Steve Van Buren
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| Steve Van Buren | |
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| Date of birth | December 28, 1920 (age 86) |
| Place of birth |  La Ceiba, Honduras |
| Position(s) | Halfback, Safety |
| College | LSU |
| NFL Draft | 1944 / Round 1/ Pick 3 |
| Career Highlights | |
| Honors | Eagles Honor Roll, NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team NFL 1940s All-Decade Team |
| Retired #s | Philadelphia Eagles #15 |
| Stats | |
| Statistics | |
| Team(s) | |
| 1944-1951 | Philadelphia Eagles |
| Pro Football Hall of Fame, 1965 | |
Stephen W. Van Buren (b. December 28, 1920 at La Ceiba, Honduras) is a former professional American football player who played for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League from 1944 to 1951.
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[edit] Early life
Van Buren began life in Honduras, but after he was orphaned as a boy, he was sent to live with relatives in New Orleans. From Easton High School in New Orleans, he received an athletic scholarship to Louisiana State University, where he led the nation in points (110) and touchdowns (16) as a senior.
[edit] NFL career
A first-round draft pick in 1944, Van Buren ran for 444 yards in nine games during his first season. He also led the league in returning punts as a rookie. The following season, Van Buren led the NFL in rushing for the first time. He would win three additional rushing crowns during his career.
[edit] 1948 NFL Championship game
Van Buren's signature game came on December 26, 1948. Playing in a blizzard for the NFL Championship against the Chicago Cardinals, Van Buren scored the only touchdown of the game to give the Eagles their first league title. They would win their second crown a year later. In that game, Van Buren set a league record with 196 yards rushing.
[edit] Retirement
After a knee injury before the 1952 season, Van Buren retired as league record holder for rushing yards (5860) and rushing touchdowns (69). He also scored three times returning kickoffs, three times on receptions, and twice on punt returns for a total of 77 touchdowns. He was also the first running back to pass 1000 yards in a season twice. A fast, powerful back he stood 6-1 and weighed 200 and could step the century (100 yard dash) in 9.8 seconds.
[edit] Honors
Steve Van Buren was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the Class of 1965. In 1999, he was ranked number 77 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players.
[edit] External links
- Pro Football Hall of Fame: member biography
| Preceded by Clarke Hinkle |
NFL Career Rushing Yards Leader 1949 - 1958 |
Succeeded by Joe Perry |
| Eagles Honor Roll inductees. |
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1987: Chuck Bednarik | 1987: Bert Bell | 1987: Harold Carmichael | 1987: Bill Hewitt | 1987: Sonny Jurgensen | 1987: Wilbert Montgomery | 1987: Earle "Greasy" Neale | 1987: Pete Pihos | 1987: Ollie Matson | 1987: Jim Ringo | 1987: Norm Van Brocklin | 1987: Steve Van Buren | 1987: Alex Wojciechowicz | 1988: Bill Bergey | 1988: Tommy McDonald | 1989: Tom Brookshier | 1989: Pete Retzlaff | 1990: Timmy Brown | 1991: Jerry Sisemore | 1991: Stan Walters | 1992: Ron Jaworski | 1993: Bill Bradley | 1994: Dick Vermeil | 1995: Jim Gallagher | 1995: Mike Quick | 1996: Jerome Brown | 1999: Otho Davis | 2005: Reggie White |
| National Football League | NFL's 75th Anniversary All-Time Team |
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Sammy Baugh | Otto Graham | Joe Montana | Johnny Unitas | Jim Brown | Marion Motley | Bronko Nagurski | Walter Payton | Gale Sayers | O.J. Simpson | Steve Van Buren | Lance Alworth | Raymond Berry | Don Hutson | Jerry Rice | Mike Ditka | Kellen Winslow | Roosevelt Brown | Forrest Gregg | Anthony Muñoz | John Hannah | Jim Parker | Gene Upshaw | Mel Hein | Mike Webster | Deacon Jones | Gino Marchetti | Reggie White | Joe Greene | Bob Lilly | Merlin Olsen | Dick Butkus | Jack Ham | Ted Hendricks | Jack Lambert | Willie Lanier | Ray Nitschke | Lawrence Taylor | Mel Blount | Mike Haynes | Dick Lane | Rod Woodson | Ken Houston | Ronnie Lott | Larry Wilson | Ray Guy | Jan Stenerud | Billy Johnson |
| National Football League | NFL's 1940s All-Decade Team |
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Sammy Baugh | Sid Luckman | Bob Waterfield | Tony Canadeo | Bill Dudley | George McAfee | Charley Trippi | Steve Van Buren | Byron White | Pat Harder | Marion Motley | Bill Osmanski | Jim Benton | Jack Ferrante | Ken Kavanaugh | Dante Lavelli | Pete Pihos | Mac Speedie | Ed Sprinkle | Al Blozis | George Connor | Frank "Bucko" Kilroy | Buford "Baby" Ray | Vic Sears | Al Wistert | Bruno Banducci | Bill Edwards | Garrard "Buster" Ramsey | Bill Willis | Len Younce | Charley Brock | Clyde "Bulldog" Turner | Alex Wojciechowicz | |
| Persondata | |
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| NAME | Van Buren, Steve |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | HOF player, LSU & Philadelphia Eagles |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1920-12-28 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | La Ceiba, Honduras |
| DATE OF DEATH | |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
Categories: American football running backs | American football safeties | LSU Tigers football players | NFL 1940s All-Decade Team | NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team | Philadelphia Eagles players | Pro Football Hall of Fame | Honduran players of American football | 1920 births | Living people | LSU Hall of Fame members
