Fred Morrison (American football) facts for kids
Morrison on a 1950 Bowman football card
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| Date of birth: | October 7, 1926 |
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| Place of birth: | Columbus, Ohio |
| Date of death: | November 15, 2020 (aged 94) |
| Place of death: | Murrieta, California |
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Career information
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| Position(s): | Fullback, halfback, end |
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Weight: | 215 lb (98 kg) |
| College: | Ohio State |
| NFL Draft: | 1950 / Round: 1 / Pick: 10 |
| Drafted by: | Chicago Bears |
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Organizations
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Career highlights and awards
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| Pro Bowls: | 1955 |
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Career stats
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| Playing stats at DatabaseFootball.com | |
Fred Lew "Curly" Morrison (born October 7, 1926 – died November 15, 2020) was a talented American football player. He also worked as an executive in football after his playing days. Curly played professionally in the National Football League (NFL). He was a member of the Chicago Bears from 1950 to 1953. Later, he played for the Cleveland Browns from 1954 to 1956. Before joining the NFL, Morrison played college football at the Ohio State University.
College Football Star
Morrison played for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 1947 to 1949. In his second year, he played as an end. He led the Buckeyes in catches, with seven for 113 yards.
For his third year, he switched to fullback. This happened after the starting fullback, Joe Whistler, got injured. When Whistler returned, Morrison continued as a backup fullback.
In his final year (1949), Morrison became the main fullback. He led the Buckeyes in scoring, getting nine touchdowns. His best running game in college was against the USC Trojans. He ran for 134 yards in that game in Los Angeles.
Later that season, the Buckeyes played in the 1950 Rose Bowl. They faced the California Golden Bears. Morrison ran for 119 yards in that game. The Buckeyes won 17–14. Morrison was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the game. He was later added to the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in 1993.
Playing in the NFL
The Chicago Bears chose Morrison in the 1950 NFL Draft. He was the tenth player picked overall. He played for the Bears for four years. During two of those years, he led the team in rushing yards.
After his time with the Bears, he was traded to the Cleveland Browns. He played three more years with the Browns. He also played in three championship games with them. In 1955, he led the Browns in rushing. That same year, he was chosen for the Pro Bowl, which was his only appearance.
Life After Playing
After his NFL career, Morrison stayed involved in football. He worked as a chief operating officer and general manager. He held these roles for the Los Angeles Express in the United States Football League (USFL). He was also the general manager for the Southern California Sun in the World Football League (WFL).
Morrison was a strong supporter of retired NFL players. He was also active in several charity groups. He and his wife, Sophie, organized a golf tournament every November. This event helped raise money for The Boys and Girls Clubs of California. It was held in Pebble Beach, California.
Fred Morrison passed away on November 15, 2020. He died due to problems from a broken hip.
