Bob Ferguson (fullback)

American football player (1939–2014)

American football player

Bob Ferguson

Ferguson in 1961

No. 46, 35
Position:| Fullback
Personal information
Born:| (1939-08-29)August 29, 1939
Troy, Ohio, U.S.
Died:| December 30, 2004(2004-12-30) (aged 65)
Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Height:| 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:| 220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school:| Troy
College:| Ohio State (1959–1961)
NFL draft:| 1961: 1st round, 5th pick
AFL draft:| 1961: 1st round, 8th pick
Career history

* Pittsburgh Steelers (1962–1963)
* Minnesota Vikings (1963)
* Dayton Colts (1965)

Career highlights and awards

* National champion (1961)
* Maxwell Award (1961)
* UPI Player of the Year (1961)
* SN Player of the Year (1961)
* 2× Unanimous All-American (1960, 1961)
* 2× First-team All-Big Ten (1960, 1961)

Career NFL statistics
| Rushing yards:| 209

|

Rushing average:| 3.2
Rushing touchdowns:| 1
Receptions:| 4
Receiving yards:| 13
Stats at Pro Football Reference

College Football Hall of Fame

Robert Eugene Ferguson (August 29, 1939 – December 30, 2004) was an American football fullback who played in the National Football League (NFL) with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings. He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes, where he won the Maxwell Award in 1961. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996.

## Playing career

[edit]

Ferguson attended Troy High School in Troy, Ohio. Ferguson's first year of eligibility at Ohio State University was 1959. The starting fullback at the beginning of the season was the senior, and Heisman Trophy candidate, Bob White. Through the course of the season, however, Ferguson supplanted White as the starter and led the team in rushing that season, averaging 6.1 yards per carry.

Over the next two seasons, Ferguson continued to lead the Ohio State offensive attack. In both 1960 and 1961 Ferguson was a unanimous All-American selection. In 1961, he won the UPI College Football Player of the Year, the Maxwell Award, and was the runner-up to Ernie Davis for the Heisman Trophy. The 1961 Heisman vote was the second-closest in the history of the award, with Davis edging Ferguson by 53 points.

Ferguson shared the Ohio State backfield in 1961 with halfbacks Paul Warfield and Matt Snell. Ferguson was a power runner and Warfield was supplied speed. The common description of the time said, "Warfield is the lightning, Ferguson is the thunder." The Buckeyes won the Big Ten Conference that year and were voted national champions by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).

Ferguson finished his career at Ohio State with 2,162 rushing yards. This rushing total was at the time second in team history behind Howard Cassady. Ferguson owns the distinction of never having been thrown for a loss during his college football career. Ferguson was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996, and into Ohio State's own Varsity O Hall of Fame in 1987. He was selected to the Ohio State Football All-Century Team in 2000.

Ferguson was a first-round draft pick by both the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League and the San Diego Chargers of the American Football League. Ferguson accepted the offer from the Steelers, but a head injury hampered his football career. After two seasons, playing both for the Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings, he joined the Dayton Colts of the Midwest Football League in 1965.[1]

## Later life

[edit]

Ferguson returned to Ohio State University and earned a master's degree in sociology. He worked as a youth counselor in Columbus, Ohio until he was forced to retire in 1990 due to health problems. Ferguson died in 2004 of complications due to diabetes.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Carroll, Tom (September 10, 1965). "Ferguson Menace to Own Colts Teammates in Drill". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved April 17, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.

## External links

[edit]

* Bob Ferguson at the College Football Hall of Fame
*   * Career statistics from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference

Bob Ferguson—championships, awards, and honors

* v
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1961 Ohio State Buckeyes football—FWAA national champions

* Bob Ferguson
* John Havlicek
* Bob Middleton
* Gary Moeller
* Daryl Sanders
* Matt Snell
* Joe Sparma
* Bob Vogel
* Dick Van Raaphorst
* Paul Warfield

Head coach
Woody Hayes

Assistant coaches
Lyal Clark
Alan Fiers
Ernie Godfrey
Esco Sarkkinen
Bo Schembechler

