Marion Motley biography
Marion Motley, (born June 5, 1920, Leesburg, Georgia, U.S.—died June 27, 1999, Cleveland, Ohio), African American gridiron soccer participant who helped desegregate skilled soccer within the Nineteen Forties throughout a profession that earned him induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968. Motley’s bruising operating model and distinctive blocking skill marked him as one of many sport’s biggest gamers.
Motley was a fullback and linebacker for each South Carolina State University (Orangeburg) and the University of Nevada (Reno) earlier than enjoying for the Great Lakes Naval Training Station throughout World War II. His coach there was Paul Brown, who later was named the primary coach of the Cleveland Browns within the All-America Football Conference (AAFC). Motley signed with Cleveland as a fullback in 1946, breaking skilled soccer’s 13-year color barrier together with three different gamers.
Motley, 6 toes 1 inch (1.85 metres) tall and weighing 238 kilos (108 kg), was the main rusher within the four-year historical past of the AAFC, with 3,024 yards. The Cleveland Browns received each AAFC title and compiled a 47–4–3 regular-season document. Motley, who additionally contributed defensively, was an AAFC linebacker in every of his first three seasons.
When the Browns joined the National Football League (NFL) in 1950, Motley led the league with 810 yards, a median of 5.8 yards per carry, and was named to the All-Pro workforce. The Browns received the NFL title in 1950 and superior to the title recreation in every of the following three seasons. Motley missed the 1954 season due to a knee damage. He completed his profession with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1955. In all, Motley totaled 4,720 dashing yards (a 5.7-yard common) and scored 31 touchdowns.
Motley’s profession has been overshadowed by later Browns fullback Jim Brown, who performed in an period when the NFL attracted a broad nationwide viewers by tv. However, Motley, utilizing an identical mixture of pace and energy, was simply as dominant throughout his profession and was thought of by many, together with Coach Paul Brown, to have been the extra full participant.