Steve Van Buren

Last updated

Steve Van Buren
Van Buren 1948 Bowman.jpg
Van Buren depicted on a 1948 Bowman trading card
No. 15
Position: Halfback
Personal information
Born:(1920-12-28)December 28, 1920
La Ceiba, Honduras
Died:August 23, 2012(2012-08-23) (aged 91)
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school: Warren Easton
(New Orleans, Louisiana)
College: LSU
NFL Draft: 1944  / Round: 1 / Pick: 5
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards:5,860
Yards per carry:4.4
Rushing touchdowns:69
Return yards:2,503
Return touchdowns:5
Interceptions:9
Player stats at NFL.com  ·  PFR

Stephen Wood Van Buren (December 28, 1920 − August 23, 2012) was a Honduran–American professional football player who was a halfback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL) from 1944 to 1951. Regarded as a powerful and punishing runner with excellent speed, through eight NFL seasons he won four league rushing titles, including three straight from 1947 to 1949. At a time when teams played 12 games a year, he was the first NFL player to rush for over ten touchdowns in a season—a feat he accomplished three times—and the first to have multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons. When he retired, he held the NFL career records for rushing attempts, rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns.

Contents

Van Buren played college football for Louisiana State University, where he led the NCAA in scoring in his senior season for the LSU Tigers. After leading LSU to victory in the Orange Bowl, he was drafted by the Eagles with the fifth overall pick in the 1944 NFL Draft. Van Buren acquired many nicknames over his career in reference to his running style, including "Wham Bam", "Moving Van", and "Supersonic Steve". He was the driving force for the Eagles in the team's back-to-back NFL championships in 1948 and 1949; he scored the only touchdown of the 1948 NFL Championship Game against the Chicago Cardinals, and in the next year's championship game against the Los Angeles Rams he set postseason records with 31 carries and 196 rushing yards.

After his playing career, Van Buren coached in minor league football, winning an Atlantic Coast Football League (ACFL) championship with the Newark Bears in 1963. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1965. Van Buren is a member of the NFL 1940s All-Decade Team, the National Football League 75th Anniversary All-Time Team and the National Football League 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. Considered one of the greatest players in Eagles franchise history, his number 15 jersey is retired by the team, and he is enshrined in the Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame and the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame. For his college career, he was inducted into the Louisiana State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1944 and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 1961.

Early life

Born in La Ceiba, Honduras to an American father and a mother of Spanish heritage, [1] Stephen Wood Van Buren was orphaned at age ten and was sent to live with relatives in New Orleans, Louisiana. [2] There he attended Warren Easton High School, and tried out for the football team originally as a sophomore, but did not make it. [3] [4] Later that year he dropped out of high school and went to work in an iron foundry. [4] He returned to high school two years later and made the team as an end his senior year. [4] He played well enough that season to earn an athletic scholarship to Louisiana State University (LSU) in Baton Rouge. [3]

College career

Playing for the LSU Tigers football team, Van Buren was used primarily for blocking until his senior season, when head coach Bernie Moore moved him to tailback because of a lack of players due to World War II conscription. [5] Van Buren received a class IV-F exemption due to an eye defect, so he was able to avoid conscription. [5] "He probably was the greatest running back in Southeastern Conference history," Moore recalled, "and I used him as a blocking back until his last year. The folks in Baton Rouge never let me forget that." [6]

He began the 1943 season by scoring four touchdowns in a 34–27 win over Georgia, including the game-winning touchdown with less than two minutes to play. [7] His final college game was the 1944 Orange Bowl against Texas A&M. Despite A&M coach Homer Norton devising a game-plan specifically to stop him, Van Buren was responsible for all of his team's points, as he ran for two touchdowns, threw for one more, and kicked LSU's only successful extra point attempt in the 19–14 victory. [8] [9] He finished the season with 847 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns. [5] He also completed 13 of 36 passing attempts for 160 yards. [10] His 98 points scored (111 including the bowl game) led the nation. [2] [5] After the season, the Associated Press named Van Buren to its All-Southeastern Conference first team. [11]

Professional career

While still enrolled at LSU, Van Buren was drafted into the National Football League by the Philadelphia Eagles with the fifth overall pick of the 1944 NFL Draft. [12] A month later, on May 19 he resigned from the university due to an eye infection that had been bothering him since the Orange Bowl game. [13] The Eagles gave Van Buren a $4,000 contract with no signing bonus. [14] But Van Buren, modest to a fault, took three weeks to sign the contract because he did not feel he was good enough to play professionally. [4] [15] [16] He played as a running back and return specialist in the NFL for eight seasons, all of them with the Eagles. He spent the first seven of them under head coach Earle "Greasy" Neale, who dubbed Van Buren "the best halfback in modern times." [4]

1944–1946: Kick return prowess

Van Buren played in nine games during his first season with the Eagles, rushing for 444 yards as a running back and recording five interceptions on defense as a defensive back. His first NFL return touchdown came in the third game of the season, on a 55-yard punt return in the second quarter of a 38–0 shutout win against the Boston Yanks. [17] Three games later, he returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown against the New York Giants, [18] which was the longest kickoff return by any player that season. His 15.3 yards per punt return also led the league. Van Buren was named to the Associated Press's All-Pro first team following the season, the only rookie so named for 1944. [19]

In 1945, Van Buren led the NFL in rushing yards for the first time, and also led the league in scoring, yards from scrimmage, and kickoff return yards. [3] He set an Eagles single-season record with 15 rushing touchdowns, a mark that stood until 2011. [20] His 18 total touchdowns broke Don Hutson's league record by one, set three seasons earlier. [21] [22] He again had the longest kickoff return of the season, this time with a 98-yard return touchdown against the Giants. In that game he also rushed for 100 yards and two more touchdowns as he scored all of the Eagles' touchdowns in the 28–21 loss. [23] At least six major publications named him a first-team All-Pro for the season, including the Associated Press and United Press. [24] [25]

By 1946, Van Buren was considered one of the best players in the league. [26] [27] Before the season, he signed a three-year contract to remain with the Eagles, dispelling rumors that he planned to join the rival All-America Football Conference. [22] He returned just five punts in the 1946 season, but ran one of them back 50 yards for a touchdown against the Boston Yanks in the final game of the year. It was the last punt Van Buren returned in his career. He finished the season with 529 rushing yards, third-most behind leader Bill Dudley of the Pittsburgh Steelers and rookie Pat Harder of the Chicago Cardinals. [28] He was named a first-team All-Pro by the New York Daily News and a second-team All-Pro by the United Press. [29]

After the Eagles' loss to the Steelers during the 1946 season, Eagles coach Greasy Neale gave Dudley high praise during a conversation with Steelers coach Jock Sutherland. Sutherland then offered to trade Dudley to the Eagles. In return he wanted Van Buren, but according to Les Biederman of The Pittsburgh Press , "before [Sutherland] finished the second syllable of that name, Neale had fled the table." [30]

1947–1949: Three straight rushing titles

Van Buren claimed his second rushing title in 1947, which was the first in a string of three straight. His 1,008 rushing yards broke the single-season record of 1,004 set by Beattie Feathers with the Chicago Bears in 1934. [31] He was no longer returning punts for the team, as the role was taken over by halfback Bosh Pritchard, though he still returned kickoffs. His 95-yard kickoff return touchdown against the Washington Redskins in the first game of the season was again the longest kickoff return by any player that season, as well as the last kick return touchdown of his career. [32]

The Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers both finished the 1947 regular season atop the Eastern Conference with an 8–4 record, so the two teams met for a tiebreaker game to determine the conference champion. [33] During the week before the game, the Steelers ran workouts concentrating on a means of stopping Van Buren's running. [34] In the game, the Steelers' defensive line held Van Buren to 45 rushing yards and no rushing touchdowns, but he scored the game's first touchdown on a 15-yard reception from quarterback Tommy Thompson. The Eagles won with a 21–0 shutout, setting them up to face the Chicago Cardinals in the NFL Championship Game, the first championship game appearance in franchise history. [35] Against the Cardinals' "Million Dollar Backfield", Van Buren was held in check, as the Eagles were defeated 28–21 in a back-and-forth contest. [36] [37]

The 1948 season was the second straight that Van Buren led the league in carries, rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, and yards from scrimmage. In Week 3, in the first quarter against the New York Giants Van Buren scored his 39th career rushing touchdown, surpassing Ernie Nevers as the all-time leader. [32] [38] That game—a 45–0 shutout win—was the first in an eight-game winning streak for the Eagles in which they scored 275 points total and allowed 49. [39] The team finished the regular season with the best record in the Eastern Division and were to meet the Chicago Cardinals again for the league championship. [40]

1948 NFL Championship Game

Having posted similar offensive statistics in the regular season, the Eagles and Cardinals were expected to play a tight game. [41] Played in a blizzard at Philadelphia's Shibe Park, the game's only score was a fourth quarter rushing touchdown by Van Buren from five yards out. [42] The 7–0 win gave the Eagles their first league title. [43] Van Buren finished with 98 yards on 26 carries, though he nearly missed the game entirely. Thinking the game would not be played in the blizzard, he remained home until coach Greasy Neale called him and told him the game was still on. He had to catch three trolleys and walk six blocks in order to make the game on time. [1] "I looked out my bedroom window that morning, saw the snow and went back to bed," he later explained. "I was sure the game would be postponed." [44]

Van Buren depicted on a 1950 Bowman trading card Van Buren 1950 Bowman.jpg
Van Buren depicted on a 1950 Bowman trading card

1949: Career rushing title and second championship

By 1949, Van Buren's annual salary was $15,000. [45] Despite the Eagles franchise struggling financially the previous season, Neale was willing to pay him more, but Van Buren declined. "I could have gotten a good deal more," he said. "But you acted a little different when your team lost money." [14] He came into his sixth NFL season needing 104 rushing yards to break Clarke Hinkle's career record of 3,860, which he set after ten seasons with the Packers. [46] [47] Van Buren passed Hinkle's mark against the Detroit Lions in the second game of the season, [48] and by the end of the year had broken his own single-season record as he rushed for 1,146 yards. [49] He became the first running back in NFL history to achieve three consecutive rushing titles. Jim Brown twice, Earl Campbell, and Emmitt Smith have since managed the feat. [50] The Eagles clinched the Eastern Division title in the tenth game of the season with a win over the Steelers. With Pittsburgh's defense designed to stop him, Van Buren ran for 205 yards on 27 carries, [51] setting an Eagles single-game franchise record for rushing yards that stood for over 60 years. [44] The Eagles won their final two games and advanced to their third NFL championship game in as many seasons.

In the 1949 NFL Championship Game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum against the Los Angeles Rams, as in the previous season's game, Van Buren carried the Eagles' offense. [3] Although he failed to score, he carried the ball 31 times for a championship game–record 196 yards on the heavily muddied field. [52] The Eagles won 14–0, becoming the first—and as of 2016, the only—team in league history to win consecutive championship games with a shutout. [1] [2] Following the game, Rams coach Clark Shaughnessy called Van Buren one of the greatest ball carriers he had seen in forty years of football. "He is equal to any player I've ever seen," said Shaughnessy. [53] Van Buren was named the outstanding athlete of the year by the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association. [54]

1950–1951: Injuries and retirement

Back, leg, and neck injuries began to take a toll on Van Buren in 1950, and his production dropped. [55] He broke his toe in the 1950 off-season and suffered from bone spurs, which caused him to miss the team's four preseason exhibition games and regular season opener. [56] [57] [58] He returned to lead the league in carries for the fourth straight season, but lost the rushing title for the first time in four years and had career-lows in touchdowns and yards per carry. The Eagles finished with a 6–6 regular season record. [59] Greasy Neale was fired by the Eagles the following February and replaced by Bo McMillin. [60] In 1951, Van Buren played alongside his brother, halfback and linebacker Ebert, whom the Eagles selected in that year's draft out of LSU. [61] The elder Van Buren continued to play through injuries, taking several shots of Novocaine before each game. [14] He had a career-low 327 rushing yards for the season, as the Eagles finished with a losing record for the first time since 1942.

During training camp prior to the 1952 season, Van Buren tore a knee ligament and required surgery. [4] He missed the entire season and retired as a player in September 1953, but remained on the Eagles payroll in a public relations capacity. [62] He finished his career having carried 1,320 times for 5,860 yards and 69 touchdowns. He also scored three times returning kickoffs, three times on receptions, and twice on punt returns for a total of 77 touchdowns. On defense, he intercepted nine opponents' passes. [63]

NFL career statistics

YearTeamGPRushingPunt returnsKickoff returns
AttYdsTDLngAvgRetYdsTDLngAvgRetYdsTDLngAvg
1944 PHI 9804445705.61523015515.3826619733.3
1945 PHI 1014383215695.81415402411.01337319828.7
1946 PHI 91165295584.658915017.81131906329.0
1947 PHI 122171,00813454.6—————1338219529.4
1948 PHI 1120194510294.7—————1429203420.9
1949 PHI 122631,14611414.4—————1228803524.0
1950 PHI 101886294413.3—————511002622.0
1951 PHI 101123276172.9——————————
Career831,3205,86069704.43447325513.9762,03039826.7

