View source for Charley Trippi

{{Short description|American football player (1921–2022)}}
{{for|the American musician and internet personality|Charles Trippy}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name        = Charley Trippi
| image       = CharleyTrippi1948Bowman.jpg
| caption     = Trippi, {{circa|1948}}
| number      = 62, 2
| position    = [[Halfback (American football)|Halfback]] <br> [[Quarterback]] <br> [[Punter (gridiron football)|Punter]]
| birth_date  = {{Birth date|1921|12|14}}
| birth_place = [[Pittston, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| death_date  = {{death date and age|2022|10|19|1921|12|14}}
| death_place = [[Athens, Georgia]], U.S.
| height_ft   = 6
| height_in   = 0
| weight_lb   = 186
| high_school = [[Pittston Area High School|Pittston]] <br> (Pittston, Pennsylvania) <br> [[La Salle Academy]] <br> ([[New York City, New York]])
| college     = [[Georgia Bulldogs football|Georgia]] (1942, 1945—1946)
| draftyear   = 1945
| draftround  = 1
| draftpick   = 1
| pastteams   =
* [[Chicago Cardinals]] ({{NFL Year|1947|1955}})
| highlights  =
* [[List of NFL champions (1920–1969)|NFL champion]] ([[1947 NFL Championship Game|1947]])
* First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1948 All-Pro Team|1948]])
* Second-team All-Pro ([[1947 All-Pro Team|1947]])
* 2× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1953 Pro Bowl|1952]], [[1954 Pro Bowl|1953]])
* [[NFL 1940s All-Decade Team]]
* [[Arizona Cardinals Ring of Honor]]
* [[College football national championships in NCAA Division I FBS|National champion]] ([[1942 Georgia Bulldogs football team|1942]])
* [[Maxwell Award]] (1946)
* [[Southeastern Conference football individual awards|SEC Player of the Year]] (1946)
* [[List of unanimous All-Americans in college football|Unanimous All-American]] ([[1946 College Football All-America Team|1946]])
* 2× First-team [[List of All-SEC football teams|All-SEC]] ([[1945 All-SEC football team|1945]], [[1946 All-SEC football team|1946]])
* [[Georgia Bulldogs football#Retired numbers|Georgia Bulldogs No. 62]] retired
| statlabel1  = Rushing yards
| statvalue1  = 3,506
| statlabel2  = Rushing average
| statvalue2  = 5.1
| statlabel3  = Passing yards
| statvalue3  = 2,547
| statlabel4  = [[Touchdown|TD]]–[[Interception|INT]]
| statvalue4  = 16–31
| statlabel5  = [[Reception (gridiron football)|Reception]]s / Receiving yards
| statvalue5  = 130 / 1,321
| statlabel6  = Punting yards / average
| statvalue6  = 7,907 / 40.3
| statlabel7  = Return yards
| statvalue7  = 2,321
| statlabel8  = Total touchdowns
| statvalue8  = 37{{efn|23 rushing, 11 receiving, 2 return and 1 interception return}}
| pfr         = TripCh00
| HOF         = charley-trippi
| CollegeHOF  = 1675 
}}

'''Charles Louis Trippi''' (December 14, 1921 – October 19, 2022) was an American professional [[American football|football]] player for the [[Chicago Cardinals]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL) from 1947 to 1955. Although primarily a [[Halfback (American football)|halfback]], his versatility allowed him to fill a multitude of roles over his career, including [[quarterback]], [[Safety (gridiron football position)|safety]], [[Punter (gridiron football)|punter]], and [[return specialist]]. A "[[Triple-threat man|quintuple-threat]]", Trippi was adept at running, catching, passing, punting, and defense.

Trippi attended the [[University of Georgia]], where he played college football for the [[Georgia Bulldogs football|Georgia Bulldogs]] from 1942 to 1946, with an interlude in 1944 while serving in the military during [[World War II]]. As a sophomore, he guided Georgia to victory in the [[1943 Rose Bowl]] and was named the game's most valuable player. As a senior in 1946, he won the [[Maxwell Award]] as the nation's most outstanding college football player, was named the [[Southeastern Conference]]'s player of the year, and earned first-team [[List of unanimous All-Americans in college football|unanimous All-America]] recognition.

Drafted first overall by the Cardinals as a "future pick" in the [[1945 NFL draft]], Trippi was also pursued by the [[New York Yankees (AAFC)|New York Yankees]] of the [[All-America Football Conference]] (AAFC) as well as multiple professional baseball teams. He ultimately signed a record $100,000 contract with the Cardinals. As a rookie, Trippi led Chicago's "[[Million Dollar Backfield (Chicago Cardinals)|Million Dollar Backfield]]" to victory in the [[1947 NFL Championship Game]]. By the time he retired he had compiled the most yards of [[total offense]] by a player in NFL history. Trippi was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] in 1959 and the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] in 1968.

==Early life==
Charles Louis Trippi was born to an Italian immigrant father on December 14, 1921, in [[Pittston, Pennsylvania]], a coal-mining community. Seeking to avoid the dangers of a life mining coal like his father, Trippi turned to sports. He attended [[Pittston Area High School|Pittston High School]] and began his football career as a [[Halfback (American football)|tailback]] for the school's football team.<ref name=Pittston>{{cite news|title=Charley Trippi, One Of Ten Nominated To Grid "Hall Of Fame"|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9942385/charley_trippi_one_of_ten_nominated_to/|access-date=March 31, 2017|work=Pittston Gazette|date=October 16, 1959|page=6}}</ref> He also played [[semi-professional sports|semi-professional]] baseball while in high school.<ref name=Lane/>

==College career==
[[File:Trippi sinkwich bulldogs.jpg|thumb|Trippi (left) and [[Georgia Bulldogs football|University of Georgia]] teammate [[Frank Sinkwich]], c. 1942-43]]

===1942–1943===
Considered undersized at {{convert|160|lbs}}, Trippi was turned down by four colleges before being recruited to play for the [[University of Georgia]] by Georgia alum [[Harold Ketron|Harold "War Eagle" Ketron]].<ref name=Freeman>{{cite news|last1=Freeman|first1=Donald|title=Trippi's Terrific|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1949/10/16/page/95/article/trippis-terrific|access-date=April 1, 2017|work=Chicago Tribune|date=October 16, 1949|page=11}}</ref> He was given a scholarship and played for the [[Georgia Bulldogs football]] varsity team from 1942 to 1946, with an interlude in 1944 due to World War II. As a sophomore in 1942, he played alongside that season's [[Heisman Trophy]] winner [[Frank Sinkwich]]. That year, Trippi and Sinkwich led Georgia to a 75–0 win over rival [[Florida Gators football|Florida]], a game in which Trippi threw a touchdown pass to end [[George Poschner]], scored two rushing touchdowns, and on defense returned an interception for a touchdown.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Magill|first1=Dan|title=Magill: Dogs' 75–0 thumping of Gators most memorable|url=http://onlineathens.com/stories/103008/foo_349984953.shtml|access-date=March 31, 2017|work=Athens Banner-Herald|date=October 30, 2008|archive-date=April 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401060536/http://onlineathens.com/stories/103008/foo_349984953.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> Georgia finished the season with a record of 11–1 and was named the consensus national champion. Trippi then guided Georgia to a 9–0 victory over UCLA in the [[1943 Rose Bowl]], in which he carried 27 times for 115 yards and also handled passing and punting duties.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Frawley|first1=Frank|title=Georgia Wins Rose Bowl Classic, 9–0|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9944236/georgia_wins_rose_bowl_classic_90/|access-date=March 31, 2017|work=The Salt Lake Tribune|agency=Associated Press|date=January 2, 1943|page=5}}</ref> He was retroactively named the game's most valuable player when the award was created in 1953.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rose Bowl Champions, MVPs|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jan-04-sp-20189-story.html|access-date=March 31, 2017|work=Los Angeles Times|date=January 4, 2002}}</ref>

===Military service===
Trippi's college career was interrupted by World War II, causing him to miss the 1943 and 1944 seasons and all but six games in 1945. He played for the [[1944 Third Air Force Gremlins football team]] and was selected as a first-team back on the [[Associated Press]]' [[1944 All-Service football team|1944 Service All-America team]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Navy Places Four on AP Service All-America; Trippi in Backfield|newspaper=The St. Petersburg Times|date=December 12, 1944|page=10|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17821346/navy_places_four_on_ap_service/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> While in the service in 1945, he was drafted by the [[Chicago Cardinals]] of the [[National Football League]] as a future pick; per an agreement with Cardinals owner [[Charles Bidwill]], Trippi was allowed to return to Georgia after his time in the military.<ref name=Steele/>

