Charley Trippi

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Charley Trippi

Date of birth	December 14, 1922 (age 84)
Place of birth	Pittston, Pennsylvania
Position(s)	QB, HB, DHB, KR, PR, P
College	Georgia
NFL Draft	1945 / Round 1/ Pick 1
Career Highlights
Pro Bowls	2
Awards	1946 Maxwell Award
Honors	NFL 1940s All-Decade Team University of Georgia Circle of Honor
Retired #s	Georgia Bulldogs #62
Stats
Statistics	Pro Football Reference DatabaseFootball
Team(s)
1947-1955	Chicago Cardinals
College Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame, 1968

Charles Louis Trippi (born December 14, 1922, in Pittston, Pennsylvania) was a professional American football player for the Chicago Cardinals. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968.

Mr. Trippi currently resides in Athens, GA.

[edit] College Years

Trippi attended the University of Georgia and was a two-time All-America selection. He played for Georgia in 1942 and, after his college career was interrupted by World War II, he completed his career at Georgia by playing in 1945 and 1946. Trippi graduated from the University of Georgia in 1951 with a Bachelor of Science in Education and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1959. He was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1965.

[edit] NFL career

Trippi was a big part in the battling between the NFL and AAFC. The AAFC's New York Yankees were sure they had signed Trippi, but Charles W. Bidwill Sr. of the Cardinals signed Trippi to a four year contract worth $100,000.

Trippi's addition completed Bidwill’s quest for a "Dream Backfield." Although Bidwill did not live to see it, Charley became the game breaker in a talented corps that included Paul Christman, Pat Harder, Marshall Goldberg and, later, Elmer Angsman.

Never was Trippi more magnificent than in the 1947 NFL Championship Game when the Cardinals defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, 28-21. Playing on an icy field in Chicago, Charley wore basketball shoes for better traction and totaled 206 yards, including 102 yards on two punt returns. He scored touchdowns on a 44-yard run and a 75-yard punt return.

Trippi played as a left halfback for four seasons before switching to quarterback for two seasons. Charley then moved back to offensive halfback for one season before changing to defensive in 1954 and 1955. He also was the Cardinals' punter and he excelled on the punt and kickoff return teams.