NFL Corridor of Famer Hugh McElhenny, an elusive operating again from the Fifties has died. He used to be 93.
The Professional Soccer Corridor of Repute mentioned in a information liberate that McEhlenny died of herbal reasons on June 17 at his house in Nevada, and that son-in-law Chris Permann showed the demise.
Elected to the Professional Soccer Corridor of Repute in 1970, McElhenny’s exciting runs and all-around abilities as a runner, receiver and kick returner made him some of the NFL’s most sensible avid gamers of the Fifties. He used to be the league’s Rookie of the 12 months in 1952 (ahead of the award was legit) and made two All-Professional groups, six Professional Bowls and the NFL’s All-Decade squad of the Fifties.
“Hugh McElhenny used to be a risk in all stages of the sport offensively — speeding, go receiving and as a kick and punt returner. His all-around ability — evident to professional soccer scouts when Hugh used to be nonetheless a teen — will probably be celebrated and preserved eternally in Canton,” Corridor of Repute President Jim Porter mentioned in a commentary.
An all-conference participant at Washington, the place he set a number of Pacific Coast Convention data, McElhenny used to be decided on 9th general within the 1952 draft and made a direct have an effect on. No longer handiest did he lead the run-happy NFL in yards in keeping with raise (7.0) that season, however McElhenny had the longest rush from scrimmage, 89 yards, and the longest punt go back, 94 yards. He scored 10 touchdowns as a rookie.
It used to be the start of a stretch of 9 seasons wherein McElhenny used to be the 49ers’ number one offensive weapon. Simplest in 1954, when a separated shoulder sidelined him after six video games, and 1960, his ultimate yr in San Francisco, used to be McElhenny now not a point of interest for the Niners.
“The 49ers circle of relatives is heartbroken to be told of the passing of some of the NFL’s all-time greats, Hugh McElhenny,” San Francisco co-chairman Dr. John York mentioned in a commentary. “Rising up, my favourite workforce used to be the 49ers. I take into account such a lot of nice avid gamers from the past due 50s and 60s. After I began to ask an alum to each and every recreation, my objective used to be to satisfy the “Million Greenback Backfield”. Hugh used to be the final of the 4 to enroll in us and we remained pals. Hugh is a brilliant a part of 49ers historical past.”
McEhlenny additionally used to be one thing of a franchise savior, which used to be becoming since the 49ers as soon as attempted to signal him out of highschool once they had been nonetheless within the All-American Soccer Convention.
“When Hugh joined the 49ers in 1952,” Lou Spadia, then the workforce’s common supervisor, mentioned, “it used to be questionable whether or not our franchise may live to tell the tale. McElhenny got rid of all doubts. That’s why we name him our franchise saver.”
Defenders would name him one thing else as they were given fingers filled with air as an alternative of the ball provider.
“My perspective sporting the ball used to be concern,” he mentioned. “No longer an apprehension of having harm, however an apprehension of having stuck from at the back of and brought down and embarrassing myself and my teammates.”
Simply recognizable for his lengthy stride and top knee motion, McElhenny now not handiest used to be rapid however had the strikes of a spoil dancer a long time ahead of spoil dancing was a factor.
“Getting ready for a workforce that lists McElhenny at the roster,” mentioned Hamp Pool, who coached the archrival Rams from 1952-54, “you simply can’t take any possibilities.”
Coincidentally, his long-time 49ers backfield mate, fullback Joe Perry — any other Corridor of Famer — had performed at Compton Junior School in California, the place McElhenny starred ahead of heading to Washington. In combination in San Francisco, they shaped certainly one of professional soccer’s very best backfield tandems.
However the Niners made the postseason handiest as soon as with McElhenny, shedding a Western Convention name playoff recreation with Detroit in 1957. By way of 1961, with McElhenny dressed in down a little bit, he used to be left at the enlargement draft checklist and scooped up through Minnesota. He had a cast season and made the Professional Bowl because the Vikings went 3-11 of their inaugural season.
Knee issues then slowed him. He performed yet one more yr with Minnesota, spent 1963 as a backup with the New York Giants, the place he performed in his handiest NFL name recreation, shedding to Chicago, and completed his profession in 1964 with Detroit.
When he retired, McElhenny used to be certainly one of 3 avid gamers to have won greater than 11,000 all-purpose yards.
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