Football

Famous Sports Stars

Troy Aikman Biography - Born In West Covina, California, Chronology, Drafted By Dallas Cowboys, Dreams Of 'three-peat' Dashed - CONTACT INFORMATION

1966- American football player Star quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys for more than a decade, Troy Aikman led "America's team" to three Super Bowl victories before the toll of multiple injuries finally took him out of the game. In April 2001, rather than risk a potentially disabling injury, Aikman at the age of thirty-four left professional football to launch a new career as a…

1 minute read

Marcus Allen Biography - College Career, The Raiders, Chronology, Contact Information, Career Statistics, Awards And Accomplishments - SELECTED WRITINGS BY ALLEN:

1960- American football player Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Allen came to be admired for his intelligence and quiet determination as much as for his skill in gaining yardage. An all-around athlete with a winning smile and boyish charm, Allen's appearance concealed a mature team player. As a senior at the University of Southern California (USC), he was a first-round draft pick, taken by the …

1 minute read

Sammy Baugh Biography - Discovers Sports In Temple, Texas, Moves To Sweetwater, Texas, Recruited For College Career At Tcu

1914- American football player Sammy Baugh The first superstar passer in college football, Sammy Baugh held every National Football League (NFL) passing record and was chosen for the charter classes of both the college (1951) and professional (1963) football halls of fame. Many of his records stood for fifty years and others will never be broken. The college All-American became a six-time N…

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Bert Bell Biography - As Coach And Unsuccessful Owner, The Commissioner, The Impact Of Television, Chronology, Further Information

1895-1959 American football commissioner Although he never played football professionally, DeBenneville "Bert" Bell brought the game to unprecedented heights of popularity with his revolutionary ideas and hardball style of business. An unsuccessful coach, Bell shined as the National Football League's second commissioner in the 1950s. During his 13-year reign, he created the am…

1 minute read

Terry Bradshaw Biography - Born To Work, Number One Pick, Born Again, Chronology, Team Of Dynasty And Destiny - CONTACT INFORMATION

1948- American football player The Steel Curtain. Franco Harris. Lynn Swann. Mean Joe Greene. These names are all indelibly imprinted in the psyches of football fans who lived through the early 1980s, as well as struck a special fear into the Dallas Cowboy fans who lost not one, but two Super Bowls to the Pittsburgh Steelers. But there is one name who stands behind them all. A small-town boy with …

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Dick Butkus Biography - Yearned For Football Career, All-american At Illinois, Ferocious Fixture For Bears, Chronology - SELECTED WRITINGS BY BUTKUS:

1942- American football player Dick Butkus, in his nine seasons as a linebacker for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL), came to epitomize his position, team and community. His on-field meanness and loyalty to his team and native city reflected football of the 1960s. Butkus was elected to the pro and college football Halls of Fame, and the award for the top college linebacker i…

1 minute read

Earl Campbell Biography - Career Statistics, Chronology, Awards And Accomplishments, Further Information

1955- American football player Earl Campbell's professional career was marked by his ability to sustain a hit. He was known for his strength and the fearlessness of his play. He rose out of the ashes of poverty to become a force on the football field. He won the Heisman trophy and restored the hopes of Houston football fans when he joined the Oilers Earl Campbell in 1978. A small tow…

3 minute read

Terrell Davis Biography - Chronology, Career Statistics, Awards And Accomplishments, Further Information

1972- American football player Terrell Davis's exuberant seven year NFL career was marked by record-breaking accomplishments and debilitating migraines and injuries. Davis's speed and tenacity helped John Elway and the Denver Broncos win two consecutive Super Bowl titles, first in 1998, then again in 1999. Among his many feats are an amazing 2,008 rushing yard season in 1998 and a Su…

5 minute read

Eric Dickerson Biography - Raised In The Lone Star State, Played Football At Southern Methodist University, Drafted By Los Angeles Rams

1960- American football player During his professional football career, running back Eric Dickerson more often resembled a thoroughbred than a human being. Game after game, Dickerson electrified fans as he tucked the football under his arm, then sprinted down the field with all the beauty and grace of a well-groomed racehorse. Dickerson also possessed an uncanny ability to read the defense and kne…

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Marshall Faulk Biography - Raised In New Orleans, Energized San Diego State Football Program, Drafted By Indianapolis Colts, Chronology - CONTACT INFORMATION

