Russ Craft

Russ Craft

Craft on a 1952 Bowman football card
Date of birth	(1919-10-15)October 15, 1919
Place of birth	McEwen, Tennessee
Date of death
Career information
Position(s)	Defensive back
College	Alabama
NFL draft	1943 / Round: 15 / Pick: 132
Career history
As player
1946–1953	Philadelphia Eagles
1954	Pittsburgh Steelers
Career highlights and awards
Pro Bowls	2
Career stats
Playing stats at NFL.com Playing stats at DatabaseFootball.com

William Russell Craft (October 15, 1919 – January 12, 2009) was an American football defensive back in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played college football at the University of Alabama and was drafted in the fifteenth round of the 1943 NFL Draft. In 1948, Craft was a key member of the Eagles in what became known as the Blizzard Bowl, in which the Eagles’ defense overwhelmed the Cardinals on the way to a 7-0 victory that earned Philadelphia its first N.F.L. championship. In 1949 he was a notable player in helping the Eagles win a second World Championship, a 1947 Division Championship, and was selected to the Pro Bowl twice, in 1951 and 1952.

Craft had some other notable achievements. In 1950, against the Chicago Cardinals, the Eagles' defense recorded eight interceptions, including an NFL-record-tying four by Craft. Craft had 22 career interceptions. Then in 1952, while playing against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Craft was able to block three Extra points (PATs).

Craft was also a defensive coach for the Steelers.

After football, Craft served as the sheriff of Brooke County, West Virginia from 1969 to 1972.

External links

• Former Steeler, Sheriff Dies In Brooke County
• Russ Craft at Find a Grave