Robert Henry Kennedy (June 29, 1921 – July 29, 2010) was a professional American football player who played running back for five seasons for the New York Yankees of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and the New York Yanks of the National Football League (NFL).[1]
No. 85 | |
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Position: | Running back Defensive back |
Personal information | |
Born: | (1921-06-29)June 29, 1921 Sandpoint, Idaho |
Died: | July 29, 2010(2010-07-29) (aged 89) Boise, Idaho |
Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
Weight: | 195 lb (88 kg) |
Career information | |
High school: | Sandpoint (ID) |
College: | Washington State |
NFL Draft: | 1943 / Round: 4 / Pick: 27 |
Career history | |
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Military career | |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Service/ | ![]() |
Rank | ![]() |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Career NFL statistics | |
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR | |
After graduation from Sandpoint High School in northern Idaho, Kennedy attended Washington State College in Pullman and played college football for the Cougars;[2][3][4][5] he was an All-American fullback and quarterback.[6] He continued to play football for the U.S. Army Air Forces during the years of World War II,[6] with the Third Air Force Gremlins.
Although selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1943 NFL Draft,[7] after the war Kennedy signed a contract to play for the upstart New York Yankees of the AAFC, a new professional league established in competition with the established NFL. Kennedy played "both ways" for the Yankees, starting as a running back on offense and a linebacker and defensive back on defense.[6]
In 1950, following the merger of the AAFC and the NFL, Kennedy played one season for the short-lived New York Yanks of the NFL.
During his later years, Kennedy worked as a real estate broker and a property developer in southern California; he was a proficient chef and an aficionado of playing cards.[6]
He was inducted into the WSU athletic hall of fame in 1988.[8]
Philadelphia Eagles 1943 NFL draft selections | |
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