1973- American football player St. Louis Rams running back Marshall Faulk is speedy, powerful, and elusive, making him a nearly unstoppable scoring machine. Faulk can catch passes, rush for yardage, block, and evade tackles. He's a complete package—and, as Football Digest noted, the most complete all-around player in the NFL today. When Faulk has the ball, he flattens opponents like …

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Frank Gifford Biography - Unsettled Childhood, Outstanding Player At Usc, Drafted By Giants, Chronology, Success As Broadcaster - SELECTED WRITINGS BY GIFFORD:

1930- American football player In the national spotlight for over half a century, Pro Football Hall of Famer and Emmy-winning broadcaster Frank Gifford enjoyed a successful transition from professional athlete to respected television journalist. His fame as an anchor of ABC's Monday Night Football from 1971 to 1998 even transcended his reputation as one of the biggest stars of the National …

1 minute read

Harold "Red" Grange Biography - All-around Athlete, Coaxed To The Gridiron, Fateful Michigan Game, Chronology, Goes Out In Style - SELECTED WRITINGS BY GRANGE:

1903-1991 American football player Harold "Red" Grange's legacy has truly stood the test of time. More than three quarters of a century after his famous four touchdowns in twelve minutes against the University of Michigan in 1925, he is remembered as one of the greatest college football players in the history of the sport. He is remembered equally for his contributions to prof…

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George Halas - Fate Intervened, The 1920s: New League, New Team, Chronology, Related Biography: Coach Bob Zuppke

1895-1983 American football coach George Halas Among the winningest coaches in the history of the National Football League (NFL), George "Papa Bear" Halas amassed 324 career victories. As owner of the Chicago Bears for over sixty years, he coached for more than forty of those years and played with the team for a decade. Prominent at the organization of the American Professiona…

2 minute read

John Heisman Biography - Football Mad, Chronology, Growing Reputation: Auburn And Clemson, The Glory Years: Georgia Tech - SELECTED WRITINGS BY HEISMAN:

1869-1936 American college football coach John William Heisman was immortalized in 1936, the year of his death, when the New York Downtown Athletic Club changed the name of its annual trophy awarded to the best college football player in the nation to the Heisman Memorial Award to honor the club's former director. Best known today for his name on that trophy, Heisman is also recognized for …

1 minute read

Paul Hornung Biography - Growing Up With A Football, Chronology, Goes To Green Bay Packers, Career Statistics, Ladies Man And Gambler - CONTACT INFORMATION, SELECTED WRITINGS BY HORNUNG:

1935- American football player Paul Hornung Star running back Paul Hornung led the great Green Bay Packer teams of the early 1960s to four National Football League (NFL) championships. One of the most versatile football players ever, in addition to being a tenacious rusher—especially within the ten-yard line—Hornung also kicked field goals and extra points for the Packers, he …

1 minute read

Jim Kelly Biography - Early Excellence, The Class Of 1983, So Close, So Far, Retirement And Beyond

1960- American football player Although Jim Kelly led his team, the Buffalo Bills, to a record-setting four consecutive Super Bowls, he never won the NFL's championship game. Kelly's standing in the eyes of his colleagues and fans, however, was never affected by his failure to win the big game. His record on the field and off was nearly universally respected. Born outside Pittsburgh …

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Steve Largent Biography - Sooner Childhood, Seahawks Star, Chronology, Serves In Congress, Career Statistics, Awards And Accomplishments

1954- American football player Although his fourteen seasons with the Seattle Seahawks did not result in any National Football League (NFL) championships, Steve Largent retired as the holder of NFL records in receptions, yards, and Steve Largent touchdowns. Often underestimated by his opponents, who thought that Largent was too small and slow to be an offensive threat, the wide receiver eve…

1 minute read

Vince Lombardi Biography - The Early Years, First Coaching Position, College Football, Chronology, Awards And Accomplishments, Moving Up With The Giants

1913-1970 American football coach More than three decades after Vince Lombardi's death, books about this legendary and inspiring football coach are still making the best seller list. These books cover not only the details of his life and career but also his philosophy and practical approach to winning, which remains relevant today. His reputation as one of the most consistently successful c…

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John Madden Biography - Played College Football, Began Coaching Career, Became Professional Coach, Chronology, Awards And Accomplishments - Drafted by the Eagles, CONTACT INFORMATION

