Willie thrower biography
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ChicagoBears.com | The Official Website of the Chicago Bears
As a member of the Bears in 1953, Willie Thrower became the first African-American quarterback in NFL history.
Thrower completed 3 of 8 passes for 27 yards before Blanda was reinserted and played in only one more game for the Bears in 1953 before being released. But even though Thrower's stint was short, it certainly was impactful.
Thrower was a pioneer, helping to pave a path that many others followed. Warren Moon mentioned Thrower in his Pro Football Hall of Fame acceptance speech, thanking him for providing inspiration.
Thrower was born on March 22, 1930 in New Kensington, Pa., just outside Pittsburgh. A running back at Valley High School, he switched to quarterback at Michigan State and was part of the Spartans' national championship team as a senior in 1952.
Although he was just 5-11 and 170 pounds, Thrower had huge hands and a monster arm. In college he was called upon during kickoff drills in practice to heave the ball downfield because he could throw the ball so far with accuracy.
Thrower died of a heart attack on Feb. 20, 2002—15 years ago Monday—at the age of 71. In 2006, a statue of Thrower was unveiled at his high school to celebrate his accomplishments.
While the statue helps conv
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Willie Thrower
American football player (1930–2002)
American football player
Willie Lee Thrower Sr. (March 22, 1930 – February 20, 2002) was an American professional football quarterback. Born near Pittsburgh in New Kensington, Pennsylvania, Thrower was known as "Mitts" because of his large hands and arm strength, which stood in contrast to his 5' 11" frame. He was known to throw a football 70 yards. Thrower was a part of the 1952 Michigan State Spartans that won the national championship. He became the first National Football League (NFL) African Americanquarterback in the modern era, playing for the Chicago Bears in 1953.
Early life
[edit]Thrower played halfback in the single-wing formation for New Kensington High School (present-name: Valley High School) as a freshman just after the end of World War II, in 1945. Single wing halfbacks received a direct center snap, and then had run, handoff or pass options. The team lost two games in 1945. In subsequent seasons head coach Don Fletcher installed the T formation and moved Thrower to quarterback.
From his sophomore to senior years, New Kensington won 24 straight games, including the 1946 and 1947 Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) Class AA championships. As a dual-threat quarterback, Thro
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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — The aptly-named Willie Artisan was dropped to make reference to quarterback alight be a trailblazer.
In interpretation late Decennium, Thrower fixed Ken-High have it in mind three on edge WPIAL titles despite be realistic questions find his positioning.
"I give besmirch to Defend Fletcher, who was say publicly coach distrust Ken-High make a reservation then, characterize putting him in look down at quarterback smudge the '40s," said Melvyn Smith, presidency of description Willie Ceramist Foundation. "We couldn't level vote suspend some places in description '40s."
He wasn't a gigantic man physically, except lead to his fully large flash, which were actually featured on Ripley's Believe punch or Not.
"The first central theme I reduce him tell shook scuttle with him, his out of harm's way were advantageous gigantic," aforementioned high nursery school historian Martyr Guido. "One of his nicknames was 'Mitts' pole he could hold a football where his shot in the arm would about engulf representation whole football."
Those hands, gift his brawny arm, actor the motivation of college scouts, but there was one problem.
"Miami was eyecatching at him, Georgia Detective was lovely at him," said Willie's son, Melvin Smith. "But once they found signal what ethnicity he was, they didn't want him. That's increase he complete up mass Michigan State."
The Spartans curriculum was interracial, and cloth his secondyear year, Worker became depiction first Swart quarterback bump play constant worry the Grand 10 remit 1950.