Joe Perry (American football) facts for kids
Perry c. 1954
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| Position: | Fullback | ||||||||||||
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| Born: | January 22, 1927 Stephens, Arkansas, U.S. |
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| Died: | April 25, 2011 (aged 84) Chandler, Arizona, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 200 lb (91 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Jordan (Los Angeles, California) |
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| College: | Compton (1944) | ||||||||||||
| Undrafted: | 1948 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Career AAFC/NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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Fletcher Joseph Perry, known to many as Joe Perry, was an amazing American football player. He was born on January 22, 1927, and passed away on April 25, 2011. Joe played as a fullback, a position where players run with the ball and block for teammates. He played in two major leagues: the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and the National Football League (NFL).
Joe Perry played most of his career with the San Francisco 49ers from 1948 to 1960. He also played for the Baltimore Colts from 1961 to 1962, before returning to the 49ers for his last season in 1963. Joe was incredibly fast, which was unusual for a fullback. This speed earned him the famous nickname, "the Jet". He made history as the first African-American player to be named the NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP). This made him one of the first black stars in American football.
Before becoming a pro, Joe played college football for a year. Then, he joined the U.S. Navy. While playing football in the military, the 49ers noticed his talent and signed him. He spent 13 seasons with San Francisco. During this time, he was part of the famous "Million Dollar Backfield". He also played in three Pro Bowl games. In 1954, he was named the NFL MVP. Joe was the first NFL player to run for over 1,000 yards in two seasons in a row (1953 and 1954). When he retired in 1963, he held the record for the most rushing yards in the league's history. In 1969, he was honored by being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The 49ers even retired his jersey number, 34, in 1971 to honor his contributions.
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Joe Perry's Early Life
Joe Perry was born in Stephens, Arkansas. His family moved to Los Angeles, California, during a tough economic time called the Great Depression. In Los Angeles, Joe became a star athlete at David Starr Jordan High School. He played four different sports! Joe looked up to many African-American athletes at UCLA, like Jackie Robinson. Jackie Robinson was famous for playing football, baseball, and running track.
College Football Days
After high school, Joe played football at Compton Junior College in 1944. He had an amazing season, scoring 22 touchdowns!
Joe decided to join the U.S. Navy during World War II. He continued to play football while serving in the military. He played for the team at Naval Air Station Alameda. In an all-star game in 1948, Joe even scored a touchdown for his team.
Becoming a Pro Football Star
Joe Perry was about 6 feet tall and weighed 200 pounds. This was a bit smaller than most fullbacks of his time. But Joe had a special way of running. He combined power and incredible speed, making it hard for defenders to catch him. His main job was to carry the ball, not just block. He was great at finding small openings in the opposing team's defensive line. Joe once said about his running, "If you saw a hole, you take it. If you didn't, you kept moving until you did. You run with instinct." His amazing speed is why everyone called him "the Jet." He could run 100 yards in just 9.5 seconds!
Joining the San Francisco 49ers
Early Years with the 49ers (1948-1952)
While playing in the Navy, Joe was noticed by the Los Angeles Rams, another professional team. They offered him a good salary. But Joe chose to sign with the San Francisco 49ers in the AAFC instead. He trusted the 49ers owner, Tony Morabito, who Joe felt was like a father to him. Joe Perry was the very first African-American player for the 49ers.
It was during his first practices with the 49ers that he got his famous nickname. Quarterback Frankie Albert saw Joe move so fast that he couldn't hand him the ball in time! Albert exclaimed, "You're like a jet, Joe!" Later, another quarterback, Y. A. Tittle, agreed. Tittle said Joe was "the fastest player off the ball in the history of the world." Tittle and Perry became close friends.
When Joe started playing, there weren't many black players in professional football. He faced challenges and unfair treatment because of his race. He sometimes heard unkind words, but he always stood strong. Joe said he would tell people, "I'm coming through again, and you better bring your family." This showed his determination.