===1945–1946===
Despite missing Georgia's first five games of the 1945 season, Trippi was named a first-team [[List of All-SEC football teams|All-Southeastern Conference]] back by both the [[Associated Press]] (AP) and [[United Press International]] (UPI).<ref>{{cite news|title='Bama Dominates Mythical Team|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2562426/the_ogden_standardexaminer/|access-date=April 1, 2017|work=The Ogden Standard-Examiner|agency=Associated Press|date=December 4, 1945|page=12|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9968440/the_anniston_star/|date=November 27, 1945|page=8|work=The Anniston Star|title=Gilmer and Mancha Get Berths on UP All-Southeastern|author=Burns Bennett|access-date=May 31, 2015|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> He threw a 54-yard touchdown pass and returned a punt 69 yards for a touchdown in Georgia's 20–6 win over [[Tulsa Golden Hurricane football|Tulsa]] in the [[Oil Bowl]] on New Year's Day.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Patrick|first1=Skipper|title=Trippi Tramps on Hurricanes|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10036646/trippi_tramps_on_hurricanes/|access-date=April 4, 2017|work=The Monroe News-Star|agency=Associated Press|date=January 2, 1946|page=6|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> In 1946, Trippi led Georgia to its first undefeated season. Against [[Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate|rival]] [[1946 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team|Georgia Tech]] in the final game of that year, Trippi compiled 544 combined yards rushing, passing, and returning kicks, and scored three touchdowns in Georgia's 35–7 victory.<ref name=Barnett>{{cite journal|last1=Barnett|first1=Bob|last2=Carroll|first2=Bob|title=Charley Trippi: A Success Story|journal=The Coffin Corner|date=1989|volume=11|issue=1|url=http://profootballresearchers.com/archives/Website_Files/Coffin_Corner/11-01-359.pdf|access-date=April 4, 2017}}</ref> Georgia then defeated [[1946 North Carolina Tar Heels football team|North Carolina]] 20–10 in the [[Sugar Bowl]], where Trippi carried 14 times for 54 yards and threw a 67-yard touchdown pass to end [[Dan Edwards]]. After the season, Trippi was given the [[Maxwell Award]] as the most outstanding college player in the nation,<ref>{{cite news|title=Trippi Winner Of Football Award|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19461211&id=KtxLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=P4oDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5884,2000658|access-date=April 4, 2017|work=The Free Lance-Star|agency=Associated Press|date=December 11, 1946|page=3}}</ref> the [[Walter Camp Memorial Trophy]] as the nation's best back,<ref>{{cite news|title=New Honor for Charley Trippi|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10032104/new_honor_for_charley_trippi/|access-date=April 4, 2017|work=The Decatur Herald|agency=Associated Press|date=June 24, 1947|page=14|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> and was a unanimous choice for the [[College Football All-America Team|All-America]] team.<ref>{{cite web|title=1946 College Football Year Summary|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/years/1946.html|website=Sports-Reference.com|access-date=April 4, 2017}}</ref> He finished as runner-up in [[Heisman Trophy]] voting behind winner [[Glenn Davis (halfback)|Glenn Davis]] of [[Army Black Knights football|Army]].<ref name=Barnett/>

===College all-star games===
Due to relaxed regulations during [[World War II]], Trippi holds the unusual distinction of participating in the [[Chicago College All-Star Game]] a record five times: twice with Georgia, twice in the military, and once with the Cardinals.<ref name=HOF>{{cite web|title=Charley Trippi Bio|url=http://www.profootballhof.com/players/charley-trippi/biography/|publisher=Pro Football Hall of Fame|access-date=April 12, 2017}}</ref> He was named the Most Valuable Player of the game in 1945.<ref>{{cite web|title=Charley Trippi's College All-Star Game Trophy|url=http://www.profootballhof.com/news/charley-trippi-s-college-all-star-game-trophy/|publisher=Pro Football Hall of Fame|access-date=April 12, 2017}}</ref> It was at the Chicago College All-Star Game that Bidwell decided he would draft Trippi first overall, as "[[Card-Pitt]]" was winless in 1944 and in need of a play-maker. "He said, 'I'm gonna get ya,'" Trippi recalled. "He wanted me to play for him, and I said, 'All you've got to do is draft me and I'm ready.'"<ref name=Wolken/>

