Alex Webster (gridiron football) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Alex Webster

No. 29
Position:	Halfback, fullback
Personal information
Born:	(1931-04-19)April 19, 1931 Kearny, New Jersey, U.S.
Died:	March 3, 2012(2012-03-03) (aged 80) Port St. Lucie, Florida, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:	225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
College:	NC State
NFL Draft:	1953 / Round: 11 / Pick: 123
Career history
As player:
Montreal Alouettes (1953–1954) New York Giants (1955–1964)
As coach:
New York Giants (1969–1973)
Career highlights and awards
NFL champion (1956) UPI NFL Coach of the year (1970) 2× Second-team All-Pro (1955, 1956) 2× Pro Bowl (1958, 1961) New York Giants Ring of Honor
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards: 4,638 Average: 3.9 Touchdowns: 56
Player stats at PFR

Alex "Red" Webster was a famous American football player. He played as a fullback and halfback for the New York Giants in the National Football League (NFL). Later, he even became the head coach for the Giants. He was born on April 19, 1931, and passed away on March 3, 2012.

Early Life and Football Beginnings

Alex Webster grew up in Kearny, New Jersey. His parents were immigrants from Scotland. He played high school football at Kearny High School. In 1948, his team won the New Jersey High School State Championship.

After his father passed away, Alex and his younger brother were raised by their aunts and uncles. Both brothers were great at football and earned college scholarships.

College Football Success

In 1948, Alex Webster received a scholarship. He went to North Carolina State University to play college football. He was known as "Big Red" there. In 1951, he led the Southern Conference in scoring. He scored 78 points that year. He continued to be a top player in 1952. After college, he was ready for the professional leagues.

Alex Webster's NFL Career

The Washington Redskins picked Webster in the 11th round of the 1953 NFL Draft. But he chose to play professional Canadian football instead. He played for the Montreal Alouettes from 1953 to 1954. In Canada, he was named a Big Four all-star in 1954. He also played in the Grey Cup championship game that year.

Joining the New York Giants

In 1955, Webster returned to the United States. He joined the New York Giants. He played for them from 1955 to 1964. In his first year, he led the team in rushing yards. He ran for 634 yards.

During his time with the Giants, he ran for 4,638 yards. He also caught 240 passes for 2,679 yards. He scored a total of 56 touchdowns. This included 39 rushing touchdowns and 17 receiving touchdowns. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl twice. These were in 1958 and 1961. With 336 points, he is 10th on the Giants' all-time scoring list.

Winning the NFL Championship

In 1956, Webster played in the 1956 NFL Championship Game. The Giants played against the Chicago Bears. Webster scored two touchdowns in the second half. He also gained 103 all-purpose yards. The Giants won the game 47-7. This game was famous because the Giants wore high-top sneakers. They did this because the field was icy.

As a player, Webster played in six NFL Championship games. These were in 1956, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, and 1963.

Sportscaster Marty Glickman had a special phrase for Webster's running style. He would say Webster gained "a couple or three yards" on his runs.

Giants Ring of Honor

Alex Webster is considered one of the "all-time great Giants." In 2011, he was honored by the New York Giants. He was inducted into the New York Giants' "Ring of Honor." This honor was one of the proudest moments of his life. He gave his last public speech to 80,000 fans. His grandsons were with him.

Webster is also honored in the New York Giants' Legacy Club. His old #29 game jersey is displayed there. Many historic photos are also shown.

Alex Webster's Coaching Career

After his playing career, Webster became an assistant coach for the Giants. He worked under Allie Sherman. In September 1969, he was promoted to head coach.

Coach of the Year

In 1970, he was named UPI NFL Coach of the Year. The Giants finished second in their division that year. Their record was 9 wins and 5 losses.

However, the team struggled in 1973. They had a record of 2 wins, 11 losses, and 1 tie. This led him to resign after five seasons. His total coaching record with the Giants was 29 wins, 40 losses, and one tie.

Personal Life and Later Years

Alex Webster married Louise Eggers in 1952. They had two children, Debra and James. He also had four grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

After retiring from the NFL, Webster worked in sales. He also worked in public relations for Nabisco. He appeared with famous athletes and celebrities. These included Joe DiMaggio and Frank Gifford. He also worked as a radio commentator for the New York Giants in the 1960s.

Webster owned two restaurants. One was called The Stadium in Sea Girt, New Jersey. It was decorated with sports items. The other was Alex Webster's in Tequesta, Florida.

Webster also made guest appearances on TV shows. He was on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1962. He also appeared on the game show Password in 1964.

Passing Away

Alex Webster passed away on March 3, 2012. He was 80 years old. He died in Port St. Lucie, Florida.