Ed Meadows

Edward Allen Meadows (February 19, 1932 – October 22, 1974) was an American football defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for the Chicago Bears, Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Washington Redskins.

Ed Meadows
No. 76, 82, 86, 66, 83
Position:Defensive end
Personal information
Born:(1932-02-19)February 19, 1932
Oxford, North Carolina, U.S.
Died:October 22, 1974(1974-10-22) (aged 42)
Pine Knoll Shores, North Carolina, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:221 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school: Oxford (NC)
College:Duke
NFL Draft:1954 / Round: 3 / Pick: 30
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early years

Born and raised in Oxford, North Carolina, "Country" Meadows graduated from Oxford High School in 1950 and played college football at Duke University in Durham. An All-American, he had academic issues while in college, and was forced to withdraw after his junior season.[1] He was selected in the third round of the 1954 NFL draft.

Professional career

Meadows became a controversial player in his third year due to a play in the 1956 regular season finale against the Detroit Lions. The Bears (8–2–1) hosted the Lions (9–2) at Wrigley Field and needed a win to claim the Western Conference title. Early in the second quarter, Meadows' vicious hit behind the play, a pitchout to running back Gene Gedman,[2] knocked Detroit's hall of fame quarterback Bobby Layne out of the game with a concussion.[3][4][5] He was not penalized for that play but was soon ejected, near the end of the first half, for unsportsmanlike conduct against Lion fullback Bill Bowman.[6] The Bears won the game 38–21 and advanced to the league title game. Detroit head coach Buddy Parker felt strongly that the late hit on Layne was both cheap and illegal, and appealed to NFL Commissioner Bert Bell to suspend Meadows,[6][7][8] but no action was taken. He played in the NFL championship game two weeks later in Yankee Stadium against the Giants,[9] which New York won in a rout, 47–7.[10][11][12][13]

After sitting out the 1960 season, he played three games with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League in 1961, but chronic shoulder injuries led to his release in August 1962.

After football

Meadows was later in the tire business in North Carolina; he died at his home near Morehead City in 1974 at age 42, from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest.[14][15][16] He is buried at Elmwood Cemetery in his hometown of Oxford.

References
  1. "All-American at Duke kicked out". The Dispatch. Lexington, North Carolina. Associated Press. December 12, 1952. p. 1.
  2. "Lions' case 'hopeless' but send films to Bell". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. p. 8, part 3. Archived from the original on 2016-03-12. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
  3. Strickler, George (December 17, 1956). "Bears win West title; beat Lions, 38-21". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 1, part 4.
  4. Lea, Bud (December 17, 1956). "Bears win Western crown, 38-21". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 2, part 2.
  5. "Lions charge Bears 'play dirty'". Pittsburgh Press. United Press. December 17, 1956. p. 20.
  6. "Former Duke star Ed Meadows draws strong criticism from pro coach". The Dispatch. Lexington, North Carolina. Associated Press. December 17, 1956. p. 14.
  7. "Lions' boss wants Ed Meadows barred". Beaver County times. Pennsylvania. United Press. December 18, 1956. p. 17.
  8. Smith, Red (December 21, 1956). "Roaring of Detroit Lions boss becomes 'pain in ear'". Milwaukee Journal. (New York Herald Tribune). p. 13, part 2. Archived from the original on March 12, 2016. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
  9. "Meadows on receiving end". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. AP photo. December 31, 1956. p. 7.
  10. Strickler, George (December 30, 1956). "Bears seek Chicago's 1st title since '47". Chicago Sunday Tribune. p. 1, part 2.
  11. Strickler, George (December 31, 1956). "Why Bears were crushed in title game". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 1, part 2.
  12. Sell, Jack (December 31, 1956). "Giants crush Bears in title game, 47-7". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 12.
  13. Mosby, Wade (December 31, 1956). "Giants outclass Bears, 47-7, to win first pro football title in 18 years". Milwaukee Journal. p. 9, part 2.
  14. "Former Duke star Ed Meadows dies". The Dispatch. Lexington, North Carolina. Associated Press. October 24, 1974. p. 15.
  15. "Ex-Alouette Meadows dies of gunshot wound". Montreal Gazette. October 26, 1974. p. 17.
  16. "Former Duke star ruled a suicide". St. Petersburg Independent. Florida. Associated Press. October 25, 1974. p. 4C.
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