==Baseball==
In addition to football, Trippi was highly sought-after for his baseball skills. As a senior on [[Georgia Bulldogs baseball|Georgia's baseball team]] in 1946, he recorded a [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] of .475 and hit 11 home runs in 30 games while playing as a [[shortstop]] and [[outfielder]].<ref name=Reichler>{{cite news|last1=Reichler|first1=Joe|title=Trippi To Sign With Chicago|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10237670/trippi_to_sign_with_chicago/|access-date=April 13, 2017|work=Tucson Daily Citizen|agency=Associated Press|date=January 16, 1947|page=8}}</ref> In 1947, Trippi played one season of [[minor league baseball]] with the [[Southern Association]]'s [[Atlanta Crackers]]. He recorded a batting average of .334 through 106 games while drawing large crowds.<ref>{{cite web|title=Charles Trippi Minor League Statistics & History|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=trippi001cha|website=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=April 4, 2017}}</ref><ref name=Wolken/>

Multiple [[Major League Baseball]] teams attempted to sign him, including the [[New York Yankees]], [[Boston Red Sox]], [[History of the Boston Braves|Boston Braves]], and [[Philadelphia Phillies]], but those deals fell through when he joined the NFL.<ref>{{cite news|title=Baseball and Football Make Firm Contract|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10031746/baseball_and_football_make_firm_contract/|access-date=April 4, 2017|work=The Daily Chronicle|agency=United Press|date=January 15, 1947|page=8|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name=Reichler/> Between NFL seasons in 1948 and 1949, Trippi served as Georgia's baseball coach, compiling a 34–18 win–loss record.<ref>{{cite web|title=All-Time Georgia Baseball Coaches|url=http://www.georgiadogs.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/baseball-former-coaches.html|website=georgiadogs.com|publisher=University of Georgia|access-date=April 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413153350/http://www.georgiadogs.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/baseball-former-coaches.html|archive-date=April 13, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Professional football career==
[[File:Trippi 1954 Bowman.jpg|thumb|Trippi on a 1954 football card]]
Trippi was a major part in the battling between the NFL and [[All-America Football Conference]] (AAFC). The 26-year-old rookie had plenty of leverage as a star commodity, and so weighed his options: the Cardinals and the AAFC's [[New York Yankees (AAFC)|New York Yankees]]. The Yankees were sure they had signed Trippi to a joint deal that included a contract with the Yankees of MLB, but Cardinals owner [[Charles Bidwill]] signed Trippi to a four-year contract worth an unprecedented $100,000 along with a first-year bonus of $25,000.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Einstein|first1=Charles|title=Chicago Cardinals to Pay Trippi $100,000|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9393127/chicago_cardinals_to_pay_trippi_100000/|access-date=March 7, 2017|work=The Daily Times|agency=International News Service|date=January 17, 1947|page=6|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The contract was considered the most lucrative in pro football history.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chamberlain|first1=Charles|title=Trippi Gets Peanuts, Says Gallopin' Ghost|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10029915/newsjournal/|access-date=April 12, 2017|work=News-Journal|agency=Associated Press|date=January 17, 1947|page=21|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Trippi felt the NFL was more established and stable, and Bidwill had offered him job security.<ref name=Wolken/>

