George Webster (American football)
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George Delano Webster (November 25, 1945 – April 19, 2007) was an American professional football player who was a linebacker in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL) with the Houston Oilers, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the New England Patriots. Webster played college football for the Michigan State Spartans. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1987.
College career
Webster was recruited to play at
Professional career
After being selected by the American Football League's Houston Oilers as the fifth player overall in the first round of the 1967 draft, Webster's position was changed. In an exhibition game against the Cowboys, opposing quarterback Don Meredith completed a square-out to "Bullet" Bob Hayes, a former Olympic speedster. Hayes thought he had broken into the open, but was brought down from behind by Webster.
Webster started at left linebacker and made 15 tackles in his first AFL game. He made his first pro interception that year, helping the Oilers win the Eastern Division title. He was part of a defensive unit that held opponents under 200 points for the season. Webster averaged more than ten tackles a game, and was named the
His fourth season with the Oilers saw him suffer a knee injury that curtailed his speed. He played one more season with Houston before playing with Pittsburgh and New England to end his career.[2]
Post-career disability and death
In 1989, Webster applied for benefits as totally and permanently disabled. He was found to have lost most use of a hand, foot, knee and ankle due to football-related injuries but did not meet the NFL's definition of totally disabled. In 1998, the Supreme Court let stand a finding by the NFL's retirement board that Webster's disability was not related to his football career. Football-related disability benefits are $4,000 a month; non-football disability monthly benefits are $750.
In 2002, Webster had his right leg amputated above the knee in Houston because the limb had little circulation despite five previous surgeries. He also dealt with throat and prostate cancer in his later years. In February 2007, he had a scholarship fund established in his name. On April 19, 2007, Webster died in Houston.[3]
See also
References
- ^ "MSU Football Legend George Webster Passes Away At Age 61". Michigan State University Athletics. 2007-04-19. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
- ^ "State Your Case: The greatness that was George Webster". Talk Of Fame. 2018-07-24. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
External links
- George Webster at the College Football Hall of Fame
- Career statistics and player information from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference