View source for Russ Craft

{{Short description|American football player (1919–2009)}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name        = Russ Craft
| image       = Russ Craft - 1952 Bowman Large.jpg
| caption     = Craft on a 1952 Bowman football card
| number      = 33, 24
| position    = [[Defensive back]] <br> [[Halfback (American football)|Halfback]]
| birth_date  = {{Birth date|1919|10|15|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[McEwen, Tennessee]], U.S.
| death_date  = {{death date and age|2009|1|12|1919|10|15}}
| death_place = [[Wellsburg, West Virginia]], U.S.
| height_ft   = 5
| height_in   = 9
| weight_lb   = 178
| college     = [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Alabama]]
| draftyear   = 1943
| draftround  = 15
| draftpick   = 132
| pastteams   =
* [[Philadelphia Eagles]] ({{NFL Year|1946|1953}})
* [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] ({{NFL Year|1954}})
| highlights  =
* 2× [[List of NFL champions (1920–69)|NFL champion]] ([[1948 NFL Championship Game|1948]], [[1949 NFL Championship Game|1949]])
* 2× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1952 Pro Bowl|1951]], [[1953 Pro Bowl|1952]])
* Second-team [[List of All-SEC football teams|All-SEC]] ([[1942 All-SEC football team|1942]])
| statlabel1  = Rushing yards
| statvalue1  = 231
| statlabel2  = Rushing average
| statvalue2  = 3.6
| statlabel3  = [[Reception (gridiron football)|Reception]]s
| statvalue3  = 12
| statlabel4  = Receiving yards
| statvalue4  = 303
| statlabel5  = [[Interception]]s
| statvalue5  = 22
| statlabel6  = [[Fumble]] recoveries
| statvalue6  = 15
| statlabel7  = Total [[touchdown]]s
| statvalue7  = 7
| pfr         = CrafRu00
}}

'''William Russell Craft''' (October 15, 1919 – January 12, 2009) was an American professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[defensive back]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) for the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] and the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Players|url=http://www.nfl.com/player/russcraft/2512119/careerstats|website=NFL|access-date=August 23, 2016}}</ref>  He played [[college football]] for the [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Alabama Crimson Tide]] and was selected in the 15th round of the [[1943 NFL draft]].<ref>{{cite web|title=1943 NFL Draft|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1943/draft.htm|website=Pro Football Reference|access-date=August 23, 2016}}</ref>  In 1948, Craft was a key member of the Eagles in what became known as the Blizzard Bowl, in which the Eagles’ defense overwhelmed the Cardinals on the way to a 7–0 victory that earned Philadelphia its first N.F.L. championship.<ref name=NewYorkTimes>{{cite web|title=Russ Craft, Player on 2 Eagles' Title Teams, Is Dead at 89|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/18/sports/football/18craft.html?_r=0|website=The New York Times| date=January 17, 2009 |access-date=August 23, 2016}}</ref> In 1949, he was a notable player in helping the Eagles win a second World Championship, a 1947 Division Championship, and was selected to the [[Pro Bowl]] twice, in 1951 and 1952.<ref name=NewYorkTimes/>

Craft had some other notable achievements.  In 1950, against the [[Chicago Cardinals (NFL, 1920–59)|Chicago Cardinals]], the Eagles' defense recorded eight interceptions, including an NFL-record-tying four by Craft. Craft had 22 career interceptions.<ref name="NewYorkTimes" /> Then in 1952, while playing against the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]], Craft was able to block three [[Extra point]]s (PATs).

Craft was also a defensive coach for the Steelers.<ref name=ESPN>{{cite web|title=Two-time Pro Bowler Craft dies at 89|url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=3836842|website=ESPN| date=January 16, 2009 |access-date=August 23, 2016}}</ref>

After football, Craft served as the [[sheriff]] of [[Brooke County, West Virginia]] from 1969 to 1972.<ref name=ESPN/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Find a Grave|32915076}}

{{Alabama Crimson Tide football rushing leaders navbox}}
{{1941 Alabama Crimson Tide football navbox}}
{{Eagles1943DraftPicks}}
{{1948 Philadelphia Eagles}}
{{1949 Philadelphia Eagles}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Craft, Russ}}
[[Category:1919 births]]
[[Category:2009 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Humphreys County, Tennessee]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Tennessee]]
[[Category:American football defensive backs]]
[[Category:Alabama Crimson Tide football players]]
[[Category:Law enforcement officials from West Virginia]]
[[Category:Philadelphia Eagles players]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players]]
[[Category:Eastern Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:American police chiefs]]
[[Category:People from Wellsburg, West Virginia]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Brooke County, West Virginia]]


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