* v
* t
* e

Maxwell Award winners

* 1937: Frank
* 1938: O'Brien
* 1939: Kinnick
* 1940: Harmon
* 1941: Dudley
* 1942: Governali
* 1943: Odell
* 1944: G. Davis
* 1945: Blanchard
* 1946: Trippi
* 1947: D. Walker
* 1948: Bednarik
* 1949: Hart
* 1950: Bagnell
* 1951: Kazmaier
* 1952: Lattner
* 1953: Lattner
* 1954: Beagle
* 1955: Cassady
* 1956: McDonald
* 1957: Reifsnyder
* 1958: Dawkins
* 1959: Lucas
* 1960: Bellino
* 1961: Ferguson
* 1962: Baker
* 1963: Staubach
* 1964: Ressler
* 1965: Nobis
* 1966: Lynch
* 1967: Beban
* 1968: Simpson
* 1969: Reid
* 1970: Plunkett
* 1971: Marinaro
* 1972: Van Pelt
* 1973: Cappelletti
* 1974: Joachim
* 1975: Griffin
* 1976: Dorsett
* 1977: Browner
* 1978: Fusina
* 1979: C. White
* 1980: Green
* 1981: Allen
* 1982: H. Walker
* 1983: Rozier
* 1984: Flutie
* 1985: Long
* 1986: Testaverde
* 1987: McPherson
* 1988: Sanders
* 1989: Thompson
* 1990: Detmer
* 1991: Howard
* 1992: Torretta
* 1993: Ward
* 1994: Collins
* 1995: George
* 1996: Wuerffel
* 1997: P. Manning
* 1998: R. Williams
* 1999: Dayne
* 2000: Brees
* 2001: Dorsey
* 2002: Johnson
* 2003: E. Manning
* 2004: J. White
* 2005: V. Young
* 2006: Quinn
* 2007: Tebow
* 2008: Tebow
* 2009: McCoy
* 2010: Newton
* 2011: Luck
* 2012: Te'o
* 2013: McCarron
* 2014: Mariota
* 2015: Henry
* 2016: Jackson
* 2017: Mayfield
* 2018: Tagovailoa
* 2019: Burrow
* 2020: Smith
* 2021: B. Young
* 2022: C. Williams
* 2023: Penix Jr.
* 2024: Jeanty

* v
* t
* e

The Sporting News College Football Player of the Year winners

* 1942: Sinkwich
* 1943: Bertelli
* 1944: Horvath
* 1945: Blanchard
* 1946: G. Davis
* 1947: Lujack
* 1948: D. Walker
* 1949: Hart
* 1950: Janowicz
* 1951: Kazmaier
* 1952: Vessels
* 1953: Lattner
* 1954: Cassady
* 1955: Cassady
* 1956: McDonald
* 1957: Crow
* 1958: Cannon
* 1959: Cannon
* 1960: Bellino
* 1961: Ferguson
* 1962: Baker
* 1963: Staubach
* 1964: Butkus
* 1965: Anderson & Grabowski
* 1966: Spurrier
* 1967: Beban
* 1968: Simpson
* 1969: Owens
* 1970: Plunkett
* 1971: Sullivan & Marinaro
* 1972: B. Jones
* 1973: Hicks
* 1974: A. Griffin
* 1975: A. Griffin
* 1976: Dorsett
* 1977: Campbell
* 1978: Sims
* 1979: C. White
* 1980: Green
* 1981: Allen
* 1982: H. Walker
* 1983: Rozier
* 1984: Flutie
* 1985: B. Jackson
* 1986: Testaverde
* 1987: Brown
* 1988: Sanders
* 1989: Hagen
* 1990: Ismail
* 1991: Howard
* 1992: M. Jones
* 1993: Ward
* 1994: Salaam
* 1995: Frazier
* 1996: Wuerffel
* 1997: Woodson
* 1998: R. Williams
* 1999: Dayne
* 2000: Weinke
* 2001: Crouch
* 2002: Palmer
* 2003: J. White
* 2004: A. Smith
* 2005: Bush
* 2006: T. Smith
* 2007: Tebow
* 2008: Harrell, Bradford & McCoy
* 2009: Ingram II
* 2010: Newton
* 2011: Griffin III
* 2012: Manziel
* 2013: Winston
* 2014: Mariota
* 2015: Mayfield
* 2016: L. Jackson
* 2017: Mayfield
* 2018: Tagovailoa
* 2019: Burrow
* 2020: D. Smith
* 2021: Young
* 2022: C. Williams
* 2023: Daniels
* 2024: Hunter

* v
* t
* e

UPI College Football Player of the Year winners

* 1950: Janowicz
* 1951: Kazmaier
* 1952: Vessels
* 1953: Giel
* 1954: Ameche
* 1955: Cassady
* 1956: Majors
* 1957: Crow
* 1958: Cannon
* 1959: Cannon
* 1960: Bellino
* 1961: Ferguson
* 1962: Baker
* 1963: Staubach
* 1964: Huarte
* 1965: Garrett
* 1966: Spurrier
* 1967: Simpson
* 1968: Simpson
* 1969: Owens
* 1970: Plunkett
* 1971: Marinaro
* 1972: Rogers
* 1973: Cappelletti
* 1974: Griffin
* 1975: Griffin
* 1976: Dorsett
* 1977: Campbell
* 1978: Sims
* 1979: C. White
* 1980: Green
* 1981: Allen
* 1982: H. Walker
* 1983: Rozier
* 1984: Flutie
* 1985: Jackson
* 1986: Testaverde
* 1987: Brown
* 1988: Sanders
* 1989: Ware
* 1990: Detmer
* 1991: Howard