Playing style

Van Buren's profile at the Pro Football Hall of Fame states he "lined up as a halfback but played more like a fullback." [3] He had a rare combination of strength, speed, and endurance. [2] [4] While not as elusive or nimble as other backs, he preferred to run through tacklers instead of avoid them, and never ran out of bounds if he felt he could pick up extra yards. [15] [27] "There's no trick," he said of his running style. "When I see I'm gonna be tackled I just put my head down and give 'em the shoulder." [64] He was described as a "deadly tackler", hitting as hard on defense as he did when he carried the ball. [27] His disregard for his own body led to many injuries for both himself and opposing players. [14] [64]

He gained the majority of his yards and touchdowns on the ground, as he preferred being a runner rather than a receiver. [15] [16] All but three of his 69 offensive touchdowns were scored by rushing. [32] Van Buren acquired many nicknames over his career. [3] He was nicknamed "Wham Bam" for his quick and punishing running style. [65] He was also referred to as "Supersonic Steve," [16] [66] "Blockbuster," [63] and "Moving Van." [34] [67]

Coaching career

Van Buren served as a coach for several seasons in minor league football after his playing career. After serving as a scout for the Eagles, he coached a minor league team in Bristol, Pennsylvania for three years. [68] He then served as head coach for the Franklin Miners of Franklin, New Jersey and led them to a 27–5 win–loss record through 1958 and 1959. [69] The Miners moved to Paterson, New Jersey and joined the Atlantic Coast Football League (ACFL), winning the league's championship in 1962. [70] Van Buren then became head coach for the Newark Bears of the ACFL, which he led to a league championship in 1963. [71] In 1965, the Bears franchise joined the Continental Football League, and in 1966 moved to Orlando, Florida and was renamed the Panthers. Van Buren was elevated to vice president and director of player personnel for the Panthers in 1966. [72] He led the newly formed Hudson Valley Vikings of the North Atlantic Football League as head coach in 1967. [69] [73] In 1968, Van Buren became the offensive backfield coach for the Pottstown Firebirds of the ACFL. [74] In 1969, he was the coach of the independent, semi-pro Jersey Senators, [75] and in 1970, the Phoenix Steelers. [76]

Legacy, honors, and later life

Van Buren depicted in 1952 Van Buren 1952 Bowman.jpg
Van Buren depicted in 1952

Van Buren retired as the NFL record holder for career rushing yards and career rushing touchdowns. [2] He was the first player to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season twice, [55] and he held the top two single-season records in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. He was the first to rush for over ten touchdowns in a season, a feat he accomplished three times before any other player did so once. [77] He was the last Eagles player to win the rushing title until LeSean McCoy led the league in rushing yards in 2013. [78] As of 2019, he remains the Eagles' career leader in rushing touchdowns. [79]

In 1950, Van Buren was selected by the Associated Press for an all-time Southeastern Conference team, which honored the best 11 players in the conference's then 17-year existence. [80] He was inducted into the Louisiana State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1944 and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 1961. [81] [82]

He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the class of 1965, which also included Guy Chamberlain, Paddy Driscoll, Dan Fortmann, Otto Graham, Sid Luckman, and Bob Waterfield. [3] He was the first Eagles player to be inducted. [1] Clarke Hinkle presented him with the honor at the induction ceremony. Van Buren's acceptance speech consisted of four sentences:

Thank you Clarke Hinkle, I'm certainly glad to have broken your record. Since you people can't hear too good and I'm not too good a speaker I won't say much, but it's a great honor to be here. The two days I've spent in Canton will certainly bring me back every year from now on. Thank you very much. [83]

Van Buren's jersey number 15 was later retired by the Eagles. [2] He is also a member of the Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame and the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame. [84] [85] In 2007, he was named to the Eagles 75th Anniversary Team as the starting running back. [86] Van Buren is a member of the NFL 1940s All-Decade Team, which honors the best players from the decade. He was selected to the NFL’s 75th and 100th Anniversary All-Time Teams in 1994 and 2019, respectively. [87]

Van Buren lived quietly in Lancaster, Pennsylvania after his football career, where he ran an antique shop with his son-in-law. He also owned a used-car lot with George Ferguson in Delaware County. He also owned a dance hall. [1] His wife, Grace, died in 1978. [14] Van Buren died of pneumonia on August 23, 2012, in Lancaster at the age of 91. [65]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emmitt Smith</span> American football player (born 1969)

