Marion Motley
| Marion Motley | |
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Positions: Halfback , Linebacker |
Jersey numbers: 76, 36 |
| born June 5, 1920 in Leesburg , Georgia | |
| died on June 27, 1999 in Cleveland , Ohio | |
| Career information | |
| Active : 1946 - 1955 | |
| College : South Carolina State University , University of Nevada, Reno | |
| Teams | |
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| Career statistics | |
| Games | 106 |
| Erlaufene yards | 4,720 |
| Running average | 5.7 |
| Touchdowns | 39 |
| Interceptions | 2 |
| Stats at pro-football-reference.com | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Pro Football Hall of Fame | |
Marion Motley (born June 5, 1920 in Leesburg , Georgia , USA , † June 27, 1999 in Cleveland , Ohio ) was an American American football player. He played, among other things, as a fullback in the National Football League (NFL) with the Cleveland Browns .
origin
Marion Motley was born in Georgia to Shakeful and Blanche Motley, but grew up in Canton , Ohio, where his family moved when he was three years old. As a high school football player, he caught his future coach with the Cleveland Browns, Paul Brown . Brown was training an opposing team at this point. Motley studied after graduating from school in 1939 at South Carolina State University and then at the University of Nevada, Reno . In 1943, Motley dropped out of college with a knee injury and returned to Ohio. In Canton he married and worked in a steel factory. During the Second World War he did his military service in the US Navy and in 1945 played for a naval team coached by Paul Brown, American football.
Player career
In 1946 Motley was signed by the Cleveland Browns, who were part of the newly formed All-America Football Conference (AAFC). The coach of his new team was again Paul Brown. Motley and his teammate Bill Willis in the AAFC, as well as the two NFL players Woody Strode and Kenny Washington were the only African-American players who were under contract as professional players. Motley received a salary of $ 4,500 in his first year of play .
The Browns were the dominant team in the AAFC. Several later members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame played in their ranks , including quarterback Otto Graham , defensive line player Bill Willis and offensive line player Lou Groza . In 1946 they won the final against the New York Yankees 14: 9. Marion Motley, who ran as fullback and linebacker for the Browns, scored a touchdown in the endgame and gained 98 yards of space by running game. In 1947 the Yankees were defeated 14-3 in the final. Again Motley made a good game and gained 109 yards. In 1948 Motley won his third league title, the Browns defeated the Buffalo Bills 49-7 in the final . He got three touchdowns and a space gain of 133 yards. Even with his fourth title win, Motley was able to enter himself in the AAFC record books. He scored his fifth touchdown in a final when his Browns beat the San Francisco 49ers 21-7 in 1949.
The AAFC had to cease playing due to financial difficulties after the 1949 season. The Browns were inducted into the NFL. Their triumphant advance continued in the NFL. In the 1950 NFL final, they beat the Los Angeles Rams by 30:28. The Browns' winning streak ended in 1951. For the first time they lost in a final. The Rams were able to prevail against the Browns with 24:17.
Marion Motley was able to set the season records for space gain achieved by running game in 1948 and 1950. Due to injuries, his performance dropped significantly after 1950. It was rarely used as a starter . The Browns remained one of the best teams in the NFL and moved into the 1953 NFL final with the injury-prone Motley, but lost to the Detroit Lions 17:16. In 1954, Motley, who received an annual income of $ 15,000 for his senior year ($ 11,500 according to other sources), suspended his career due to his numerous injuries. In 1955 he returned to the NFL and ran for the Pittsburgh Steelers . Further injuries forced him to finally end his career after seven games in Pittsburgh . Motley was considered an excellent runner, but at the same time was strong enough to block the opposing players on defense . As a linebacker, he also showed above-average performance in defense of the Browns.
According to the NFL
The black Motley wanted to work as a coach after his playing career. Racist prejudices, however, let his project fail. To his disappointment, the Browns weren't ready to sign him as a coach either. He therefore worked temporarily as a scout for the Browns, took up various casual jobs and worked, among other things, for the state lottery of Ohio. Motley died of prostate cancer in Cleveland, leaving three sons. His grave is unknown.
Honors
Marion Motley played in a Pro Bowl , the final game of the season's best players. He was voted All-Pro five times . The Browns honor him in the Cleveland Browns Honor Roll. He is a member of the NFL 1940s All-Decade Team , the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team and has been a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame since 1968 . He is the second African-American player to receive this honor after Emlen Tunnell . The Sporting News magazine named him one of the Top 100 Football Players of All Time.
Web links
- Obituary in the New York Times
- Curriculum vitae of Marion Motley I (PDF file; 40 kB)
- Marion Motley II's CV
- Short biography ( memento from January 25, 2013 in the web archive archive.today )
- Marion Motley, NFL All Time Team
- Marion Motley for the Cleveland Browns
Individual evidence
- ↑ Annual statistics of the Bowns 1946
- ↑ AAFC final 1946 - statistics
- ^ Annual statistics of the Browns, 1947
- ^ AAFC final 1947 - statistics
- ^ Annual statistics of the Browns 1948
- ↑ AAFC final 1948 - statistics
- ^ Annual statistics of the Browns 1949
- ^ AAFC Final 1949 - Statistics
- ↑ Annual statistics of the Browns 1950
- ^ NFL final 1950 statistics
- ^ Annual statistics of the Browns 1951
- ^ 1951 NFL final - statistics
- ^ Annual statistics of the Browns 1953
- ↑ 1953 NFL final - statistics
- ^ Marion Motley in Find A Grave
- ↑ Marion Motley on # 32 of the best football player of all time ( Memento from December 9, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Motley, Marion |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American football player |
| DATE OF BIRTH | June 5, 1920 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Leesburg , Georgia , USA |
| DATE OF DEATH | June 27, 1999 |
| Place of death | Cleveland , Ohio |