* v
* t
* e

1960 College Football All-America Team consensus selections

Backfield|

* QB Jake Gibbs
* HB Joe Bellino
* HB Ernie Davis
* FB Bob Ferguson

Line|

* E Mike Ditka
* E Dan LaRose
* T Bob Lilly
* T Ken Rice
* G Tom Brown
* G Joe Romig
* C E. J. Holub

* v
* t
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1961 College Football All-America Team consensus selections

Backfield|

* QB Sandy Stephens
* HB Ernie Davis
* HB Jimmy Saxton
* FB Bob Ferguson

Line|

* E Gary Collins
* E Bill Miller
* T Billy Neighbors
* T Merlin Olsen
* G Joe Romig
* G Roy Winston
* C Alex Kroll

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1962 NFL draft first-round selections

* Ernie Davis
* Roman Gabriel
* Merlin Olsen
* Gary Collins
* Bob Ferguson
* Fate Echols
* Ronnie Bull
* Lance Alworth
* Wendell Harris
* John Hadl
* Leroy Jackson
* Irv Goode
* Jerry Hillebrand
* Earl Gros

* v
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San Diego Chargers 1962 AFL draft selections

* Bob Ferguson
* Lance Alworth
* Dick Hudson
* John Hadl
* Bob Bill
* Mack Burton
* Bob Mitinger
* John Cornett
* Roy Winston
* Frank Buncom
* Wendell Harris
* Bobby Jackson
* Jerry Robinson
* Tom Minter
* Dan Sullivan
* Sonny Bishop
* Ralph Smith
* George Andrie
* Chuck Bryant
* Jim Bates
* Fred Moore
* George Gross
* Frank Gardner
* Dennis Biodrowski
* Mike Lind
* Ron Herman
* Jesse Williams
* Jim Thibert
* Dick Farris
* Homer Jones
* Sam Gruneisen
* Mike Woulfe
* Mel Rideout
* Ben Wilson
* Paul Dudley
* John Denvir
* Doug Elmore
* Wayne Frazier
* Jacque MacKinnon
* Phil Lohmann

* v
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Pittsburgh Steelers 1962 NFL draft selections

* Bob Ferguson
* Jack Collins
* Gary Ballman
* John Powers
* Larry Vignali
* Bob Wills
* Sam Mudie
* Dave Woodward
* Jim Whitaker
* Vern Hatch
* Bobby Ply
* Nat Tucker
* Ferrell Yarbrough
* John Krupok
* John Knight

* v
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Pittsburgh Steelers first-round draft picks

Formerly the Pittsburgh Pirates (1933–1939)

* Shakespeare
* Basrak
* White
* Eakin
* Dudley
* Daley
* Podesto
* Duhart
* Blanchard
* Bechtol
* D. Edwards
* Gage
* Chandnois
* Avinger
* Modzelewski
* Marchibroda
* Lattner
* Varrichione
* Glick
* Davis
* Dawson
* Spikes
* Ferguson
* Martha
* Leftridge
* Taylor
* Greene
* Bradshaw
* Lewis
* F. Harris
* Thomas
* Swann
* Brown
* Cunningham
* Cole
* R. Johnson
* Hawthorne
* Malone
* Gary
* Abercrombie
* Rivera
* Lipps
* Sims
* Rienstra
* Woodson
* A. Jones
* Worley
* Ricketts
* Green
* Richardson
* Searcy
* Figures
* C. Johnson
* Bruener
* Stephens
* Scott
* Faneca
* T. Edwards
* Burress
* Hampton
* Simmons
* Polamalu
* Roethlisberger
* Miller
* Holmes
* Timmons
* Mendenhall
* Hood
* Pouncey
* Heyward
* DeCastro
* J. Jones
* Shazier
* Dupree
* Burns
* Watt
* Edmunds
* Bush
* N. Harris
* Pickett
* B. Jones
* Fautanu
* Harmon

* v
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Los Angeles Chargers first-round draft picks

Formerly the San Diego Chargers (1961–2016)

* Stickles
* Faison
* Ferguson
* Sweeney
* T. Davis
* DeLong
* D. Davis
* Billingsley
* R. Washington
* Hill
* Domres
* Babich
* Gillette
* Burns
* Rodgers
* Matthews
* Goode
* G. Johnson
* M. H. Williams
* J. Washington
* Rush
* Jefferson
* Winslow
* Brooks
* Smith
* Anderson
* Byrd
* L. Williams
* Cade
* Lachey
* O'Neal
* FitzPatrick
* Bernstine
* Miller
* Grossman
* Seau
* Richard
* Mims
* D. Gordon
* Leaf
* Tomlinson
* Jammer
* S. Davis
* Manning
* Merriman
* Castillo
* Cromartie
* C. Davis
* Cason
* English
* Mathews
* Liuget
* Ingram
* Fluker
* Verrett
* M. Gordon
* Bosa
* M. K. Williams
* James
* Tillery
* Herbert
* Murray
* Slater
* Z. Johnson
* Johnston
* Alt
* Hampton

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