Emmitt James Smith III is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons, primarily with the Dallas Cowboys. Among other accolades, he is the league's all-time leading rusher.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barry Sanders</span> American football player (born 1968)

Barry Sanders is an American former professional American football player who played as a running back in the National Football League (NFL), from 1989 to 1998 for the Detroit Lions. Sanders led the league in rushing yards four times and in rushing touchdowns once, establishing himself as one of the most elusive runners in the history of the NFL with his quickness and agility, despite being only 5 ft 8 in tall and weighing 203 lbs. Sanders played college football for the Oklahoma State Cowboys, where as a college junior in 1988, he compiled what is widely considered among the greatest individual seasons in college football history, rushing for 2,628 yards and 37 touchdowns in 11 games. He was awarded the Heisman Trophy and was unanimously recognized as an All-American.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Randall Cunningham</span> American football player (born 1963)

Randall Wade Cunningham Sr. is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 16 seasons. He spent the majority of his career with the Philadelphia Eagles and is also known for his Minnesota Vikings tenure. A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Cunningham is third in quarterback rushing yards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norm Van Brocklin</span> American football player and coach (1926–1983)

Norman Mack Van Brocklin, nicknamed "The Dutchman", was an American football quarterback and coach who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons. He spent his first nine seasons with the Los Angeles Rams and his final three with the Philadelphia Eagles. Following his playing career, he was the inaugural head coach of the Minnesota Vikings from 1961 to 1966 and the second head coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 1968 to 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Curtis Martin</span> American football player (born 1973)

Curtis James Martin Jr. is an American former football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons, primarily with the New York Jets. He spent his first three seasons with the New England Patriots, who selected him in the third round of the 1995 NFL Draft, and was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Martin joined the Jets in 1998, where he spent nine seasons before retiring after the 2006 season. A five-time Pro Bowl selection and a first-team All-Pro, Martin is sixth in total NFL rushing yards. He was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012. Curtis Martin is often regarded as one of the greatest running backs of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Taylor (fullback)</span> American football player (1935–2018)

James Charles Taylor was an American professional football player who was a fullback in the National Football League (NFL) for ten seasons, with the Green Bay Packers from 1958 to 1966 and with the expansion New Orleans Saints in 1967. With the Packers, Taylor was invited to five straight Pro Bowls and won four NFL championships, as well as a victory in the first Super Bowl. He was recognized as the NFL Most Valuable Player after winning the rushing title in 1962, beating out Jim Brown. An aggressive player and fluent trash talker, Taylor developed several personal rivalries throughout his career, most notably with New York Giants linebacker Sam Huff. This confrontational attitude, combined with his tenacious running style, a penchant for contact, and ability to both withstand and deliver blows, earned him a reputation as one of the league's toughest players.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pete Pihos</span> American football player and coach (1923–2011)

Peter Louis Pihos was an American football player and coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Perry (American football)</span> American football player (1927–2011)

Fletcher Joseph Perry was an American professional football player who was a fullback in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and National Football League (NFL). He played for the San Francisco 49ers from 1948 to 1960, the Baltimore Colts from 1961 to 1962, and returned to the 49ers in 1963 for his final year in football. He was exceptionally fast, a trait uncommon for a fullback and one which earned him the nickname, "the Jet". The first African-American to be named the NFL Most Valuable Player, he became one of American football's first black stars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Canadeo</span> American football player (1919–2003)

Anthony Robert Canadeo was a professional American football player who played as a back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Green Bay Packers from 1941 to 1952, having missed most of the 1944 season and the entire 1945 season while serving in the U.S. Army during World War II. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, he attended Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, played football for the Bulldogs, and earned the nickname "Gray Ghost of Gonzaga".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clarke Hinkle</span> American football player (1909–1988)

William Clarke Hinkle was an American football player. He played on offense as a fullback, defense as a linebacker, and special teams as a kicker and punter. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of its second class of inductees in 1964.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy McDonald (American football)</span> American football player (1934–2018)

Thomas Franklin McDonald was an American football flanker and halfback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams, Atlanta Falcons, and Cleveland Browns. He played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and College Football Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darren Sproles</span> American football player (born 1983)

Darren Lee Sproles is an American football executive and former running back and return specialist who is a personnel consultant for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Kansas State, where he is the all-time leading rusher, and was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He also played for the New Orleans Saints and the Eagles. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Henry Johnson</span> American gridiron football player (1929–2011)

