A.J. Duhe - New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 2018

After an outstanding high school career at Leon Godchaux, Duhe became a first-team All-SEC selection at defensive tackle for LSU while averaging 72 tackles per season. He also earned SEC All-Academic honors. After being drafted in the first round (13th overall) by the Miami Dolphins in 1977, he was named the 1977 Associated Press NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year after tallying 83 tackles and leading the Dolphins with seven sacks. After switching to linebacker for the 1980 season, he tallied 84 tackles with 5.5 sacks and then in 1981, he was second on the team with 110 tackles and added 7.5 sacks and was named first team All-AFC by the UPI. Perhaps his finest hour as a pro was the AFC Championship game on Jan. 23, 1983, when he intercepted three Richard Todd passes and returned one 35 yards for a touchdown in a 14-0 win over the New York Jets to send himself to his first of two Super Bowls. Despite being named to the Pro Bowl in 1984, that was his final season in the NFL as he had had five surgeries over an 18-month period on his knee, ankle and shoulder. Duhe was elected to Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2001. Sponsored by the Allstate Sugar Bowl, the New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame was created in 1971 and has honored 264 sports figures (through 2025) who were born in New Orleans and achieved prominence in or away from the Greater New Orleans area; or, those non-natives who achieved sports prominence in the Greater New Orleans area in high school, college, professional or amateur sports. Plaques honoring the Hall of Famers will be displayed at Gate A on the Club Level of the Superdome.