Bob Whitlow

Robert Edward Whitlow (February 15, 1936 – October 23, 2020) was an American professional football player who was a center in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins, Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons, and Cleveland Browns. He played college football for the Arizona Wildcats.

For the American football coach, see Robert V. Whitlow.

Bob Whitlow
No. 66, 61, 51, 53
Position:Center
Personal information
Born:(1936-02-15)February 15, 1936
Shelbyville, Indiana, U.S.
Died:October 23, 2020(2020-10-23) (aged 84)
Forsyth County, Georgia, U.S.
Career information
High school:Bloomington (IN)
College:Compton JC
Arizona Wildcats
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
  • Indiana Football Hall of Fame (2000)
  • Monroe County, Indiana Sports Hall of Fame (2012)
Career NFL statistics
Games played:100
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early life

Whitlow was born in Shelbyville, Indiana and attended Bloomington High School in Bloomington, Indiana, where he played high school football and participated in track and field as a shot putter.[1]

College and military career

After high school, Whitlow attended and played college football at Compton Junior College in Compton, California, before transferring to the University of Arizona.[2] He was also a shot putter in college.[1] He left college in 1957 and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.[2]

Professional career

After serving with the Marines, Whitlow qualified for the Summer Olympics trials in shot put, but decided to play football instead.[3][1] He signed with the Chicago Bears in 1960, but was then traded to the Washington Redskins.[2] Midway through the 1961 season, he was traded to the Detroit Lions, where he played through 1965 and played every offensive down in 1962 and 1963.[2] Whitlow was then traded to the Atlanta Falcons during their inaugural 1966 season. He was then traded to the Los Angeles Rams for undisclosed draft picks, but never played for the Rams.[4][5] In 1968, he was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers, but was waived before the end of the offseason.[6] He was then signed by the Cleveland Browns and played for them for one season, but then had to retire after a hernia operation.[7]

During the Detroit Lions 1963 season, Whitlow was the center for George Plimpton when Plimpton was practicing and playing with the Lions for the Sports Illustrated article that became the book "Paper Lion".[8]

Racing career

Whitlow is the only NFL player to also compete in USAC and NASCAR stockcar events.

Coaching career

Whitlow was an assistant basketball coach for two seasons at Oakland Community College from 1986-1988.[9] Whitlow was the head basketball coach at Madonna College from 1988 to 1989, posting a 13–17 record.[2][10] He was a track and field coach at Northview High School in Johns Creek, Georgia.[1]

He died on October 23, 2020, in Forsyth County, Georgia at age 84.[11]

References
  1. "Northview Track and Field Coaches". Northview High School. Archived from the original on 2015-07-25. Retrieved 2015-07-24.
  2. "WHITLOW, ROBERT". Indiana Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2015-07-24.
  3. Rosenberg, I.J. "Whatever happened to: Bob Whitlow". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  4. "Rams, Falcons Trade". The Milwaukee Journal. July 18, 1967. p. 10. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  5. "Rams Drop Former Star Trojan Back". The Spokesman-Review. August 31, 1967. p. 7. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  6. Bryson, Mike (August 27, 1968). "Several Veterans Among Players Cut". The Free Lance–Star. p. 20. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  7. "Former Pro Gridder Whitlow Finds New Sport". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. July 29, 1973. p. B2. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  8. Plimpton, George (1988). Paper Lion. ISBN 9780060915407.
  9. "Bob Whitlow Madonna Basketball coach". Detroit Free Press. 1988-08-20. p. 38. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
  10. Risak, C.J. (July 20, 1992). "Brand New Start:Sharpe to Lead Madonna's Men's Basketball" (PDF). Westland Observer. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  11. "Bob Whitlow, member of inaugural Falcons team, Forsyth resident, dies at 84". Forsythnews.com. 2020-10-23. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
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