Trippi's addition completed Bidwill's "[[Million Dollar Backfield (Chicago Cardinals)|Dream Backfield]]". Although Bidwill did not live to see it, Trippi became the game breaker in a talented corps that included [[Paul Christman]], [[Pat Harder]], [[Marshall Goldberg]] and, later, [[Elmer Angsman]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.profootballhof.com/history/release.aspx?release_id=1701|title=The Cards' dream season in '47|publisher=Pro Football Hall of Fame|date=January 1, 2005|access-date=April 3, 2017}}</ref> Trippi served a multitude of roles for the Cardinals as a rookie: in 11 games, he rushed 83 times for 401 yards, caught 23 passes for 240 yards, averaged 43.4 yards on 13 punts, returned eight punts for 181 yards and 15 kickoffs for 321 yards, and on defense returned an interception 59 yards for a touchdown.<ref name=PFR>{{cite web|title=Charley Trippi Stats|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TripCh00.htm|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=April 4, 2017}}</ref> The Cardinals compiled nine wins and three losses and faced the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] in the [[1947 NFL Championship Game]], which the Cardinals won 28–21 largely due to a spectacular all-around performance by Trippi. Playing on an icy field in Chicago, Trippi wore basketball shoes for better traction and totaled 206 yards, including 102 yards with two punt returns.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Goldberg|first1=Dave|title=Not Surprising|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10030004/not_surprising/|access-date=April 4, 2017|work=The Index-Journal|date=January 13, 2009|page=11|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> He scored touchdowns on a 44-yard run and a 75-yard punt return. During the punt return, he twice escaped an encirclement of tacklers and fell to his knees near midfield before cutting to the outside and sprinting for the score.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sainsbury|first1=Ed|title=Cardinals Down Eagles to Gain Pro Grid Crown|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10037909/cardinals_down_eagles_to_gain_pro_grid/|access-date=April 4, 2017|work=The Evening News|agency=United Press|date=December 29, 1947|page=20|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Trippi was named to the 1947 [[All-Pro]] second-team backfield by the [[United Press]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Green|first1=Russ|title=Bears, Cardinals Each Place Three Men On U. P. All-Pro Eleven|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10038101/bears_cardinals_each_place_three_men/|access-date=April 4, 2017|work=Freeport Journal-Standard|agency=United Press|date=December 11, 1947|page=13|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

Trippi led the NFL in all-purpose yards in both 1948 and 1949, compiling 1,485 and 1,552 respectively.<ref name=PFR/> His 5.4 rushing yards per carry in 1948 also led the league, as did his two punt return touchdowns. He had a 45-yard punt return touchdown against the [[Green Bay Packers]] and later returned a punt 67 yards for a touchdown against the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]]. Trippi was a first-team All-Pro selection for 1948 by the AP, UPI, New York ''[[New York Daily News|Daily News]]'', and the ''[[Sporting News]]'', among others.<ref name=PFR/> The Cardinals returned to the [[1948 NFL Championship Game|championship game in 1948]], and this time were shutout by the Eagles for a 7–0 loss. Trippi was held to nine carries for only 26 yards during the game, which was played in a heavy snowstorm.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Smith|first1=Wilfred|title=Heavy Snow Mars Game; Use Lights|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1948/12/20/page/43/article/browns-win-49-7-eagles-jar-cards-7-0|access-date=April 12, 2017|work=Chicago Daily Tribune|date=December 20, 1948|page=1}}</ref> Trippi saw heavy use as a receiver in 1949; in addition to rushing for 554 yards, he led the Cardinals in receptions (32) and receiving touchdowns (six) and was second on the team with 412 receiving yards.<ref>{{cite web|title=1949 Chicago Cardinals Statistics & Players|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/crd/1949.htm|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=April 13, 2017}}</ref>

