Dick Alban facts for kids
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| No. 42 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Defensive back | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | January 17, 1929 Hanover, Pennsylvania |
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| Died: | April 8, 2016 (aged 87) Newtown Township, Pennsylvania |
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| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | La Porte (IN) | ||||||||
| College: | Northwestern | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1952 / Round: 9 / Pick: 103 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||
Richard Herbert Alban (born January 17, 1929 – died April 8, 2016) was a talented American football player. He played as a defensive back for eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Washington Redskins and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Before joining the NFL, Alban played college football at Northwestern University. There, he played both as a halfback (an offensive player who runs with the ball) and on defense. He was chosen in the ninth round of the 1952 NFL Draft. In his first year with the Redskins, he started all 12 games. His best season was in 1954, when he caught nine interceptions. This means he caught the ball when the other team was trying to pass it. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl that year, which is a special game for the best players.
Early Life and College Football
Richard Alban was born in Hanover, Pennsylvania. He went to La Porte High School in La Porte, Indiana. He graduated from high school in 1948. While playing football in La Porte, he was named to the All-State football team in both 1946 and 1947. Because of his great skills, Alban was later added to the Indiana Football Hall of Fame in 1980.
Alban played college football for Northwestern University from 1949 to 1951. He joined the team right after they had won the 1949 Rose Bowl, a very famous college football game. He got hurt at the start of his first season. However, he later caught a 29-yard touchdown pass. This happened in a game against Colgate University on November 12, which Northwestern won 38-20.
In 1951, he played alongside Chuck Hren as a halfback. He ran for 101 yards in one game. This included a long 69-yard run for a touchdown. That big play helped Northwestern win against Navy on October 20. At the end of his college career, he was chosen to play in two special games. He played for the East team in the East–West Shrine Game. He also played for the North team in the Senior Bowl. These games feature top college players.
NFL Career Highlights
In 1954, Richard Alban had an amazing season. He made nine interceptions, which was one of the best in the league. Because of his great play, he was chosen for his only Pro Bowl. The Pro Bowl is a game where the best players from different teams play against each other.
On April 24, 1956, Alban was traded from the Redskins to the Detroit Lions. Then, the Lions traded him to the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 1958, Alban continued to play well for the Steelers. He had five interceptions that year. Three of those interceptions came in one game! This was a 24-16 win against his old team, the Redskins, on November 2.
In 1959, he finished fourth in the league with six interceptions. During a game on October 11 against the Philadelphia Eagles, Alban made his longest interception return. He ran the ball back 46 yards after catching an Eagles pass. He announced his retirement from football at the end of that year.
Richard Alban finished his NFL career with a total of 30 interceptions. He played in 96 games during his time in the league. He passed away on April 8, 2016, at the age of 87.
Life After Football
After he stopped playing professional football, Richard Alban started a new career. He became an executive for a company that made athletic clothing. He worked in Memphis, Tennessee.
