George Webster (American football) facts for kids
| No. 90 | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Linebacker |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | November 25, 1945 Anderson, South Carolina |
| Died: | April 19, 2007 (aged 61) Houston, Texas |
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Weight: | 225 lb (102 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Westside (Anderson, South Carolina) |
| College: | Michigan State |
| AFL draft: | 1967 / Round: 1 / Pick: 5 |
| Career history | |
|
|
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
| Player stats at PFR | |
|
College Football Hall of Fame
|
|
George Delano Webster (born November 25, 1945 – died April 19, 2007) was an amazing American football player. He played professionally as a linebacker. He was part of the American Football League (AFL) and later the National Football League (NFL).
George played for the Houston Oilers, Pittsburgh Steelers, and New England Patriots. Before turning pro, he played college football at Michigan State University. He was so good that he was added to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1987.
College Football Star
George Webster was a top defensive back at Michigan State University (MSU). He played there from 1964 to 1966. His coach, Duffy Daugherty, created a special position for him called "roverback." This role combined a safety and a linebacker. It meant George could cover fast wide receivers and also tackle strong running backs.
His MSU teams had a great record of 23 wins, 6 losses, and 1 tie. They even tied the famous 10–10 game against Notre Dame in 1966. His teams also won parts of the national championship in 1965 and 1966.
George received many honors during his college career. He was named to the All-Big Ten Conference and All-American teams in both 1965 and 1966. His jersey number, 90, was only the second number ever retired by Michigan State. In 1987, he was chosen for the College Football Hall of Fame. Later, in 1999, Sports Illustrated named him one of the starting safeties on their NCAA football all-century team. His story at Michigan State is even featured in a documentary called Through the Banks of the Red Cedar.
Professional Football Career
In 1967, the American Football League's Houston Oilers picked George Webster. He was the fifth player chosen in the entire draft. When he joined the Oilers, his position changed from defensive back to linebacker.
In his very first AFL game, George started at left linebacker. He made an impressive 15 tackles! That year, he also got his first professional interception. He helped the Oilers win the Eastern Division title. Their defense was so strong that opponents scored less than 200 points all season.
George averaged more than ten tackles per game. Because of his amazing performance, he was named the UPI AFL Rookie of the Year. He was also chosen for the AFL All-Star Game three times (1967, 1968, and 1969). He is considered a member of the American Football League All-Time Team.
Later Life and Passing
After his football career, George Webster faced some health challenges. These were related to injuries he got while playing football. In 2002, he had surgery on his right leg in Houston. George Webster passed away in Houston on April 19, 2007.
See also
- List of American Football League players