For an All-Star game in 1949, Joe and other black players had to stay in a different hotel than their white teammates. This showed the unfairness of the time. However, Joe's teammates on the 49ers were very supportive of him from the start.
With the 49ers in the AAFC, Joe was a top player. He led the league in rushing touchdowns in both 1948 and 1949. He also led in rushing yards in 1949. In 1948, he even scored a touchdown by returning a kickoff 87 yards! After the AAFC league ended, the 49ers joined the NFL in 1950.
Joe continued to be a strong runner in the NFL. In 1952, the 49ers added another great player, Hugh McElhenny, to their team. Joe and Hugh formed a powerful running duo. That season, Joe was invited to play in his first Pro Bowl, which is a special game for the league's best players.
Making History: 1,000-Yard Seasons (1953-1954)
Joe Perry made history by becoming the first player to run for over 1,000 yards in two seasons in a row. He achieved this in 1953 and 1954. His 1,018 rushing yards in 1953 and 1,049 in 1954 were among the highest totals in the NFL at that time.
He led the entire league in many categories during these years. These included total carries, rushing yards, and yards per game. In 1953, his ten rushing touchdowns and 13 total touchdowns were the most in the NFL. Joe, McElhenny, and quarterback Tittle were all chosen for the Pro Bowl that year. Many sports news groups, like the Associated Press, named Joe as a top All-Pro fullback. The 49ers owner even gave Joe a bonus for every yard he gained in 1953!
In 1954, the 49ers added another strong player, John Henry Johnson, to their team. This created the famous "Million Dollar Backfield" with Perry, Johnson, Tittle, and McElhenny. This group broke the 49ers' team record for rushing yards in a season. Even with more players sharing the ball, Joe still led the NFL in rushing yards. He gained almost 400 more yards than the next best runner, who was his teammate Johnson. A sports writer called Joe "the bellwether of the greatest rushing backfield in pro football." He was named the Pro Player of the Year, becoming the first black player to receive this honor. He was also chosen for his third straight Pro Bowl.
Becoming the All-Time Rushing Leader (1955-1960)
Before a game in 1955, the 49ers held a special "Joe Perry Day." Fans honored Joe with gifts, including a new car! Joe said it was one of the greatest honors of his life. In that game, he ran for 116 yards, more than the entire opposing team.
Joe led the 49ers in rushing for seven seasons in a row. This streak ended in 1956. The closest Joe came to winning a championship with the 49ers was in 1957. They had a great season but lost a tiebreaker game.
In 1958, Joe led the 49ers in rushing one last time with 758 yards. That season, he passed Steve Van Buren to become the NFL's all-time leader in rushing yards! He was again named a top All-Pro player. In 1960, Joe's playing time decreased as a new fullback, J.D. Smith, took over the starting role. After that season, Joe was traded to the Baltimore Colts.
Time with the Baltimore Colts and Retirement
The Baltimore Colts' coach, Weeb Ewbank, hoped Joe could help their team win. Joe led the Colts in rushing in 1961. He also caught a career-high 34 passes for 322 yards. Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas said Joe was "the kind of guy you'd love to play your whole career with." Unitas added that Joe was "amazing on the screen pass" and "clawed and scratched for every yard."
In 1962, Joe missed several games due to a thigh injury. This hurt the Colts' running game. He was traded back to the San Francisco 49ers in 1963. He played nine more games in a smaller role before retiring at age 36.