John Madden 1936- American football coach Although John Madden became known as a great analyst and broadcaster for NFL (National Football League) games on the CBS (Columbia Broadcasting System), Fox, and ABC (American Broadcasting Companies), he began his career as a coach for the AFL (American Football League; later NFL) Oakland Raiders. Madden was a well-respected coach of the Raiders for…

1 minute read

Dan Marino Biography - Learned Sports Fundamentals From Father, Became High School Football, Baseball Star, Became Hometown Hero At Pitt - CONTACT INFORMATION

1961- American football player He's considered the most prolific passer the National Football League (NFL) ever produced. During his seventeen seasons with the Miami Dolphins, Dan Marino generated one of the most remarkable quarterbacking careers in the history of football, averaging twenty-four touchdown passes per season offset by fewer than fourteen interceptions. Year after year, game a…

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Don Maynard Biography - Career Statistics, Chronology, Further Information

1935- American football player Don Maynard Former New York Jets wide receiver Don Maynard is best known for playing a crucial role in winning the 1968 Super Bowl for the Jets. Maynard began his career with the New York Giants in 1958. He played only one season with that team before being let go. After a brief stint in the Canadian Football League, he joined the New York Titans in 1960. The …

5 minute read

Joe Montana Biography - Born In New Eagle, Pennsylvania, A Small Fish In A Big Pond At Notre Dame - CONTACT INFORMATION

1956- American football player One of the most successful quarterbacks in National Football League (NFL) history, Joe Montana led the San Francisco 49ers to victory in four Super Bowls, including back-to-back wins in 1989 and 1990. The rise of the 49ers to football dominance during the 1980s was due in large measure to Montana's brilliance as a quarterback and team leader. Throughout his si…

1 minute read

Warren Moon Biography - Struggle And Strength, Canadian Success, Pressure And Prejudice, Chronology, Longevity And Retirement, Career Statistics

1956- American football player Although Warren Moon was overlooked time and again throughout his career, his perseverance led to an unusually long and extremely successful stint as a quarterback in the National Football league (NFL). In addition to having to fight against the perception that he didn't have what it takes to lead an NFL team, he also had to fight against prejudice in a league…

1 minute read

Joe Namath Biography - The College Years, Chronology, Awards And Accomplishments, Instant Celebrity, Highs And Lows, The Guarantee And Super Bowl Iii

1943- American football player Joe Namath's bold guarantee before Super Bowl III made him an instant legend in the world of professional Joe Namath football, but it was his glamorous image off the field that made him a celebrity and an icon to the rest of the world. In the sporting world of the 1960's, Namath represented the counterculture in a way that no athlete had before. …

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Merlin Olsen Biography - Outland Trophy Winner, "fearsome Foursome", Transition To Broadcasting, Acting, Chronology, Olsen Legacy

1940- American football player He excelled at the toughest of positions in the roughest of sports and was part of a unit called the "Fearsome Foursome," yet Merlin Olsen played a gentlemanly priest on television and so visibly endorsed flowers, people named him the "Flower Man." He worked five Super Bowls as part of a broadcast team one critic called "whole-some.…

1 minute read

Bill Parcells Biography - Raised In New Jersey, Parcells, Nicknamed, Patriots Beckon, Returns To New York, Chronology

1941- American football coach Not everyone liked Bill Parcells, but he won. Parcells, a football turnaround specialist, took two struggling football franchises and coached them to Super Bowls, and nearly did so with a third. Parcells' New York Giants won the Super Bowl, the National Football League's (NFL) championship game, in 1987 and 1991. He brought the New England Patriots to th…

1 minute read

Joe Paterno Biography - Growing Up, Happy In Happy Valley, Chronology, Awards And Accomplishments, Moving On Up - CONTACT INFORMATION

1926- American college football coach Joe Paterno Joe Paterno is a living legend. With his thick glasses, khaki slacks (always a bit too short), and his Penn State windbreaker, Paterno is one of the most recognizable coaches in this history of football—college or professional. And he deserves the recognition. Since taking over the head coaching position at Pennsylvania State Universi…

1 minute read

Walter Payton Biography - Born In Columbia, Mississippi, Joins Track Team As Long Jumper, Chronology, Named Ncaa Leading Scorer Of All Time

