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George Taliaferro

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George Taliaferro
Taliaferro on a 1952 Bowman football card
Date of birth (1927-01-08) January 8, 1927 (age 97)
Place of birthGates, Tennessee
Career information
Position(s)Halfback
Quarterback
US collegeIndiana
NFL draft1949 / round: 13 / pick: 129
(By the Chicago Bears)
Career history
As player
1949Los Angeles Dons (AAFC)
1950–1951New York Yanks
1952Dallas Texans
1953–1954Baltimore Colts
1955Philadelphia Eagles
Career highlights and awards
Pro Bowls1951, 1952, 1953
Career stats
Rushing TD's15
Rushing Yards2,266
Carries498
Catches95
Receiving Yards1,300

George Taliaferro (born January 8, 1927) is a former professional American football player. He was the first African American drafted by a National Football League team.[1]

As the leading rusher and an All-American at Indiana University, he led the Hoosier football program to their only undefeated Big Ten Conference championship. A three-time All-American, Taliaferro led the Hoosiers in rushing twice, punting in 1945 and passing in 1948. Taliaferro helped break the color barrier in sports, playing for the Hoosiers two years before Jackie Robinson suited up for the Brooklyn Dodgers.[2] He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1981.[3] While at IU, Taliaferro became a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.[4]

Taliaferro, a halfback, quarterback, and punter, was picked by the Chicago Bears in the thirteenth round of the 1949 NFL Draft but chose to play instead with the Los Angeles Dons of the All-America Football Conference.[5] He played with the Dons in 1949, then moved to the NFL, where he played with the New York Yanks 1950-51, Dallas Texans 1952, Baltimore Colts 1953-54, and Philadelphia Eagles 1955. He went to the Pro Bowl in 1951, 1952, and 1953.[6]

A documentary about Taliaferro, titled Indiana Legends: George Taliaferro, was recently produced by WTIU public television in Bloomington, Indiana.

He now resides in Bloomington, Indiana where his wife is a retired juvenile court judge. His nephew is Baltimore Ravens halfback Lorenzo Taliaferro.[7]

References

  1. ^ Pro Football Hall of Fame website
  2. ^ "George Taliaferro". Sports Illustrated.
  3. ^ College Football Hall of Fame: George Taliaferro
  4. ^ Knight, Dawn (2007). Taliaferro: Breaking barriers from the NFL draft to the ivory tower. Bloomington, IN USA: Indiana University Press. p. 31. ISBN 978-0-253-34931-6.
  5. ^ Mayer, Larry (2012-02-14). "Smith thrilled to meet Bears' first African American player". Chicago Bears. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
  6. ^ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TaliGe00.htm
  7. ^ http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/ravens-insider/bal-lorenzo-taliaferro-returns-to-practice-20151008-story.html

Further reading

  • Piascik, Andy (2009). Gridiron Gauntlet. Lanham, MD: Taylor Trade Publishing. ISBN 978-1-58979-443-6
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