Although he received more scholarship offers for basketball, he opted to accept a football scholarship from the University of Nebraska to play under head coach Bob Devaney. In 1971, as an alternate starter, he was part of the 1971 national championship team. Dutton participated in the 1971 Nebraska-Oklahoma game, also called the "Game of the Century", generally considered as one of the greatest college football games ever played. As a junior, he was named the starter at defensive end, registering 67 tackles. As a senior in 1973 under new head coach Tom Osborne, he earned All-America and All-Big 8 honors. He posted 71 tackles and 8 sacks. In the Cotton Bowl in Dallas against the Texas, Dutton and the Blackshirts held the Longhorns to one field goal and 196 total yards or the Huskers' fifth bowl victory in as many seasons. He also competed in the discus throw with the track team. In 1981, he was inducted into the University of Nebraska Athletics Hall of Fame.
Professional career
Baltimore Colts
Dutton was the fifth overall selection of the 1974 NFL Draft, taken by the Baltimore Colts. The 6-foot-7, 266-pound defensive end was ahead of his time and became an immediate starter at right defensive end, receiving NFL all-rookie honors at the end of the season. He had 79 tackles, 5 unofficial sacks and one pass defensed. In 1975, as a member of the "Sack Pack", he led the Colts in sacks with a career-high 17, to go along with 73 tackles and one fumble recovery. He had 3 sacks against the Kansas City Chiefs. He was named to the first of three straight Pro Bowls, becoming one of the most dominant defensive lineman in the NFL. In 1976, he led the team with 13 unofficial sacks and had 73 tackles. In 1977, he appeared in 12 out of 14 games. He had 6 unofficial sacks and 39 tackles. He had 3 sacks against the Buffalo Bills. In 1978, he led the team with 6 unofficial sacks and 3 fumble recoveries, while also making 115 tackles. He started 14 games, before missing the last 2 with a foot injury. He had 10 solo tackles against the Miami Dolphins.
Dallas Cowboys
On October 9, 1979, a contract holdout forced the Colts to trade him to the Dallas Cowboys. Because of the retirement of Jethro Pugh and the desire of Ed "Too Tall" Jones to become a professional boxer, the Cowboys traded the first and second round pick in the 1980 NFL Draft. He appeared in 8 games, starting in the final 4 contests including the playoffs. He registered 25 tackles and one unofficial sack. When Jones returned in 1980, Dutton moved to left defensive tackle, playing behind Larry Cole. He tallied 52 tackles, 3.5 unofficial sacks, 2 fumble recoveries and one interception returned for a touchdown. In 1981, with the retirement of Cole, he started 16 games alongside Randy White, establishing a formidable defensive line that also included Jones and Harvey Martin. He recorded 81 tackles, 4.5 unofficial sacks and 5 passes batted-down. He couldn't play in the NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers because of a bruised thigh and Larry Bethea started in his place. In 1982, he appeared in only 9 contests because of injuries and the player's strike, making 38 tackles and 2 sacks. In 1983, he had 71 tackles and 4.5 sacks. In 1984, he tallied 73 tackles and 2.5 sacks. He was part of the 1985 defensive unit that holds the Cowboys' single-season sack record. He came out in obvious passing downs, finishing with 74 tackles and 4 sacks. In 1986, he had 59 tackles and 5 sacks. In 1987, he was passed on the depth chart by Kevin Brooks and was released three games after the end of the player's strike on November 13. He spent 14 seasons and 185 games in the NFL and recorded only 18 official sacks, because the NFL didn't recognize quarterback sacks as an official statistic until 1982. During his 9 years in Dallas, he helped the Cowboys reach the NFC title game three straight years. He may have been the best Cowboys defensive lineman to have never won a Super Bowl ring.
Personal life
After his career in the NFL, former Husker Dutton retired to Lincoln, Nebraska. He became involved in businesses and for a short timeowned and operated Dutton's Den, an off-sale liquor store and restaurant. He also founded a signs company. Dutton now lives in Dallas, Texas.
