimmerman earned first-team All-American honors as a senior in 1983 and participated in the Japan Bowl and Hula Bowl. He also received the Morris Trophy and earned first-team All-Pac-10.
The conference’s defensive linemen voted Zimmerman the best offensive lineman in the Pac-10.
Zimmerman was inducted into the University of Oregon Hall of Fame in 1993. He has also been inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame.
NFL: The Los Angeles Express selected Zimmerman in the second round of the 1984 USFL draft. In two seasons with the Express, Zimmerman was twice named to the all-star team (1984 and 1985), and later was named to the all-time USFL squad.
Zimmerman signed with the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings in 1986. He was twice named first-team All-Pro with the Vikings and was selected to four Pro Bowl teams.
Zimmerman joined the Denver Broncos in 1993. He was named first-team All-Pro once, second-team twice, and to three more Pro Bowl teams. During his final season in 1997, the Broncos won a Super Bowl championship.
Zimmerman was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008 and was named to the NFL’s all-decade teams for the 1980s and 1990s.
(AP Photo/Chuck Burton)ASSOCIATED PRESS
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PRIOR COUNTDOWN POSTS
No. 57: Offensive lineman George Dames and the 1957 Rose Bowl team.
No. 58: Defensive end Kenny Rowe and center Jackson Powers-Johnson.
No. 59: Offensive lineman Ian Reynoso.
No. 60: Center Max Unger.
No. 61: Lineman Steve Barnett.
No. 62: Offensive lineman Matt Pierson.
No. 63: Defensive lineman Vince Goldsmith.
No. 64: Lineman Dave Wilcox.
No. 65: Offensive lineman Ajani Cornelius
No. 66: Defensive lineman Taylor Hart.
No. 67: Offensive lineman Jack Patera.
No. 68: Offensive lineman Shane Lemieux.
No. 69: Offensive lineman Bo Thran.
No. 70: Fullback Bob Sanders.
No. 71: Offensive linemen Mark Lewis and Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu.
No. 72: Offensive lineman Adam Snyder.
No. 73: Offensive lineman Tyrell Crosby.
No. 74: Offensive linemen Kyle Long and Tom Drougas.
No. 75: Offensive tackle Jake Fisher.
No. 76: Offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr.
No. 77: Offensive lineman Carson York.
No. 78: Offensive linemen Alex Forsyth and Cameron Hunt.
No. 79: Mark Asper, offensive line
No. 80: Wide receivers Lavasier Tuinei, Greg Moser and Ray Palm
No. 81: Wide receiver Bob Newland
No. 82: Wide receiver Lew Barnes and tight end Blake Spence
No. 83: Tight end Ed Dickson and wide receiver Patrick Johnson
No. 84: Tight end Justin Peelle, linebacker Anthony Trucks, and Cam McCormick
No. 85: Pharaoh Brown, Tim Day and Matt Evensen.
No. 86: Wide receiver Paul Burleson.
No. 87: Wide receiver Greg Specht
No. 88: Wide receiver Dwayne Stanford and defensive lineman Brandon Bair
No. 89: This team ended a 25-year drought
No. 90: Tight end Josh Wilcox and defensive lineman Drayton Carlberg