After playing as a left halfback for his first four seasons, Trippi switched to quarterback during 1951 and 1952. On December 15, 1951, on frozen turf in [[Wrigley Field]], Trippi completed nine passes for 106 yards and carried 11 times for 145 yards, accounting for three touchdowns as the Cardinals defeated the Bears 24–14.<ref>{{cite news|title=Cards Upset Bears, 24–14; Trippi Stars|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10204465/cards_upset_bears_2414_trippi_stars/|access-date=April 11, 2017|work=The Decatur Herald|agency=Associated Press|date=December 17, 1951|page=4|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Following the 1952 season, he was invited to the [[Pro Bowl]] as a backup quarterback for the [[Eastern and Western Conferences (NFL) 1933–69|American Conference]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Pro Bowl Will Feature Leading T Quarterbacks|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10236509/pro_bowl_will_feature_leading_t/|access-date=April 13, 2017|work=Janesville Daily Gazette|agency=Associated Press|date=January 9, 1953|page=10|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Trippi moved back to offensive halfback for one season and again was invited to the Pro Bowl.<ref>{{cite news|title=Eastern Squad Wins Pro Bowl Game, 20–9|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=15VRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mmoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4852%2C4483318|access-date=April 13, 2017|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|agency=Associated Press|date=January 18, 1954|page=18}}</ref> He then switched over to play defense in 1954, recording three pass interceptions as a defensive back. He also became the Cardinals' primary punter for 1953 and 1954, and had a career punting average of over 40 yards per punt.<ref name=PFR/> His career essentially ended in the 1955 preseason when he was tackled by [[John Henry Johnson]] of the [[San Francisco 49ers]], which left Trippi with a smashed nose, a concussion, and a protruding bone behind his eye that gave him double vision.<ref>{{cite news|title=Trippi Badly Hurt; Fear Career Over|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19550916&id=CfcNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eHoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1391,90535&hl=en|access-date=September 28, 2016|work=St. Petersburg Times|agency=Associated Press|date=September 16, 1955|page=12}}</ref> He appeared in only five games that season and did not record any statistics on offense.<ref name=PFR/> Trippi retired on December 13, 1955, a day before his 33rd birthday.<ref>{{cite news|title=Charley Trippi Retires As Player for Cardinals|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10214800/charley_trippi_retires_as_player_for/|access-date=April 12, 2017|work=Moberly Monitor-Index|agency=Associated Press|date=December 13, 1955|page=9|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> At the time, his 6,053 yards of [[total offense]] (3,506 rushing, 2,547 passing, and 1,321 receiving) was the most by a player in NFL history, and he had compiled the fourth-most all-purpose yards of any player (7,148).<ref>{{cite web|title=Player Season Finder Query Results: For combined seasons, from 1920 to 1955, played in the NFL, sorted by descending All-Purpose Yds|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/play-index/psl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=combined&year_min=1920&year_max=1955&season_start=1&season_end=-1&age_min=0&age_max=0&league_id=NFL&pos=qb&pos=rb&pos=wr&pos=te&pos=e&pos=t&pos=g&pos=c&pos=ol&pos=dt&pos=de&pos=dl&pos=ilb&pos=olb&pos=lb&pos=cb&pos=s&pos=db&pos=k&pos=p&c1stat=choose&c1comp=gt&c2stat=choose&c2comp=gt&c3stat=choose&c3comp=gt&c4stat=choose&c4comp=gt&c5comp=choose&c5gtlt=lt&c6mult=1.0&c6comp=choose&order_by=all_purpose_yds&draft=0&draft_year_min=1936&draft_year_max=2016&draft_slot_min=1&draft_slot_max=500&draft_pick_in_round=pick_overall&conference=any&draft_pos=qb&draft_pos=rb&draft_pos=wr&draft_pos=te&draft_pos=e&draft_pos=t&draft_pos=g&draft_pos=c&draft_pos=ol&draft_pos=dt&draft_pos=de&draft_pos=dl&draft_pos=ilb&draft_pos=olb&draft_pos=lb&draft_pos=cb&draft_pos=s&draft_pos=db&draft_pos=k&draft_pos=p|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=April 13, 2017}}</ref>  He also set a franchise record with 864 punt return yards and averaged 13.7 yards per return.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/georgia-bulldogs/charley-trippi-uga-sports-icon-dies/FA52NZVIWFDWDMY4Y4ECJQ7FBU/%7B%7BBare+url+inline%7Cdate=December+2022%7D%7D/|title=Charley Trippi, UGA sports icon, dies at age 100|first=Thomas|last=Stinson|accessdate=December 20, 2022|via=AJC.com|archive-date=December 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221220101337/https://www.ajc.com/sports/georgia-bulldogs/charley-trippi-uga-sports-icon-dies/FA52NZVIWFDWDMY4Y4ECJQ7FBU/%7B%7BBare+url+inline%7Cdate=December+2022%7D%7D/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Hall of Famer [[Art Donovan]] tells this story from late in Trippi's career: "Earlier in the season, the Bears had nearly killed Charlie Trippi, a very tough halfback.  The guy who did it to him was [[Ed Sprinkle]].... Sprinkle sucker-punched Trippi and shattered his jaw.  He required a whole series of bone grafting.  Then next season, Trippi broke Sprinkle's jaw.  What goes round comes round."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Donovan |first1=Arthur |title=Fatso: Football When Men Were Really Men |date=1987 |isbn=0-688-07340-9 |page=172|publisher=W. Morrow }}</ref>

==NFL career statistics==
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|-
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|
| Won the [[History of the NFL championship|NFL championship]]
|-
| style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"|
| Led the league
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}