John Henry Johnson was an American professional football player who was a running back. He was known for his excellence at the fullback position as both a runner and a blocker. His first professional stint was in Canada in the Western Interprovincial Football Union for one season with the Calgary Stampeders. He then played in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, and Pittsburgh Steelers before spending his final season in the American Football League (AFL) with the Houston Oilers. Commonly referred to as simply John Henry, an allusion to the folk hero of the same name, Johnson was a tough and tenacious player who performed at a high level well into the tail end of his career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elmer Angsman</span> American football player (1925–2002)

Elmer Joseph Angsman Jr. was an American football halfback in the NFL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Hewitt (American football)</span> American football player (1909–1947)

William Ernest Hewitt was an American professional football player who was a defensive end and end in the National Football League (NFL). He played five seasons for the Chicago Bears (1932–1936), three for the Philadelphia Eagles (1937–1939), and one for the Phil-Pitt Steagles (1943). He is remembered for his refusal to wear a helmet as one of the last NFL players not to wear one.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy Thompson (quarterback)</span> American gridiron football player and coach (1918–1989)

Thomas Pryor Thompson was an American football quarterback in the National Football League and Canadian Football League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LeSean McCoy</span> American football player (born 1988)

LeSean Kamel McCoy, nicknamed "Shady", is an American former football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Pittsburgh and was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft. McCoy attended Bishop McDevitt High School in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, from 2002 to 2006. In his senior year of high school, McCoy suffered a major ankle injury, which threatened his career. In his first year at Pittsburgh in 2007, McCoy rushed for over 1,300 yards and recorded 14 touchdowns. In 2008, McCoy was selected as a second-team All-American. His 21 rushing touchdowns were third in the nation, only one behind the two leaders.

The 1949 Philadelphia Eagles season was the franchise's 17th season in the National Football League. The Eagles won their second-consecutive NFL championship.

The 1948 Philadelphia Eagles season was the franchise's 16th season in the National Football League (NFL). The Eagles repeated as Eastern Division champions and returned to the NFL Championship game, this time defeating the Chicago Cardinals to win their first NFL title.

Compared to other Major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada, the National Football League (NFL) has the lowest percentage of foreign-born players. In 2017, roughly 3% of active players were born outside the US. In recent NFL Drafts, teams have made efforts to search internationally for prospects. A record 12 international players were drafted in the 2015 NFL Draft. As the 2020 NFL season, Canada was the most represented foreign country in the NFL with 12 players, followed by Nigeria with eight and Australia with six.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Steve Van Buren, Philadelphia Eagles player, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee". The Washington Post. August 24, 2012. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Hall of Famer Steve Van Buren dies". ESPN . Philadelphia: Associated Press. August 24, 2012. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Steve Van Buren Bio". Pro Football Hall of Fame . Retrieved November 25, 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Litsky, Frank (August 24, 2012). "Steve Van Buren, 91, dies; Hall of Fame halfback". The New York Times. Associated Press. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Vincent, Herb (2008). LSU Football Vault: The History of the Fighting Tigers. Whitman Publishing, LLC. p. 57. ISBN   978-0794824280.
  6. ↑ "Steve Van Buren". Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  7. ↑ Vincent 2008, p. 54.
  8. ↑ Butler, Guy (January 3, 1944). "Devised All We Could In Advance To Stop Van, Didn't Work—Norton". The Miami News. p. 10. Retrieved October 8, 2018– via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ Vincent 2008, p. 55.
  10. ↑ "Steve Van Buren Stats". Sports Reference. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  11. ↑ "All-Southeastern selections". Lincoln Evening Journal. November 24, 1943. p. 12. Retrieved July 12, 2016– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  12. ↑ "Mostly a Prayer". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Associated Press. April 20, 1944. p. 20. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  13. ↑ "Eye Infection Causes Van Buren To Quit". The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. May 24, 1944. p. 7. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 Forbes, Gordon (August 28, 1980). "Steve Van Buren: Pain Was A Constant Companion". The Evening Independent. Knight-Ridder Newspapers. p. 6-C. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  15. 1 2 3 Kuechle, Oliver (August 19, 1949). "Van Buren Doesn't Pass or Kick or Block, but Boy! Does He Run!". The Milwaukee Journal. p. 5.
  16. 1 2 3 Snider, Steve (October 1, 1949). "Today's Sports Comments". St. Petersburg Times. United Press. p. 19. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Yanks Unable To Curb Eagles' Running, Are Beaten 38 To 0". The Lewiston Daily Sun. Associated Press. October 23, 1944. p. 8. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Giants Rally Late, Tie Eagles, 21-21". St. Petersburg Times. United Press. November 13, 1944. p. 9. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  19. ↑ "1944 NFL All-Pros". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  20. ↑ "Mind-blowing stats for the Philadelphia Eagles". NFL.com. July 25, 2015. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Hutson's Scoring Mark Erased by Van Buren". The Milwaukee Journal. December 12, 1945. p. 8. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  22. 1 2 "Steve Van Buren Signs". Reading Eagle. International News Service. April 8, 1946. p. 15. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  23. ↑ "Giants Rally to Win". St. Petersburg Times. International News Service. December 3, 1945. p. 9. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  24. ↑ "1945 NFL All-Pros". Pro-Football-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  25. ↑ Eck, Frank (December 15, 1945). "Three Rams' Players on AP All-Pro Football Team". Schenectady Gazette. p. 22. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  26. ↑ "Steve Van Buren Signed by Eagles". The Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. April 8, 1946. p. 5. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  27. 1 2 3 "Philadelphia Eagles' Van Buren Runs through 'em, not around 'em". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. October 4, 1946. p. 19. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  28. ↑ "Eagles Roar To 40-14 Win Over Yanks". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. United Press. December 9, 1946. p. 18. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  29. ↑ "1946 NFL All-Pros". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  30. ↑ Biederman, Les (October 17, 1947). "Eagles' Steve Van Buren Rated Football's Ace Runner". The Pittsburgh Press. p. 36. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  31. ↑ "Van Buren Set New National League Record". Reading Eagle. United Press. February 19, 1948. p. 22. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  32. 1 2 3 "Steve Van Buren Career Touchdown Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  33. ↑ "Eagles Meet Steelers For Eastern Flag". Reading Eagle. United Press. December 21, 1947. p. 35. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  34. 1 2 "Steelers Point For Van Buren". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. December 19, 1947. p. 17. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  35. ↑ Sell, Jack (December 22, 1947). "Thompson Leads Birds to Eastern Title With Passes". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 18. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  36. ↑ Warren, Harry (December 29, 1947). "Cardinals Beat Eagles for Title, 28-21". Chicago Tribune. pp. 25–26. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  37. ↑ "The Cards' Dream Season In '47". Pro Football Hall of Fame. January 1, 2005. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  38. ↑ Frye, Bryan (May 2, 2016). "History of the Career Rushing Touchdowns Record". thegridfe.com. GridFe. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  39. ↑ "1948 Philadelphia Eagles Schedule & Game Results". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  40. ↑ Smith, Wilfrid (December 19, 1948). "Cards seek their second from Eagles". Chicago Tribune. p. 1, part 2. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  41. ↑ "Cards Given Slight Edge Over Eagles". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. December 18, 1948. p. 12. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  42. ↑ Kuechle, Oliver E. (December 20, 1948). "Eagles beat Cardinals for title in snowstorm". Milwaukee Journal. p. 6. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  43. ↑ Smith, Wilfrid (December 20, 1948). "Browns win, 49-7; Eagles jar Cards, 7-0". Chicago Tribune. p. 43. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  44. 1 2 Didinger, Ray (December 11, 2013). "Didinger: Memories Of Steve Van Buren". Philadelphia Eagles. Archived from the original on February 6, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  45. ↑ "Those $Million Athletes How Did It All Begin?". The Telegraph. Associated Press. November 16, 1976. p. 25. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  46. ↑ "Pair Of Eagles Best Gainers". Gettysburg Times. Associated Press. November 23, 1948. p. 3. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  47. ↑ "Van Buren Near Record". Reading Eagle. International News Service. September 29, 1949. p. 31. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  48. ↑ Cain, Charles (October 4, 1949). "Steve Van Buren Mr. Football as Eagles Tip Lions". The Owosso Argus-Press. Associated Press. p. 8. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  49. ↑ "Steve Van Buren Breaks Record". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. December 5, 1949. p. 8. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  50. ↑ "NFL Year-by-Year Rushing Yards Leaders". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  51. ↑ "Eagles Rip Steelers, 34-17, For Third Eastern Title". The Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. November 28, 1949. p. 3. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  52. ↑ Warren, Harry (December 19, 1949). "Eagles Keep Title in Los Angeles Rain". Chicago Tribune. p. 1, part 3.
  53. ↑ "Ram Coach Calls Van Buren Tops". St. Petersburg Times. Associated Press. December 20, 1949. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
  54. ↑ "Philly Scribes Praise Tiger For Comeback". The Pittsburgh Press. United Press. January 31, 1950. p. 29. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  55. 1 2 "Steve Van Buren: A Rarified Eagle". The Victoria Advocate. October 16, 1981. p. 3F. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  56. ↑ "Van Buren Faces Possible Surgery". St. Petersburg Times. Associated Press. August 17, 1950. p. 20. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  57. ↑ "Van Buren Sent Home For Treatment of Toe". Reading Eagle. Associated Press. August 17, 1950. p. 29. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  58. ↑ "Eagles Lose Van Buren For Opener". Reading Eagle. International News Service. September 15, 1950. p. 27. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  59. ↑ "1950 Philadelphia Eagles Schedule & Game Results". Pro-Football-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  60. ↑ "Eagles fire Greasy Neale, Hire McMillan as Coach". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. February 9, 1951. p. 20. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  61. ↑ Livingston, Pat (November 2, 1951). "Van Buren Brothers Mean Double Trouble for Steelers". The Pittsburgh Press. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  62. ↑ "Van Buren Is Retired By Phila. Eagles". Gettysburg Times. Associated Press. September 22, 1953. p. 5. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  63. 1 2 "Steve Van Buren NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  64. 1 2 "Why Is Van Buren Good? Why It's Punch, of Course". The Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. November 14, 1947. p. 2. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  65. 1 2 Bunch, Will (August 24, 2012). "Obituary: One of the great Eagles, Steve Van Buren, dead at 91". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
  66. ↑ "Van Buren Set for Pro Grid Playoff Sunday". Gettysburg Times. Associated Press. December 16, 1948. p. 3. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  67. ↑ "Van Buren After Sweep". St. Petersburg Times. Associated Press. November 19, 1943. p. 12. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  68. ↑ Nissenson, Herschel (August 23, 1963). "Steve Van Buren Cites Football Defense Changes". Reading Eagle. Associated Press. p. 16. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  69. 1 2 "Hudson Valley Football Gets Newburgh Boost". The Evening News. April 18, 1967. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  70. ↑ Nauta, Bob (December 19, 1962). "Unique Christmas Gift". The Day. p. 32. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  71. ↑ "1963 Newark Bears". profootballarchives.com. The Pro Football Archives. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  72. ↑ "Orlando Slates Player Tryouts". Daytona Beach Sunday News-Journal. May 21, 1966. p. 11. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  73. ↑ "NAFL Grid Showdown In New Britain 'Nite". The Morning Record. September 23, 1967. p. 9. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  74. ↑ "Firebirds Sign Steve Van Buren". Pottstown Mercury. May 1, 1968.
  75. ↑ "Senators Seek Quarterback". Courier-Post. September 8, 1969.
  76. ↑ "Phoenix Steelers Open Saturday". Pottstown Mercury. August 5, 1970.
  77. ↑ "NFL Year-by-Year Rushing Touchdowns Leaders". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  78. ↑ Spadaro, Dave (December 29, 2013). "McCoy Wins Rushing Title, Sets Record". philadelphiaeagles.com. Philadelphia Eagles. Archived from the original on February 2, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
  79. ↑ "Philadelphia Eagles Career Rushing Leaders". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  80. ↑ Slappey, Sterling (November 2, 1950). "Don Hutson Is Selected For All-Time SEC Team". The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. p. 13. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
  81. ↑ "LSU Athletics Hall of Fame Members". lsusports.net. Louisiana State University. August 28, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
  82. ↑ "Steve Van Buren - Hall of Fame". Allstate Sugar Bowl. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
  83. ↑ "Steve Van Buren Enshrinement speech". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
  84. ↑ "Eagles Hall of Fame Inductees" (PDF). philadelphiaeagles.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 25, 2014. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  85. ↑ "Steve Van Buren - Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame". phillyhall.org. Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
  86. ↑ "Eagles announce 75th anniversary team". The Philadelphia Inquirer. September 8, 2007. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
  87. ↑ "Steve Van Buren's Career Highlights". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved July 20, 2016.

Further reading

Records
Preceded by NFL career rushing yards leader
1949–1958		Succeeded by
Preceded by NFL career rushing touchdowns leader
1948–1962		Succeeded by
Preceded by NFL season rushing yards record
1947–1958		Succeeded by
Preceded by NFL season rushing touchdowns record
1945–1958		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.