Vic Washington
No. 22, 23, 33 | |||||||||||||
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Position: | Running back / Safety | ||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||
Born: | Plainfield, New Jersey, U.S. | March 23, 1946||||||||||||
Died: | December 31, 2008 Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S. | (aged 62)||||||||||||
Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||||||
Weight: | 197 lb (89 kg) | ||||||||||||
Career information | |||||||||||||
High school: | Plainfield (NJ) | ||||||||||||
College: | Wyoming | ||||||||||||
NFL draft: | 1970 / Round: 4 / Pick: 87 | ||||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||||
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CFL status: | International | ||||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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Player stats at PFR |
Victor Arnold Washington (March 23, 1946 – December 31, 2008) was an American professional
Early life
Washington, who never knew his father, was born to 16-year old Marion Washington in Plainfield, New Jersey in 1946. She was often unable to support him, and he spent much of his childhood being raised by his grandmother, as well as some time in an orphanage.
He played baseball, track, and football at Plainfield High School (New Jersey), where his football talent earned him a scholarship to Wyoming.[1]
College career
Washington played for Wyoming from 1965 to 1967, as a running back, defensive back, and kick returner. As a sophomore, he intercepted three passes and returned 34 punts for 443 yards. In his Junior season, Washington set school records for punt return yards in a season (53 for 565 yards and 2 touchdowns) and in a single game (145 yards). He also had a 95-yard kickoff return touchdown, 40 tackles, 22 pass deflections, and four interceptions. With a team that featured Washington and star running back Jim Kiick, Wyoming finished the season undefeated at 10-0 before losing to Louisiana State University in the Sugar Bowl, 28–13.[2]
The Sugar Bowl loss turned out to be Washington's final college game. A few months later, Washington was charged with assaulting a 19-year-old student referee during an intermural basketball game. He pleaded guilty and received 5-day suspended jail sentence and a 25-dollar fine. Wyoming permanently expelled him. Despite this, Wyoming still voted him into their athletic hall of fame in 2005.[3]
CFL
Vic Washington first starred with the CFL's Ottawa Rough Riders in 1968 and 1969, winners of back-to-back Grey Cup Championships in 1968 & 1969 against the Calgary Stampeders and the Saskatchewan Roughriders, respectively. He shared the backfield with future NFL running back Bo Scott. In the first of the two title matches, Washington received the Most Valuable Player award for his 80-yard touchdown run from scrimmage, establishing a Grey Cup record that still stands. He played one more season in the CFL with the 1970 B.C.Lions before leaving for the NFL.
NFL
After signing with the NFL's
NFL career statistics
Legend | |
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Bold | Career high |
Regular season
Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | |||||||||
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GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
1971 | SFO | 14 | 13 | 191 | 811 | 4.2 | 42 | 3 | 36 | 317 | 8.8 | 40 | 4 |
1972 | SFO | 13 | 13 | 141 | 468 | 3.3 | 33 | 3 | 43 | 393 | 9.1 | 33 | 1 |
1973 | SFO | 13 | 13 | 151 | 534 | 3.5 | 25 | 8 | 33 | 238 | 7.2 | 20 | 0 |
1974 | HOU | 12 | 5 | 74 | 281 | 3.8 | 23 | 2 | 13 | 92 | 7.1 | 15 | 0 |
1975 | BUF | 13 | 4 | 9 | 49 | 5.4 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 21 | 10.5 | 15 | 0 |
1976 | BUF | 2 | 1 | 22 | 65 | 3.0 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 29 | 9.7 | 11 | 0 |
67 | 49 | 588 | 2,208 | 3.8 | 42 | 16 | 130 | 1,090 | 8.4 | 40 | 5 |
Playoffs
Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | |||||||||
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GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
1971 | SFO | 2 | 2 | 26 | 117 | 4.5 | 27 | 0 | 4 | 38 | 9.5 | 20 | 0 |
1972 | SFO | 1 | 1 | 10 | 56 | 5.6 | 22 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 8.0 | 8 | 0 |
3 | 3 | 36 | 173 | 4.8 | 27 | 0 | 5 | 46 | 9.2 | 20 | 0 |
Post NFL
Washington struggled heavily after his playing career was over, due to lingering injuries and a
Death
Washington died in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on December 31, 2008, at the age of 62. He was survived by his four children and three grandchildren.[5]
See also
- List of NCAA major college yearly punt and kickoff return leaders
References
External links
- FitzGerald, Tom "Vic Washington, 49ers Pro Bowler from 1970s dies at 62" San Francisco Chronicle, Saturday, February 7, 2009