===Regular season===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="2"| Games
! colspan="5"| Rushing
! colspan="5"| Receiving
! colspan="4"| Punting
|-
! GP !! GS !! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Pnt !! Yds !! Y/P !! Lng
|-
! [[1947 NFL season|1947]] !! style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"| [[1947 Chicago Cardinals season|CRD]]
| 11 || 9 || 83 || 401 || 4.8 || 41 || 2 || 23 || 240 || 10.4 || '''62''' || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0
|-
! [[1948 NFL season|1948]] !! [[1948 Chicago Cardinals season|CRD]]
| 12 || 11 || '''128''' || '''690''' || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| 5.4 || 50 || '''6''' || 22 || 228 || 10.4 || 33 || 2 || 13 || 564 || 43.4 || 56
|-
! [[1949 NFL season|1949]] !! [[1949 Chicago Cardinals season|CRD]]
| 12 || 12 || 112 || 553 || 4.9 || 55 || 3 || '''34''' || '''412''' || 12.1 || 44 || '''6''' || 8 || 292 || 36.5 || 46
|-
! [[1950 NFL season|1950]] !! [[1950 Chicago Cardinals season|CRD]]
| 12 || 11 || 99 || 426 || 4.3 || 22 || 3 || 32 || 270 || 8.4 || 28 || 1 || 2 || 94 || '''47.0''' || 56
|-
! [[1951 NFL season|1951]] !! [[1951 Chicago Cardinals season|CRD]]
| 12 || 7 || 78 || 501 || 6.4 || 32 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 12 || 446 || 37.2 || 48
|-
! [[1952 NFL season|1952]] !! [[1952 Chicago Cardinals season|CRD]]
| 11 || 10 || 72 || 350 || 4.9 || '''59''' || 4 || 5 || 66 || '''13.2''' || 21 || 0 || 16 || 588 || 36.8 || 47
|-
! [[1953 NFL season|1953]] !! [[1953 Chicago Cardinals season|CRD]]
| 12 || 11 || 97 || 433 || 4.5 || 21 || 0 || 11 || 87 || 7.9 || 21 || 2 || 54 || '''2,314''' || 42.9 || '''63'''
|-
! [[1954 NFL season|1954]] !! [[1954 Chicago Cardinals season|CRD]]
| 12 || 5 || 18 || 152 || '''8.4''' || 57 || 1 || 3 || 18 || 6.0 || 7 || 0 || '''59''' || 2,308 || 39.1 || 62
|-
! [[1955 NFL season|1955]] !! [[1955 Chicago Cardinals season|CRD]]
| 5 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 32 || 1,301 || 40.7 || 53
|-
! colspan="2"| !! 99 !! 76 !! 687 !! 3,506 !! 5.1 !! 59 !! 23 !! 130 !! 1,321 !! 10.2 !! 62 !! 11 !! 196 !! 7,907 !! 40.3 !! 63
|}

===Playoffs===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="2"| Games
! colspan="5"| Rushing
! colspan="5"| Receiving
|-
! GP !! GS !! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD
|-
! [[1947 NFL season|1947]] !! style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"| [[1947 Chicago Cardinals season|CRD]]
| 1 || 0 || '''11''' || '''84''' || '''7.6''' || '''44''' || '''1''' || '''1''' || '''20''' || '''20.0''' || '''20''' || 0
|-
! [[1948 NFL season|1948]] !! [[1948 Chicago Cardinals season|CRD]]
| 1 || 1 || 9 || 26 || 2.9 || 6 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| !! 2 !! 1 !! 20 !! 110 !! 5.5 !! 44 !! 1 !! 1 !! 20 !! 20.0 !! 20 !! 0
|}

