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unusual facts about backfield



2008 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team

Preseason Heisman hopeful Chris Wells and freshman phenom Terrelle Pryor started in the backfield for the first time ever, as Wells returned from a foot injury.

Clint Longley

He would also receive Small College All-America honors and was named along with teammate Wilbert Montgomery, to the 1973 NAIA football All Star team, which backfield included Walter Payton.

Dave Fuller

Fuller tried his hand at coaching, first as the head football, basketball and baseball coach at Perquimans County High School in Hertford, North Carolina from 1940 to 1942, and then as an assistant football coach for the backfield at Northwest Missouri State Teacher's College in Maryville, Missouri in 1943.

Dave Skrien

In 1975, Skrien was hired by former CFL coach and executive Leo Cahill to coach the offensive backfield of the Memphis Southmen, which included Larry Csonka and Jim Kiick.

DeAngelo Williams

He played in the first five games of the 2006 season and looked promising as an alternative to DeShaun Foster in the Carolina backfield, compiling an impressive average of 5.3 yards per carry.

Del Anderson

Before coaching at Albion, Anderson was a backfield coach at Case Institute of Technology and a high school football coach in Adamsville, Ohio, Hillsboro, Ohio, and Youngstown, Ohio.

Doug Plank

In 2009 he served as the assistant defensive backfield coach for the New York Jets under head coach Rex Ryan, the son of Plank's former defensive coordinator, Buddy Ryan.

Eddie Mahan

In 1927, George Trevor of the New York Sun selected an all-time backfield made up of Mahan, Walter Eckersall, Jim Thorpe, and Willie Heston of Michigan.

Frank Filchock

Alvin J. Paris, a self-styled 'big bettor' on athletic contests, was arraigned on a bribery charge, accused of having offered Merle Hapes and Frank Filchock, Giant backfield men, $2,500 each to agree not to play their best in the championship contest.

George McAfee

While his rushing yardage totals seem modest by today's standards, he had to share the backfield with other outstanding running backs, such as Hugh Gallarneau, Norm Standlee, and Bill Osmanski, as well as Hall of Fame quarterback Sid Luckman.

History of the Chicago Cardinals

This would be the most celebrated year in Cardinals history as the team went 9-3, beating Philadelphia in the championship game 28-21 with their "Million-Dollar Backfield", which included quarterback Paul Christman, halfback Charley Trippi, halfback Elmer Angsman, and fullback Pat Harder, piling up 282 rushing yards.

John Kimbrough

In 1941 he started along Tom Harmon in the New York Americans backfield in the third American Football League and became the team's primary running threat after Harmon left the team for military service.

Kyle Rote

Following his playing career, Rote served as the Giants backfield coach and was sports broadcaster for WNEW radio, NBC, and WNBC New York.

Lance Frazier

While there, Frazier shared the offensive backfield with Jason Geathers currently of the San Jose SaberCats of the Arena Football League.

Rollie Miles

On offence, Miles was often found in a backfield with such CFL greats as Jackie Parker, Normie Kwong, Johnny Bright, Bernie Faloney and Don Getty, he could run or pass on the option with skill.

Single set back

He believed having an extra blocker on the line would make it easier to keep Taylor out of his backfield.

Steve Dils

He played six seasons with the Vikings and started most of the 1983 season, where he was paired in the backfield with former Stanford teammate Darrin Nelson.

Teddy Morris

In 1940, the year following his last game as a player, Morris began as a backfield coach for the Argonauts then, during IRFU's break from playing during the Second World War, coached the HMCS York Navy football team, and upon IRFU's return to play in 1945, became Argonauts head coach earning three consecutive Grey Cups from 1945 to 1947 and respect from fans and players alike.

Tilden Campbell

In 1946, former Alabama assistant coach Harold Drew, in his first year as head coach, hired Campbell to serve as backfield coach at Ole Miss.

Tom Harp

From 1956 to 1960, Harp coached the backfield at the United States Military Academy under head coaches Earl Blaik and Dale Hall.

Yale Lary

Lary played in the defensive backfield alongside Jack Christiansen and Jim David on "Chris' Crew" in the early 1960s, when Detroit was one of the best pro teams of the era.


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