Bob Ferguson (American football) facts for kids

Robert Eugene Ferguson (born August 29, 1939 – died December 30, 2004) was an amazing American football player. He played as a fullback, a strong running position, for the Ohio State University college team. In 1961, he won the Maxwell Award, a top honor for college football players. After college, Ferguson played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings. He was recognized for his great college career when he was added to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996.

Bob Ferguson's College Football Journey

Bob Ferguson went to Troy High School in Troy, Ohio. He started playing college football at Ohio State University in 1959. At first, another player named Bob White was the main fullback. But during that season, Ferguson showed how good he was. He took over as the starter and became the team's top rusher, gaining a lot of yards each time he carried the ball.

Becoming an All-American Player

For the next two years, in 1960 and 1961, Ferguson was the main star of the Ohio State offense. He was chosen as an All-American player in both years, meaning he was considered one of the best college players in the whole country. In 1961, he won two big awards: the UPI College Football Player of the Year and the Maxwell Award. He also came in second place for the Heisman Trophy, which is given to the most outstanding college football player. The vote for the Heisman was very close that year!

The "Thunder" of Ohio State

In 1961, Ferguson played alongside two other talented players, Paul Warfield and Matt Snell. Ferguson was known for his powerful running style, often breaking through tackles. Warfield, on the other hand, was known for his speed. People used to say, "Warfield is the lightning, Ferguson is the thunder," to describe their different but effective playing styles. That year, the Ohio State Buckeyes team won the Big Ten Conference championship. They were also named national champions by the Football Writers Association of America.

Ferguson's College Records

Bob Ferguson finished his college career at Ohio State with 2,162 rushing yards. This was the second-highest rushing total in the team's history at that time. What's even more amazing is that he was never tackled for a loss during his entire college career! This means he always gained yards or stayed even when he ran with the ball. Because of his incredible achievements, Ferguson was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996. He was also added to Ohio State's own Varsity O Hall of Fame in 1987. In 2000, he was chosen for the Ohio State Football All-Century Team, which honors the best players from the past 100 years.

Professional Football and Later Life

After college, Bob Ferguson was a top choice in the 1962 NFL Draft. Both the Pittsburgh Steelers and the San Diego Chargers wanted him. He chose to play for the Steelers. However, a head injury made it hard for him to continue his professional football career for long. He played for the Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings for two seasons. In 1965, he joined the Dayton Colts in another football league.

Life After Football

After his football career, Ferguson went back to Ohio State University. He earned a master's degree in sociology, which is the study of how people live together in groups. He then worked as a youth counselor in Columbus, Ohio. He helped young people until he had to stop working in 1990 due to health problems. Bob Ferguson passed away in 2004 due to illness.