1954-1999 American football player Walter Payton, nicknamed "Sweetness" in college for his sweet and graceful moves on the football field, never lost that sweetness, even after he left the game. Never were Payton's qualities of grace and dignity more evident than in his final days, as he struggled unsuccessfully against a rare liver disease that progressed to the cancer of the…

1 minute read

John Randle Biography - Signs With The Vikings As Free Agent, Signs With Seattle, Chronology, Awards And Accomplishments - Plays College Football, CONTACT INFORMATION

1967- American football player Playing for the Minnesota Vikings and the Seattle Seahawks, John Randle was a leading defensive tackle in the 1990s. Though small for a defensive tackle in this time period (only 6'1" and 267 lbs.), he once played in 176 consecutive games and started in 140 consecutive games. Randle also had eight consecutive seasons in which he had at least ten quarter…

1 minute read

Dan Reeves Biography - Brought First Major Team To West Coast, Hired Coach George Allen, Chronology, Awards And Accomplishments

1912-1971 American football executive One of football's greatest innovators, the American entrepreneur Dan Reeves is credited with bringing the first major sports team to the West Coast. After purchasing the Cleveland Rams in 1941, Reeves moved the team to Los Angeles five years later, paving the way for other Pacific Coast sports teams. Reeves was also the first modern day National Footbal…

2 minute read

Knute Rockne Biography - Selected Writings By Rockne:, Chronology, Further Information, Awards And Accomplishments

1888-1931 American college football coach Knute Rockne holds college football's record for career wins as a coach. Rockne led Notre Dame's "Fighting Irish" team for 13 seasons before his untimely death in 1931, and made the Indiana school a powerhouse in the game during its day. Known for his spirited, if sometimes truth-stretching, team pep talks, Rockne helped popular…

5 minute read

Pete Rozelle Biography - Born Near Los Angeles, Replaces Bell At Helm Of Nfl, Chronology, Awards And Accomplishments

1926-1996 American football commissioner For nearly three decades, Pete Rozelle guided professional football as the commissioner of the National Football League (NFL). Under his direction, pro football attained unprecedented popularity with the American public, as well as a level of profitability that far exceeded anything seen before Rozelle. He engineered the merger of the rival American Footbal…

1 minute read

Barry Sanders Biography - Born In Wichita, Kansas, Chronology, Football's Demands Hamper Studies, Career Statistics

1968- American football player One of football's greatest running backs of all time, Barry Sanders is a bundle of contradictions. His sudden departure from professional football in the summer of 1999 still has observers scratching their heads. He left the game less than 1,500 yards short of eclipsing the career rushing yardage of the late Walter Payton. (As of late October 2002, Sanders, wi…

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Deion Sanders Biography - Born In Fort Myers, Florida, Drafted By Atlanta Falcons, Chronology, Leads Nfl In Interceptions - CONTACT INFORMATION, SELECTED WRITINGS BY SANDERS:

1967- American football and baseball player The only man in professional sports history to play in both the Super Bowl and World Series, Deion Sanders has been a top-ranked athlete since his high school years. Sanders credits sports with keeping him out of trouble as a teenager. Nicknamed "Prime Time" during high school, Sanders has probably received more prime-time sports coverage t…

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Gale Sayers Biography - Born In Wichita, Kansas, Overwhelmed By Academic Demands, Named Nfl's Rookie Of The Year - CONTACT INFORMATION

1943- American football player Knee injuries cut short the brilliant football career of running back Gale Sayers, but not before the "Kansas Comet" was recognized by the National Football League (NFL) as the greatest running back in the first 50 years of the league's history. Although he played only 68 games in professional football, in 1977 Sayers, at the age of only 34, beca…

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Tex Schramm Biography - Born In Southern California, Chronology, Scouts Locations At Squaw Valley, Looks To Return To Football

1920- American football executive Tex Schramm It isn't easy to measure Tex Schramm's impact on professional football, for his mark is on so much of the game as we know it today. Schramm is perhaps best known for building a little-known expansion team in Dallas into one of football's most venerable franchises, so widely popular across the nation that it came to be known …

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Sterling Sharpe Biography - Chronology, Career Statistics, Awards And Accomplishments, Further Information