== Later life and honors==
After he ended his playing career, Trippi served as an assistant coach with the Cardinals from 1957 to 1965, mostly coaching the offensive backfield. He later took up a business in real estate.<ref name=Wolken>{{cite news|last1=Wolken|first1=Dan|title=Oldest living No. 1 pick remembers a different draft|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/draft/2013/04/21/nfl-draft-first-overall-pick-charley-trippi/2102089/|access-date=April 12, 2017|work=USA Today|date=April 21, 2013}}</ref> Trippi was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] in 1959; the [[Georgia Sports Hall of Fame]] in 1965; and the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] and [[Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame]] in 1968. He is the only player in the Pro Hall of Fame to have accumulated at least 1,000 yards each receiving, passing, and rushing.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Michaux|first1=Scott|title=Michaux: It's time to celebrate Charley Trippi Day|url=http://onlineathens.com/sports-football-college-sports/2012-04-12/michaux-its-time-celebrate-charley-trippi-day|access-date=April 12, 2017|work=Athens Banner-Herald|date=April 12, 2012|archive-date=April 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412142932/http://onlineathens.com/sports-football-college-sports/2012-04-12/michaux-its-time-celebrate-charley-trippi-day|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2007, he was ranked 20th on ESPN's list of the top 25 players in college football history. The football stadium at Pittston Area High School is named Charley Trippi Stadium in his honor.<ref name=Lane>{{cite web|last1=Lane|first1=Fred|title=Transcript of Interview with Charley Trippi|url=http://uga.edu/livinghistory/transcript/trippi/|website=uga.edu|publisher=University of Georgia|access-date=March 31, 2017|date=December 5, 2006}}</ref> In 1969, Trippi was named to the NFL's [[National Football League 1940s All-Decade Team|1940s All-Decade Team]], compiled to honor the best players of the decade. At the time of his death, Trippi was the oldest living member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame,<ref name=Steele>{{cite news|last1=Steele|first1=David|title=Cardinals close to heart of oldest Pro Football Hall of Fame player|url=http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/news/nfl-cardinals-charley-trippi-oldest-player-in-hall-of-fame-ring-ceremony-first-pick-1947-draft-champions-chicago/1qovvsn51jooj1widc9exb14i8|access-date=April 12, 2017|work=The Sporting News|date=January 1, 2015}}</ref> as well as the oldest living No. 1 NFL draft pick.<ref name=Wolken/>

On December 14, 2021, Trippi [[centenarian|turned 100]], becoming the second Pro Football Hall of Famer to reach that milestone, after [[Ace Parker|Clarence "Ace" Parker]].<ref>{{cite web |title=HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHARLEY TRIPPI! |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2021/12/happy-birthday,-charley-trippi!/ |website=profootballhof.com |publisher=Pro Football Hall of Fame |access-date=14 December 2021}}</ref>

Trippi was one of only four University of Georgia football players to have his jersey number retired. His No.&nbsp;62 was retired in 1947.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/legendary-hall-fame-uga-football-player-dies-100/3A4FQ5N4MVCILN5DWEQXGICV6I/ |title=Legendary Hall of Fame UGA football player Charley Trippi dies at 100 – WSB-TV Channel 2 – Atlanta |publisher=Wsbtv.com |date= October 19, 2022|accessdate=2022-10-19}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Trippi's first wife, Virginia ([[née]] Davis), died in 1971. He remarried to Peggy (née McNiven). He had three children from his first marriage and three stepchildren from his second marriage.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goldstein |first=Richard |author-link=Richard Goldstein (writer, born 1942) |date=2022-10-19 |title=Charley Trippi, Versatile Football Hero, Dies at 100 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/19/sports/ncaafootball/charley-trippi-dead.html |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=The New York Times}}</ref>

Trippi died on October 19, 2022, in [[Athens, Georgia]], at the age of 100. He was the last surviving member of the National Football League 1940's All Decade Team and the last living member of the Cardinals 1947 championship team.<ref>{{cite web |title=Georgia football legend Charley Trippi dies at 100 |url=https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/georgia-football-legend-charley-trippi-dies-at-100 |date=October 19, 2022 |publisher=Fox 5 Atlanta |access-date=October 19, 2022}}</ref> He was likely also the oldest living former NFL player as a whole.

==Notes and references==
{{Notelist}}
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book |first=George |last=Sullivan |title=The Great Running Backs |location=New York |publisher=G. P. Putnam's Sons |year=1972 |isbn=0-399-11026-7 |pages=69–73 }}
*Ziemba, Joe (1999). ''When Football Was Football: The Chicago Cardinals and the Birth of the NFL''. Chicago: Triumph Books. pp.&nbsp;309–314. {{ISBN|1-57243-317-5}}.

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Profootballhof|216}}
* {{College Football HoF|1675}}
* {{Footballstats |nfl=charlie-trippi |pfr=T/TripCh00 }}

{{Georgia Bulldogs baseball coach navbox}}
{{Arizona Cardinals starting quarterback navbox}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Charley Trippi—awards, championships, and honors
| list1 =
{{1942 Georgia Bulldogs football navbox}}
{{Maxwell Award Winners}}
{{1946 College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
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{{NFL NumberOne Draft Picks}}
{{1945 NFL Draft}}
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{{Chicago Cardinals 1945 draft navbox}}
{{1947 Chicago Cardinals}}
{{NFL1940s}}
{{Arizona Cardinals Ring of Honor}}
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}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Trippi, Charley}}
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