Eddie Macon facts for kids

Eddie Macon (born March 7, 1927 – died April 19, 2017) was an amazing American football player. He played as a halfback, a kick returner, and a defensive back. Eddie Macon was a true pioneer in professional football. He was the first African-American player for the Chicago Bears. He also played in the Canadian Football League and for the Oakland Raiders.

Early Life and College Years

Eddie Macon grew up in Stockton, California. He was a fantastic track athlete at Edison High School. After high school, he joined the United States Army in 1945. This was during World War II. He spent about seven months in Yokohama, Japan, after the war ended.

Becoming a Football Star

When Eddie returned to the United States, he first joined the track team at San Joaquin Delta College. Later, he moved to the University of the Pacific. The football coach there, Larry Siemering, saw Eddie's talent. He convinced Eddie to join the school's football team. This was a big moment, as Eddie became the first black player for the Pacific Tigers.

During his three seasons with the Tigers, Eddie was incredible. He scored 34 touchdowns! His team also had a great record of 24 wins, 8 losses, and 1 tie.

Professional Football Career

Eddie Macon's talent was noticed by professional teams. In 1952, he was picked by the Chicago Bears in the NFL Draft. He was the 20th player chosen overall. This made him the first African-American player to play for the Chicago Bears. Another player, George Taliaferro, was drafted by the Bears earlier, but he chose to play for a different league.

Playing for the Chicago Bears

Eddie played for the Bears for two years, from 1952 to 1953. He was a halfback and also returned kicks. He ran for 324 yards and scored two touchdowns. He also caught 14 passes for 49 yards and two more touchdowns. When returning kicks, he averaged over 30 yards per return. He also returned punts, averaging almost 6 yards per return.

Moving to Other Teams

In 1954, Eddie decided to leave the Bears. He went to play for the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League. The Bears' coach and owner, George Halas, was not happy about this. There was a disagreement, and Eddie was out of football for two years. During this time, he worked as a longshoreman, which is someone who loads and unloads ships.

In 1957, Eddie returned to football. He joined the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Canada. He played with them until 1959. After that, he went back to working as a longshoreman for a short time.

Joining the Oakland Raiders

In 1960, Eddie Macon joined the Oakland Raiders. They were part of the American Football League (AFL) at the time. With the Raiders, Eddie changed his position to defensive back. He was very good at this new role! He tied for second in the league with nine interceptions. This amazing performance earned him All-AFL honors, meaning he was recognized as one of the best players in the league.

Personal Life and Retirement

Eddie Macon was married to his wife, Jessie, for 70 years! They had four daughters: Edna, Marilyn, Janice, and Andrea. They also had a son named Edwin Jr. Eddie and Jessie got married in 1945. They lived in Stockton, California, for most of their lives. Later, they moved to the Bay Area before returning to Stockton.

After retiring from football, Eddie worked as a longshoreman for over 40 years. He finally retired from that job when he was 86 years old! Eddie Macon passed away on April 19, 2017, at the age of 90. He left behind a great legacy as a talented athlete and a pioneer in sports.