Junior Coffey
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | March 21, 1942 Kyle, Texas, U.S. | ||||||||||||
| Died: | August 30, 2021 (aged 79) Auburn, Washington, U.S. | ||||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 215 lb (98 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Dimmitt (TX) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Washington | ||||||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1965 / Round: 7 / Pick: 94 | ||||||||||||
| AFL draft: | 1965 / Round: 16 / Pick: 122 Houston Oilers | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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| Player stats at NFL.com · PFR | |||||||||||||
Junior Lee Coffey (March 21, 1942 – August 30, 2021) was an American professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) with the Green Bay Packers, Atlanta Falcons, and New York Giants.[1]
Early years
Born in Kyle, Texas, Coffey (6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 200 lb (91 kg)) with 10.2* speed in the 100 (yards), was one of the leading running backs and defensive linebackers in Texas high school football during the 1960s.[2][3] As a senior in 1960, he rushed for 1,562 yards in 11 games to lead the Dimmitt Bobcat offense.
In a bi-district playoff game against Olton during the 1960 season, Coffey carried the ball 34 times for 253 yards and scored both Dimmitt touchdowns despite leg cramps as the Bobcats fell 15-12 to Olton.
Coffey became an all-state performer for the Bobcats in football and basketball in the 1960-61 school year. In the 1959-60 season, he became the first black athlete ever to play in a Texas UIL state basketball tournament.
As a junior during the 1959 football season, he led the Dimmitt Bobcat offense with 1294 rushing yards on 165 carries and also led the defense with 185 tackles at linebacker.
College career
The Southwest Conference did not integrate until 1967, so Coffey had to leave the state to play major college football.[4] He attended the University of Washington in Seattle and played under head coach Jim Owens.[1] With the Huskies, Coffey was a three-time all-conference selection and was tabbed Honorable Mention All-American all three seasons. He finished his career as the second-leading ground gainer in school history.
Professional career
Coffey was selected by the
After football
After the NFL, Coffey eventually became a
Coffey died in Auburn, Washington on August 30, 2021, at the age of 79.[9]
References
- ^ a b Purdy, Shon (October 31, 2015). "Husky legend: Junior Coffey". University of Washington Athletics. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
- ^ Orts, Jason (May 5, 2015). "Hall of Fame profile: Junior Coffey blazed trails in Panhandle football". Waco Tribune-Herald. Texas. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
- ^ Perry, Jocelyn (September 20, 2013). "Junior Coffey among '63 team honored Saturday". University of Washington Athletics. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
- ^ a b Raley, Dan (July 29, 2008). "Racehorse trainer once great runner in own right". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
- ^ "Packers' Claridge goes to Atlanta; Coffey, Grimm also picked in draft". Milwaukee Journal. UPI. February 16, 1966. p. 16, part 2.
- ^ "Giants obtain Junior Coffey". Pittsburgh Press. UPI. October 29, 1969. p. 80.
- ^ "Giants get Coffey from Falcons". St. Petersburg Times. Florida. October 29, 1969. p. 3C.
- ^ Chapin, Dwight (February 24, 2002). "Where are they now / Junior Coffey / A different running game /". San Francisco Chronicle. (SF Gate). Retrieved February 24, 2016.
- ^ Former NFL RB, college star Junior Coffey dies at 79
External links
- Career statistics and player information from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference ·