Wallace Triplett facts for kids
Triplett on a 1950 Bowman football card
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| No. 18, 40, 47 | |||
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| Position: | Halfback | ||
| Personal information | |||
| Born: | April 18, 1926 La Mott, Pennsylvania |
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| Died: | November 8, 2018 (aged 92) Detroit, Michigan |
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| Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||
| Weight: | 170 lb (77 kg) | ||
| Career information | |||
| College: | Penn State | ||
| NFL Draft: | 1949 / Round: 19 / Pick: 182 | ||
| Career history | |||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||
Wallace Triplett (born April 18, 1926 – died November 8, 2018) was a very important American football player. He made history as the first African-American player ever chosen in the National Football League (NFL) draft. Because of his pioneering role, his picture is displayed in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
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Early Life and Challenges
Wallace Triplett grew up in La Mott, Pennsylvania, a town near Philadelphia. His father worked for the postal service. Wallace was known as a very talented football player in high school.
A college called the University of Miami offered him a scholarship to play football. They thought he was white because of where he lived. But back then, many schools in the South, like Miami, only allowed white students. When they found out Wallace was black, they took back his scholarship offer.
Instead, Wallace earned a special scholarship for his good grades. He decided to attend Penn State University in 1945.
Making History at Penn State
At Penn State, Wallace Triplett and Dennis Hoggard were among the first African-American players on the Penn State Nittany Lions football team. They helped break down barriers in college sports.
In 1946, the Penn State team was supposed to play a game against the Miami Hurricanes in Miami. However, Miami refused to play if Penn State brought its black players. The Penn State team voted to cancel the game instead of leaving their black teammates behind. This showed great teamwork and support.
In 1948, Wallace Triplett made history again. He became the first African-American player to play in the Cotton Bowl Classic, a major college football game. In that game, he caught a touchdown pass that helped Penn State tie with Southern Methodist University 13–13.
While at Penn State, Wallace also helped start a chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, which is a fraternity for college men.
Playing in the NFL
In 1949, Wallace Triplett was chosen in the 1949 NFL Draft. Even though he was the third African-American player picked that year, he was the first one to actually play in an NFL game. Before him, some African-American players had joined the league without being drafted.
Wallace was a running back and a return specialist. He was 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighed 173 pounds. He played for the Detroit Lions from 1949 to 1950.
On October 29, 1950, Wallace had an amazing game against the Los Angeles Rams. He set a record for the Lions by returning kickoffs for 294 yards in one game. This was the third-highest total in NFL history at the time, and it included a 97-yard touchdown return!
Life After Football
After the 1950 football season, Wallace Triplett was drafted into the military to serve in the Korean War. He was the first NFL player to be called to military service for that war.
When he returned, the Lions traded him to the Chicago Cardinals. He played for them until he retired from professional football in 1953.
After his football career, Wallace Triplett worked as a teacher. He also worked in the insurance business and held a management job at the Chrysler Corporation. Wallace Triplett passed away on November 8, 2018, at the age of 92.