1965- American football player Awide receiver for the Green Bay Packers from 1988 to 1994, Sterling Sharpe made it to five Pro Bowls with his team during his career. A receiver of exceptional ability, Sharpe is the first player in the National Football League (NFL) to make 500 catches before playing seven seasons in the NFL. In 1993, Sharpe's 112 receptions broke the record for the most num…

6 minute read

Don Shula Biography - Born In Grand River, Ohio, Coaches Colts To Super Bowl Iii, Chronology, Dolphins Win 1974 Afc Eastern Title - SELECTED WRITINGS BY SHULA:

1930- American football coach The winningest coach in professional football, Don Shula compiled an unparalleled record of 347-173-6 over thirty-three seasons coaching in the National Football League (NFL). On November 14, 1993, as coach of the Miami Dolphins, Shula broke the record of 324 wins set by the legendary George Halas. Shula went on to extend Don Shula his record of wins to 347 bef…

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O.J. Simpson Biography - The Early Years, Chronology, Usc And Beyond, The Record Books, Acting And Endorsements

1947- American football player O.J. Simpson O.J. Simpson's squeaky clean image and rags to riches story was the type of "only in America" success story that the sports world holds up as an example of how much can be achieved in athletics. His electrifying career with the Buffalo Bills and the endless opportunities it led to after his retirement were an inspiration to hi…

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Roger Staubach Biography - Born In Cincinnati, Chronology, Shines In Game Against Cornell, Begins Service In The Navy - CONTACT INFORMATION

1942- American football player Roger Staubach A star quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys for nearly a decade, Roger Staubach endeared himself to fans of "America's team" with his last-minute heroics that led Dallas to two Super Bowl victories and four National Football Conference (NFC) championships. As successful as he was on the gridiron, both in college and in the Nat…

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Kordell Stewart Biography - Born In New Orleans, Accepts Scholarship To Colorado, Declares For 1995 Nfl Draft, Steelers Fare Poorly In 1998, 1999 - CONTACT INFORMATION

1972- American football player Star quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kordell Stewart led his team to the Super Bowl his very first season in the National Football League (NFL). After seven seasons as a quarterback with the Steelers, Stewart boasted a pass-completion rate of 55.7 percent for a total of 12,173 yards and sixty-four touchdowns. Despite his obvious prowess as a quarterback, Stew…

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Lynn Swann Biography - Born In Alcoa, Tennessee, Career Statistics, Chronology, Awards And Accomplishments, Further Information - CONTACT INFORMATION

1952- American football player Blessed with incredible speed and an ability to catch the football with leaps almost ballet-like in gracefulness, wide receiver Lynn Swann also had an impeccable sense of timing. He joined the Pittsburgh Steelers just as the team embarked on its most spectacular winning streak in history. Swann, an All-American at USC, was the Steelers' No. 1 draft pick in the…

1 minute read

Fran Tarkenton - Born In Richmond, Virginia, Shines In Pro Bowl Play, Chronology, Related Biography: Coach Wally Butts - CONTACT INFORMATION

1940- American football player Few professional football players have burst upon the scene as spectacularly as Fran Tarkenton. In his very first pro game, Tarkenton came off the bench to toss four touchdown passes, leading his Minnesota Vikings team to a decisive 37-13 victory over the Chicago Bears. After eighteen seasons in the National Football League (NFL), Tarkenton left professional football…

1 minute read

Jim Thorpe Biography - Beginning On The Bright Path, Carlisle Indian, The 1912 Olympics, Chronology, Greatest Football Season - SELECTED WRITINGS BY THORPE:

1888-1953 American football and baseball player Born in a cabin in Indian Territory (now Oklahoma), the Sauk (or Sac) and Fox Indian athlete Jim Thorpe began a climb to fame in 1907 as a college track-and-field and football star at Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania. He competed in the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm, Sweden, where he won gold medals in both the pentathlon and the d…

1 minute read

Kenny Walker Biography - Chronology, Named Defensive Player Of The Year, Joined Denver Broncos, Awards And Accomplishments, Career Statistics

1967- American football player When football player Kenny Walker made his professional debut in the early 1990s, he became the first deaf player in the National Football League (NFL) in nearly twenty years. A defensive lineman with the Denver Broncos in 1991 and 1992, Walker became a hero among the hearing-impaired with his against-theodds success story. The 6-foot-4-inch, 260-pound player picked …

1 minute read

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