Macon was a track star at Edison High School. He was drafted into the United States Army during World War II in 1945, and was stationed for seven months at Yokohama, Japan, after the war's conclusion. Upon returning to the United States, he joined the San Joaquin Delta College track team, before transferring to Pacific. Macon was convinced by Pacific coach Larry Siemering to join the school's football team, becoming the first black Tigers player. In three seasons with the Tigers, Macon scored 34 touchdowns, and went 24–8–1.[2]
Professional careeredit
Macon was drafted in the second round (twentieth selection) of the 1952 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears and became the first African-American player on the team; he spent two years as a halfback and return specialist.[3] He was the second African-American to be drafted by the Bears; the first, George Taliaferro, was drafted by them in 1949, but chose to play in the All-America Football Conference.[3] With the Bears, Macon rushed for 324 yards and two touchdowns on 70 attempts while catching 14 passes for 49 yards and two touchdowns. On 22 kick returns, he averaged 30.5 yards per return and 5.9 yards on 24 punt returns.[3] He left the Bears in 1954 to play for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League.[4] Bears coach and owner George Halas was not pleased about his departure, blackballing Macon and suing him for $100,000. As a result, the Bears refused to acknowledge Macon being on the team.[5] After being out of football for two years, which he spent as a longshoreman, Macon joined the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 1957 before leaving in 1959 to resume his longshoreman career, but later joined the Oakland Raiders of the American Football League in 1960. With the Raiders, Macon was converted to defensive back, and was tied for second in the league with nine interceptions, which earned him All-AFL honors.[2]
Personal lifeedit
Macon and his wife (of 70 years) Jessie, had four daughters, Edna Rice (Bertram), Marilyn Gayles (Percy), Janice Macon and Andrea Terry (McClellan), as well as a son, Edwin Macon Jr. Eddie and Jessie married in 1945 and resided in Stockton, CA. They relocated to the Bay Area before returning to Stockton to live out their life in a senior living residence as of October 2012.
Upon retiring, Macon worked for over 40 years as a longshoreman, retiring at the age of 86 years old. He died on April 19, 2017, at the age of 90.
^St. Martin, Raymond (2010-02-04). "Gridiron Gauntlet III: Original Oakland Raider Eddie Macon". SB Nation. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
April 09, 2024
eddie, macon, edwin, donald, macon, march, 1927, april, 2017, american, football, halfback, cornerback, played, national, football, league, seasons, with, chicago, bears, then, played, canadian, football, league, season, with, calgary, stampeders, three, years. Edwin Donald Macon 1 March 7 1927 April 19 2017 was an American football halfback and cornerback who played in the National Football League NFL for two seasons with the Chicago Bears then played in the Canadian Football League CFL for one season with the Calgary Stampeders and three years with the Hamilton Tiger Cats and finally played in the American Football League AFL for a lone season with the Oakland Raiders He played college football for the Pacific Tigers and was selected by the Bears in the second round 20th overall of the 1952 NFL Draft Eddie MaconNo 25 28Position Halfback CornerbackPersonal informationBorn 1927 03 07 March 7 1927Stockton California U S Died April 19 2017 2017 04 19 aged 90 Stockton California U S Height 6 ft 0 in 1 83 m Weight 177 lb 80 kg Career informationHigh school Edison Stockton California College Pacific 1949 1951 NFL draft 1952 Round 2 Pick 20Career historyChicago Bears 1952 1953 Calgary Stampeders 1954 Hamilton Tiger Cats 1957 1959 Oakland Raiders 1960 Career highlights and awardsSecond team All AFL 1960 Pacific Tigers No 41 retiredCareer NFL AFL statisticsRushing yards 324Rushing average 4 6Rushing touchdowns 2Receptions 14Receiving yards 49Receiving touchdowns 2Interceptions 9Defensive touchdowns 1Career CFL statisticsRushing yards 942Receptions 24Receiving yards 464Interceptions 17Total touchdowns 9 a Player stats at NFL com PFR Contents 1 Early life 2 Professional career 3 Personal life 4 Notes and referencesEarly life editMacon was a track star at Edison High School He was drafted into the United States Army during World War II in 1945 and was stationed for seven months at Yokohama Japan after the war s conclusion Upon returning to the United States he joined the San Joaquin Delta College track team before transferring to Pacific Macon was convinced by Pacific coach Larry Siemering to join the school s football team becoming the first black Tigers player In three seasons with the Tigers Macon scored 34 touchdowns and went 24 8 1 2 Professional career editMacon was drafted in the second round twentieth selection of the 1952 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears and became the first African American player on the team he spent two years as a halfback and return specialist 3 He was the second African American to be drafted by the Bears the first George Taliaferro was drafted by them in 1949 but chose to play in the All America Football Conference 3 With the Bears Macon rushed for 324 yards and two touchdowns on 70 attempts while catching 14 passes for 49 yards and two touchdowns On 22 kick returns he averaged 30 5 yards per return and 5 9 yards on 24 punt returns 3 He left the Bears in 1954 to play for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League 4 Bears coach and owner George Halas was not pleased about his departure blackballing Macon and suing him for 100 000 As a result the Bears refused to acknowledge Macon being on the team 5 After being out of football for two years which he spent as a longshoreman Macon joined the Hamilton Tiger Cats in 1957 before leaving in 1959 to resume his longshoreman career but later joined the Oakland Raiders of the American Football League in 1960 With the Raiders Macon was converted to defensive back and was tied for second in the league with nine interceptions which earned him All AFL honors 2 Personal life editMacon and his wife of 70 years Jessie had four daughters Edna Rice Bertram Marilyn Gayles Percy Janice Macon and Andrea Terry McClellan as well as a son Edwin Macon Jr Eddie and Jessie married in 1945 and resided in Stockton CA They relocated to the Bay Area before returning to Stockton to live out their life in a senior living residence as of October 2012 Upon retiring Macon worked for over 40 years as a longshoreman retiring at the age of 86 years old He died on April 19 2017 at the age of 90 Notes and references edit 5 rushing 2 receiving 2 defensive Eddie Macon DatabaseFootball Archived from the original on 2012 06 14 Retrieved 2013 01 21 a b Dhillon Jagdip 2013 01 20 A lasting impression Recordnet com Retrieved 2013 01 21 a b c Mayer Larry 2012 02 14 Smith thrilled to meet Bears first African American player Chicago Bears Archived from the original on 2013 03 16 Retrieved 2013 01 21 M CFLapedia CFLapedia Retrieved 2013 01 21 St Martin Raymond 2010 02 04 Gridiron Gauntlet III Original Oakland Raider Eddie Macon SB Nation Retrieved 2013 01 21 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Eddie Macon amp oldid 1209929111, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