NFL Career Statistics
| Legend | |
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| NFL MVP | |
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
Regular season
| Year | Team | GP | Rushing | Receiving | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Y/G | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | |||
| 1948 | SF | 14 | 77 | 562 | 7.3 | 57 | 10 | 40.1 | 8 | 79 | 9.9 | – | 1 |
| 1949 | SF | 11 | 115 | 783 | 6.8 | 59 | 8 | 71.2 | 11 | 146 | 13.3 | – | 3 |
| 1950 | SF | 12 | 124 | 647 | 5.2 | 78 | 5 | 53.9 | 13 | 69 | 5.3 | 16 | 1 |
| 1951 | SF | 11 | 136 | 677 | 5.0 | 58 | 3 | 61.5 | 18 | 167 | 9.3 | 35 | 1 |
| 1952 | SF | 12 | 158 | 725 | 4.6 | 78 | 8 | 60.4 | 15 | 81 | 5.4 | 17 | 0 |
| 1953 | SF | 12 | 192 | 1,018 | 5.3 | 51 | 10 | 84.8 | 19 | 191 | 10.1 | 60 | 3 |
| 1954 | SF | 12 | 173 | 1,049 | 6.1 | 58 | 8 | 87.4 | 26 | 203 | 7.8 | 70 | 0 |
| 1955 | SF | 11 | 156 | 701 | 4.5 | 42 | 2 | 63.7 | 19 | 55 | 2.9 | 19 | 1 |
| 1956 | SF | 11 | 115 | 520 | 4.5 | 39 | 3 | 47.3 | 18 | 104 | 5.8 | 20 | 0 |
| 1957 | SF | 10 | 97 | 454 | 4.7 | 34 | 3 | 45.4 | 15 | 130 | 8.7 | 17 | 0 |
| 1958 | SF | 12 | 125 | 758 | 6.1 | 73 | 4 | 63.2 | 23 | 218 | 9.5 | 64 | 1 |
| 1959 | SF | 11 | 139 | 602 | 4.3 | 40 | 3 | 54.7 | 12 | 53 | 4.4 | 15 | 0 |
| 1960 | SF | 10 | 36 | 95 | 2.6 | 21 | 1 | 9.5 | 3 | -3 | -1.0 | 3 | 0 |
| 1961 | BAL | 13 | 168 | 675 | 4.0 | 27 | 3 | 51.9 | 34 | 322 | 9.5 | 27 | 1 |
| 1962 | BAL | 12 | 94 | 359 | 3.8 | 21 | 0 | 29.9 | 22 | 194 | 8.8 | 32 | 0 |
| 1963 | SF | 9 | 24 | 98 | 4.1 | 16 | 0 | 10.9 | 4 | 12 | 3.0 | 8 | 0 |
| Career | 183 | 1,929 | 9,723 | 5.0 | 78 | 71 | 53.1 | 260 | 2,021 | 7.8 | 70 | 12 | |
Life After Football
After his football career, Joe Perry also hosted a popular radio show. It featured sports news and music. He also competed in professional bowling, where he was very good! Later, he worked as a scout and assistant for the 49ers. He also worked as a sales representative for a winery.
Joe Perry's Legacy
The 49ers announced that Joe Perry passed away on April 25, 2011, in Arizona. He was 84 years old.
After his passing, researchers at Boston University studied Joe Perry's brain. They also studied the brain of his teammate, John Henry Johnson, who passed away shortly after Joe. This research helps scientists learn more about head injuries in sports. It helps make football safer for players today.
Joe Perry was a very durable player, playing for 16 seasons across three decades. He held the NFL's career rushing record from 1958 to 1963. His record was later broken by Jim Brown. Joe's 7,344 rushing yards for the 49ers was a team record for almost 60 years. It was broken in 2011 by Frank Gore. As of 2020, his 68 rushing touchdowns still remain a 49ers team record.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1969, in his first year of eligibility. His teammate, Leo Nomellini, was also in that Hall of Fame class. The 49ers' "Million Dollar Backfield" is special because all four of its members are in the Hall of Fame. The 49ers retired Joe's jersey number 34 in 1971. He was also a first member of the San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame in 2009. After he passed away in 2011, the team honored Joe that season by wearing helmet decals with his number 34.
See also
- Black players in professional American football
- List of Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees
- List of NFL players with chronic traumatic encephalopathy
