Coy Bacon

Coy Bacon

Bacon in 2007
Date of birth:	August 30, 1942(1942-08-30)
Place of birth:	Cadiz, Kentucky
Date of death:	December 22, 2008(2008-12-22) (aged 66)
Place of death:	Ironton, Ohio
Career information
Position(s):	Defensive lineman
College:	Jackson State
Organizations
As player:
1968-1972 1973-1975 1976-1977 1978-1981 1983	Los Angeles Rams San Diego Chargers Cincinnati Bengals Washington Redskins Washington Federals (USFL)
Career highlights and awards
Pro Bowls:	1972, 1976, 1977
Awards:	3× Second-team All-Pro Selection (1971, 1972, 1976)
Playing stats at NFL.com

Lander McCoy Bacon (August 30, 1942 – December 22, 2008) was a former professional American football defensive lineman in the National Football League. He was selected to three Pro Bowls during his 14-year career. While Quarterback sacks were not an official statistic during his career, researchers credit Bacon with a career total of 130.

Professional career

Tried out with AFL's Houston Oilers in 1964 but was not signed as it was discovered that he had not graduated from Jackson St.. Bacon began his career in 1965 with the Charleston (W.Va.) Rockets of the Continental Football League. Spent 1967 on the reserve squad with the Dallas Cowboys. In 1968, he was picked up by Los Angeles Rams of the NFL and teamed with Fearsome Foursome line of Deacon Jones, Merlin Olsen, Roger Brown and Lamar Lundy after spending the first half of the season on the practice squad. He had his first opportunity for serious playing time at right defensive tackle in 1969 due to injuries to Brown. Following Lamar Lundy's retirement in 1970, Bacon lined up at right defensive end for the next three years. He had eleven sacks in 1971, and was named to Second-team All-Pro. He was voted as the Rams Defensive lineman of the year in 1971 and 1972 by the Ram's Alumni Organization. He was Second-team All-Pro again in 1972.

In 1973, Bacon was sent to San Diego along with running back Bob Thomas for quarterback John Hadl. He had an 80-yard interception return for a touchdown that year. In 1976, he was traded from the Chargers to the Bengals for wide receiver Charlie Joiner. Bacon then had an NFL high 21½ sacks for Cincinnati in 1976 prior to the NFL officially recognizing individual sacks. He made the Pro Bowl and was a Second-team All-Pro selection.

The Washington Redskins traded for him and Lemar Parrish before the 1978 season in exchange for a 1st round draft pick. He recorded 15 sacks in 1979 and 11 in 1980 and finished career in the USFL with the Washington Federals in 1983 where he started in 16 of 18 games and recorded 62 total tackles, 7 sacks and recovered 1 fumble with the 3-15 club.

Coy Bacon was inducted into the American Football Association's Semi Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986

Personal

Bacon eventually moved to Ironton, Ohio. He was wounded in a drug-related shooting in Washington, D.C. on August 16, 1986, and later became a born-again Christian and traveled as a motivational speaker. Coy also spent several years working with troubled youth at the Ohio River Valley Juvenile Correctional Facility.

Death

Bacon died in Ironton, Ohio on December 22, 2008. Cause of death was not immediately available. He was 66.