Bobby Bethune

Bobby Wayne Bethune (born December 10, 1938) is an American former football safety who played in the American Football League (AFL) for a single season with the San Diego Chargers. He also played three seasons in minor leagues.

Bobby Bethune
No. 43
Position:Safety
Personal information
Born: (1938-12-10) December 10, 1938
Leeds, Alabama, U.S.
Career information
High school:Leeds (AL)
College:Mississippi State
NFL Draft:1961 / Round: 9 / Pick: 117
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics
Games played–started:10–8
Interceptions:3
Player stats at PFR

College football

Bethune played college football for the Mississippi State Maroons (subsequently known as the Bulldogs) from 1957 to 1960.[1] He saw most action in his final two years,[2] playing as a halfback on offense and defensive back on defense.[3] With six interceptions in his senior year, Bethune tied for the most in the Southeastern Conference.[4]

Professional career

Bethune was selected in the 9th round of the 1961 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears, signing for them shortly afterwards.[5] The Chicago Tribune described him as one of a number of "rangy, fast, agile" defensive backs drafted by the Bears that year.[6] He played in the preseason for the Bears, getting ejected from one game for his role in a fist fight,[7] but was cut before the regular season began.[8] In 1962, he again featured for the Bears in exhibition play but missed the regular season squad.[9] However, Bethune signed with the AFL's Chargers to replace an injured Charlie McNeil in the defensive backfield,[10] and played the only games of his career in a major league, making ten appearances and intercepting three passes.[11]

Subsequently, Bethune appeared for three teams in the Southern Professional Football League[12][13] and one in the North American Football League.[14]

References
  1. "Bobby Bethune college stats". sports-reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  2. Rice II, Grantland (September 7, 1959). "Position-by-position—state". Birmingham News. p. 31.
  3. "Maroons make goal line stand on two-yard line". Bristol Herald Courier. UPI. October 2, 1960. p. C1.
  4. "Two stars stole six each". Birmingham News. September 10, 1961. p. 36.
  5. "No. 9 signed". Spokane Spokesman-Review. AP. January 12, 1961. p. 16.
  6. Strickler, George (December 29, 1960). "3 leagues open bidding for players". Chicago Tribune. p. Sports 2.
  7. "NFL Bears whip Alouettes 34–16". North Bay Nugget. CP. August 8, 1961. p. 16.
  8. Sell, Jack (September 15, 1961). "Roamin' around". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 19.
  9. "Bears to use Atlantans". Wilkes-Barre Times Leader. AP. August 6, 1962. p. 14.
  10. "Chargers put McNeil on injury list". Pomona Progress-Bulletin. UPI. October 4, 1962. p. III-2.
  11. "Bobby Bethune stats". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  12. "Bama team next on Rocket slate". Chattanooga Daily Times. October 16, 1963. p. 11.
  13. "Columbus grid opener to have familiar faces". Jackson Clarion-Ledger. July 25, 1964. p. 8.
  14. "Bobby Bethune NFL stats and bio". profootballarchives.com. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
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