George Cafego

TD–INT:	5-16
Yards:	966
QB Rating:	37.7

George Cafego
No. 72, 32
Position:	Quarterback
Personal information
Born:	August 29, 1915; Whipple, West Virginia
Died:	February 9, 1998 (aged 82); Knoxville, Tennessee
Career information
College:	Tennessee
NFL draft:	1940 / round: 1 / pick: 1
Career history
	Brooklyn Dodgers (1940, 1943); Washington Redskins (1943); Boston Yanks (1944–1945);
Career NFL statistics
TD–INT:
TD–INT:	5-16
Yards:	966
QB Rating:	37.7
	College Football Hall of Fame

George Cafego (August 29, 1915 – February 9, 1998) was a college, and professional American football player and coach. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1969.

High school and collegiate career

Born in rural Whipple, West Virginia, Cafego attended Oak Hill High School in nearby Oak Hill, West Virginia. He went to the University of Tennessee as a halfback under coach Robert Neyland. While there, he compiled 2,139 total yards and two All-American team selections. He was also a finalist for the Heisman Memorial Trophy. In addition to running and passing the ball, Cafego also served as punter and kickoff returner, excelling at both. At Tennessee his nickname was "Bad News".^[1] As a sophomore, his first year on the varsity, he already showed signs of success, catching "many an expert eye."^[2]

Professional career

Cafego was drafted as the number one overall pick in 1940 NFL draft by the Chicago Cardinals. He eventually played for the Brooklyn Dodgers. After playing one season, his career was interrupted by a brief stint of Army service in World War II. During this time he appeared in several games for the Newport News Builders of the Dixie League. Returning to the Dodgers in 1943, he was traded to the Washington Redskins after five unspectacular games. For the 1944 and 1945 seasons, Cafego played for the Boston Yanks before retiring.

Coaching career

After his playing days were over, Cafego served as an assistant coach at Wyoming, Furman, Arkansas, and 30 years at his alma mater, Tennessee, serving under a total of six different head coaches during his UT coaching career. He was also the head coach of Tennessee Volunteers baseball from 1958 to 1962. He retired from coaching following the 1984 season.

1949–1952 University of Wyoming (Assistant)
1953–1954 University of Arkansas (Assistant)
1955–1963 University of Tennessee (QB/RB)
1964–1973 University of Tennessee (Assistant)
1974–1984 University of Tennessee (ST)
1986 Denver Broncos (Assistant)
1987 Minnesota Vikings (Assistant)

Cafego died in Knoxville, Tennessee at the age of 82 and was buried in Fayette County, West Virginia.

References

^ "LIFE Goes to a Football Game to Watch Tennessee Trounce Alabama". LIFE: 102. November 6, 1939.
^ "All-American Team Selected". Washington C. H. Record-Herald. December 4, 1937. p. 9. Retrieved May 28, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.

External links

George Cafego at the College Football Hall of Fame
George Cafego at Find a Grave

[1] "LIFE Goes to a Football Game to Watch Tennessee Trounce Alabama". LIFE: 102. November 6, 1939.

[2] "All-American Team Selected". Washington C. H. Record-Herald. December 4, 1937. p. 9. Retrieved May 28, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.

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