Many might recognize Len Dawson from his notorious photo of him enjoying a soft drink and smoking a cigarette during the halftime of Super Bowl I. But while that image be bizarre in regards to today's societal standards, it was nothing but a regular championship Sunday halftime for those playing and those watching during Dawson's era of pro football. While that image might be ingrained into the heads of many, Dawson was one of the greatest competitors of his era. Hailing from Alliance, Ohio, Dawson played his college ball at Purdue University for three seasons, throwing over 3,000 and leading the Big Ten Conference. Dawson also served as the team's kicker and played on the defensive side of the ball as well.
After becoming a dominant force in the Big Ten Conference, Len Dawson was drafted 5th overall in the 1957 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, Dawson was unable to become a staple quarterback with the team after the Steelers acquired the more established Bobby Layne in 1958. From 1960 to 1961, Lawson spent a short time with the Cleveland Browns before finding a home with the Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs where he would earn his keep as a Hall of Fame quarterback. In his first season with the team, Dawson would be named AFL MVP after leading the league in touchdowns. Dawson would also lead the Texans/Chiefs to three AFL Championships (1962, 1966, and 1969) while racking up six AFL All-Star honors. Dawson also participated in the first-ever Super Bowl but fell short to the Green Bay Packers. Three years later, Dawson led the Chiefs to a Super Bowl victory in Super Bowl IV over the Minnesota Vikings where he was also named Super Bowl MVP for his performance.
Chefs made their way into celebrity land a while ago. But how many celebrities that weren’t trained as professional cooks are actually whizzes in the kitchen? Here are several that come to mind.
Actress Julia Roberts is confident about her cooking skills. “I’m quite a good cook,” she told E! News. “I’m like a closet home ec teacher…I can really cook anything.” Roberts has said she often cooks fish for herself and her kids. And speaking of her three children, “They think that I’m a good cook,” Roberts told People. “They actually told me that I should open a restaurant.” She also relishes cooking for the holidays, particularly shredded Brussel sprouts. Roberts hasn’t published a cookbook, but we did find recipes attributed to her for peach crisp and banana hemp muffins. Or you can make the same summer salad the actress supposedly eats.
Chrissy Teigen started off as a supermodel. Then her love of cooking filtered into her professional life too. At this point, she’s created recipes for a limited Blue Apron release and also just launched her own home and cooking line at Target named “Cravings,” after the two cookbooks she’s released. Teigen describes cooking as “a time of peace” for herself. So maybe peace out to her tuna melt sandwich or the fried chicken wings that are a favorite of her husband, John Legend.
Lady Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, comes from a cooking Italian family. Her father started his own restaurant in New York and also published a cookbook. And apparently, Lady Gaga has inherited the family’s cooking genes. Her Instagram account occasionally features photos of her culinary activities. Sure, sometimes it’s topless cooking. But other times it’s more poignant like in the post she shared about her bringing food to the family of her dear friend who passed away. Want to try a Gaga/Germanotta family favorite? Check out her recipe for whole wheat pasta with a sweet fennel sauce.