Professional Football Player. Born Edwin Donald Macon, he was the first African-American to play for the National Football League's Chicago Bears in the franchise's history. He played football collegiately at the University of the Pacific and was drafted by the Bears in the second round of the 1952 NFL Draft. He played for them for two seasons and he rushed for 324 yards and two touchdowns on 70 attempts while catching 14 passes for 49 yards and two touchdowns. On 22 kick returns, he averaged 30.5 yards per return and 5.9 yards on 24 punt returns while with the Bears. In 1954 he left the Bears and went to Canada to play for the Canadian Football League's Calgary Stampeders. Bears' head man George Halas was not pleased by this move and he blackballed and sued him for $100,000. The Bears even refused to acknowledge that he played for them. He played for the Stampeders for one season before leaving football to become a longshoreman. He came back to pro football in 1957 as a member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL where he would play until 1959 when he resumed his longshoreman career. In 1960 he joined the newly formed Oakland Raiders of the American Football League and played for them for one year. While with the Raiders, he was tied for second in the league with nine interceptions and earned All-Pro honors. After leaving football in 1961, he continued to work as a longshoreman in the San Francisco Bay Area until he finally retired eight years before his passing.
Professional Football Player. Born Edwin Donald Macon, he was the first African-American to play for the National Football League's Chicago Bears in the franchise's history. He played football collegiately at the University of the Pacific and was drafted by the Bears in the second round of the 1952 NFL Draft. He played for them for two seasons and he rushed for 324 yards and two touchdowns on 70 attempts while catching 14 passes for 49 yards and two touchdowns. On 22 kick returns, he averaged 30.5 yards per return and 5.9 yards on 24 punt returns while with the Bears. In 1954 he left the Bears and went to Canada to play for the Canadian Football League's Calgary Stampeders. Bears' head man George Halas was not pleased by this move and he blackballed and sued him for $100,000. The Bears even refused to acknowledge that he played for them. He played for the Stampeders for one season before leaving football to become a longshoreman. He came back to pro football in 1957 as a member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL where he would play until 1959 when he resumed his longshoreman career. In 1960 he joined the newly formed Oakland Raiders of the American Football League and played for them for one year. While with the Raiders, he was tied for second in the league with nine interceptions and earned All-Pro honors. After leaving football in 1961, he continued to work as a longshoreman in the San Francisco Bay Area until he finally retired eight years before his passing.
Bio by: Mr. Badger Hawkeye
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