Floyd Little facts for kids
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Little in August 2012
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| No. 44 | |||||||||||||
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| Position: | Halfback | ||||||||||||
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| Born: | July 4, 1942 New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. |
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| Died: | January 1, 2021 (aged 78) Henderson, Nevada, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 196 lb (89 kg) | ||||||||||||
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| High school: | Hillhouse (New Haven, Connecticut) |
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| College: | Syracuse (1964–1966) | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1967 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6 | ||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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College Football Hall of Fame
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Floyd Douglas Little (born July 4, 1942 – died January 1, 2021) was an amazing American football player. He played as a halfback for the Denver Broncos. He started in the American Football League (AFL) and later played in the National Football League (NFL).
Floyd was a three-time All-American player at Syracuse University. In 1967, he was the sixth player chosen in the first-ever common draft for both leagues. He was the very first player drafted in the first round to sign with the Broncos. Because of his importance to the team, he was known as "the Franchise." Little was honored in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010.
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Early Life and School Days
Floyd Little was born in New Haven, Connecticut, on July 4, 1942. He went to Hillhouse High School in New Haven. He also attended the Bordentown Military Institute in Bordentown, New Jersey.
College Football Career
Floyd Little was a highly sought-after player. Even General Douglas MacArthur wanted him to play football at the United States Military Academy. He was also recruited by the University of Notre Dame.
However, Little chose to go to Syracuse University. This was because Ernie Davis, the first African-American Heisman winner, convinced him. Little is the only running back from Syracuse to be named an All-American three times.
He played for Syracuse for three seasons:
- In 1964, he ran for 874 yards and scored 9 touchdowns. He also caught 17 passes for 257 yards and 1 touchdown.
- In 1965, he ran for 1,065 yards and scored 14 touchdowns. He caught 21 passes for 248 yards and 1 touchdown.
- In 1966, he ran for 811 yards and scored 12 touchdowns. He caught 13 passes for 86 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Floyd Little finished 5th in the Heisman Trophy voting in both 1965 and 1966. The Heisman Trophy is given to the most outstanding player in college football.
Professional Football Career
Floyd Little played for the Denver Broncos for nine seasons. He was the team captain in every single one of those seasons, even as a rookie!
When he retired in 1975, he was the NFL's 7th all-time leading rusher. He had run for 6,323 yards and scored 54 total touchdowns. He even threw a touchdown pass once!
In his first year, Little led the NFL in punt returns. He also led the NFL in combined yards in 1967 and 1968.
Becoming "The Franchise"
Floyd Little earned the nickname "the Franchise." This was because his decision to sign with the Broncos was super important. It helped keep the team from moving to another city in the 1960s. His popularity also helped convince Denver voters to support funding for their stadium.
Key Achievements with the Broncos
Little was one of the first players inducted into the Broncos' Ring of Fame in 1984. He was the first Bronco to win a rushing title, leading the AFC in rushing in 1970. The next year, he became the first Bronco to run for over 1,000 yards in a season. He led the entire NFL with 1,133 yards in 1971.
He was an American Football League All-Star in 1968. He was named first-team "All-AFL" in 1969. He also made the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl in 1970, 1971, and 1973.
Even though he was smaller than many other running backs, Little was incredibly effective. He led the league in combined yards in 1967 and 1968. He was the only player to return punts for touchdowns in both of those seasons. From 1968 to 1973, he gained more rushing yards and more yards from scrimmage than any other running back in the NFL.
Awards and Honors
Floyd Little's jersey number, 44, was retired by the Broncos in 1975. This means no other Broncos player will ever wear that number. Syracuse University also retired the number 44 in 2005. This honored Little, Ernie Davis, and Jim Brown, along with other players who wore the number.
Little was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983. He joined the Denver Broncos' Ring of Fame on October 1, 1984.
On August 7, 2010, Little was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was inducted alongside other football legends like Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith. He is one of only four players from the Super Bowl era to make the Hall of Fame without ever playing in a postseason game.
In 2011, a large athletic facility in New Haven, Connecticut, was renamed the Floyd Little Athletic Center in his honor. He also received honorary doctorates from Syracuse University and the University of Denver. At Syracuse's football practice facility, there is a bronze statue of Little with Jim Brown and Ernie Davis.
Life After Football
After retiring from football, Floyd Little earned a master's degree in legal administration. He also owned several car dealerships. From 2011 to 2016, he worked as a Special Assistant to the Athletic Director at Syracuse University.
Floyd Little lived with his wife, DeBorah, in Las Vegas. Sadly, he passed away on January 1, 2021, at the age of 78.
Images for kids
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Little in August 2012
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Little during his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction in August 2010
See also
- List of NCAA major college yearly punt and kickoff return leaders
- List of American Football League players
