Ralph Fife

Ralph Donald Fife (January 26, 1920 - January 31, 2000) was an American football player and coach.

Ralph Fife
Personal information
Born:January 26, 1920
Canton, Ohio
Died:January 31, 2000 (age 80)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:207 lb (94 kg)
Career information
High school:Canton (OH) McKinley
College:Pittsburgh
Position:Guard
Career history
Career highlights and awards
  • First-team All-American (1941)

Early years

Fife was born in 1920 in Canton, Ohio.[1] He played football at Canton McKinley High School where he blocked for Marion Motley and was selected as an all-state player.[2]

College football

He played college football for the Pittsburgh Panthers football team. He played guard on offense and linebacker on defense.[2] In December 1941, he was selected by the Associated Press as a first-team guard on the 1941 All-America college football team.[3]

Pro football and wartime service

He signed with the Chicago Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL) in October 1942.[4] He appeared in four games, three as a starter, for the Cardinals at the guard position during the 1943 season.[1] His football career was interrupted by service in the Navy during World War II. After the war, he returned to the Cardinals for one start during the 1945 season. In 1946, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers, appearing in 10 games, nine as a starter.[1][5] He appeared in a total of 15 NFL games.[1]

Coaching career

In December 1946, Fife was named head coach of the Turtle Creek Union High School football team.[6] He remained at Turtle Creek until 1950, when he accepted a job as line coach at the University of Nebraska.[7] He became head football coach at Mount Lebanon High School in 1954.[8] In 1967, after coaching the 1966 Mount Lebanon team to an undefeated season and state championship, he became head football coach and director of physical education at Chartiers Valley High School.[9] He retired from coaching in 1978.[2]

Death

He died in 2000.[1]

References
  1. "Ralph Fife". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  2. "Ralph Fife: Lebo football coach won 1966 WPIAL title, then left". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. January 28, 1968. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. Herb Baker (December 12, 1941). "Ralph Fife, Panther Star, Named On A.P. 1941 All-America Team". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 28 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Chicago Cardinals Sign Ralph Fife". The Hartford Courant. October 14, 1942. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Ralph Fife". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  6. Fred P. Alger (December 21, 1946). "Ralph Fife Named Turtle Creek Coach". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Penn School Coach Goes to Nebraska". The Hartford Courant. January 20, 1950. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. Fred P. Alger (September 24, 1958). "Blue Devils Hit In High Figures: Ralph Fife's Mt. Lebanon Team Has Blasted Two Tough Foes". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Fife Quits Mt. Lebanon for Chartiers Valley: Coach of Champ Goes to 0-9 Club". Pittsburgh Post-Courier. January 17, 1967. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
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