 Craft on a 1952 Bowman football card | |
| Date of birth | (1919-10-15)October 15, 1919 |
|---|---|
| Place of birth | McEwen, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Date of death | January 12, 2009(2009-01-12) (aged 89) |
| Place of death | Wellsburg, West Virginia, U.S. |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Defensive back |
| US college | Alabama |
| NFL draft | 1943 / round: 15 / pick: 132 |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1946–1953 | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 1954 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Pro Bowls | 2 |
| Career stats | |
| |
William Russell Craft (October 15, 1919 – January 12, 2009) was an American football defensive back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played college football at the University of Alabama and was drafted in the fifteenth round of the 1943 NFL draft. In 1948, Craft was a key member of the Eagles in what became known as the Blizzard Bowl, in which the Eagles’ defense overwhelmed the Cardinals on the way to a 7–0 victory that earned Philadelphia its first N.F.L. championship. In 1949, he was a notable player in helping the Eagles win a second World Championship, a 1947 Division Championship, and was selected to the Pro Bowl twice, in 1951 and 1952.
Craft had some other notable achievements. In 1950, against the Chicago Cardinals, the Eagles' defense recorded eight interceptions, including an NFL-record-tying four by Craft. Craft had 22 career interceptions. Then in 1952, while playing against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Craft was able to block three Extra points (PATs).
Craft was also a defensive coach for the Steelers.
After football, Craft served as the sheriff of Brooke County, West Virginia from 1969 to 1972.
References
- "Players". NFL. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
- "1943 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
- ^ "Russ Craft, Player on 2 Eagles' Title Teams, Is Dead at 89". The New York Times. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
- ^ "Two-time Pro Bowler Craft dies at 89". ESPN. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
External links
| Alabama Crimson Tide rushing leaders | |
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| Philadelphia Eagles 1943 NFL draft selections | |
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| Philadelphia Eagles 1948 NFL champions | |
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 | This biographical article relating to an American football defensive back born in the 1910s is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it. |
- 1919 births
- 2009 deaths
- People from Humphreys County, Tennessee
- Players of American football from Tennessee
- American football defensive backs
- Alabama Crimson Tide football players
- Philadelphia Eagles players
- Pittsburgh Steelers players
- Eastern Conference Pro Bowl players
- American police chiefs
- American football defensive back, pre-1930 birth stubs