Derrell Palmer
Encyclopedia
Derrell Palmer was an American football
offensive tackle and defensive tackle who played eight seasons in the All-America Football Conference
and in the National Football League
, mainly with the Cleveland Browns
.
Born August 27, 1922 in Breckenridge, Texas
, Palmer played college football
for the Horned Frogs
of Texas Christian University
in Fort Worth, Texas
. Palmer played for TCU in the 1942 Orange Bowl, making what The New York Times
called "a number of fine defensive plays" in a game the Horned Frogs lost 40–26 to the University of Georgia Bulldogs
.
Palmer signed with the New York Yankees
of the All-America Football Conference in 1946, a team which shared Yankee Stadium
, but not ownership, with their baseball namesakes
. He started a single game for the Yankees in 1946, becoming a regular left tackle for the team in the 1947 and 1949 seasons. The team made it to the AAFC Championship Game in both 1946 and 1947, falling to the Cleveland Browns
in both seasons.
Traded to the Browns before the 1949 season, he was part of the team that won the AAFC title that season. The AAFC folded after that season, with the Browns, Baltimore Colts and San Francisco 49ers
added to the National Football League
. In their first NFL season, the Browns continued their winning ways, taking the NFL championship in 1950, their first in the league. The Browns won the league's East Division each year from 1951 to 1953, his last in professional football, but lost the NFL Championship Game each of those seasons.
At Cleveland, Palmer played with Otto Graham
, Lou Groza
, Dante Lavelli
, Marion Motley
and Mac Speedie
, with head coach
Paul Brown
calling Palmer one of the two best defensive tackles he ever coached.
A resident of Cleburne, Texas
, Palmer died at age 85 on February 22, 2009.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
offensive tackle and defensive tackle who played eight seasons in the All-America Football Conference
All-America Football Conference
The All-America Football Conference was a professional American football league that challenged the established National Football League from 1946 to 1949. One of the NFL's most formidable challengers, the AAFC attracted many of the nation's best players, and introduced many lasting innovations...
and in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
, mainly with the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Born August 27, 1922 in Breckenridge, Texas
Breckenridge, Texas
Breckenridge is a city in Stephens County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,868 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Stephens County...
, Palmer played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for the Horned Frogs
TCU Horned Frogs football
The TCU Horned Frogs football team is the intercollegiate football team of Texas Christian University. TCU competes as a member of the Mountain West Conference in the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, but will move to the Big 12 Conference for the 2012 season. TCU began playing football...
of Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...
in Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
. Palmer played for TCU in the 1942 Orange Bowl, making what The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
called "a number of fine defensive plays" in a game the Horned Frogs lost 40–26 to the University of Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
.
Palmer signed with the New York Yankees
New York Yankees (AAFC)
The New York Yankees were a professional American football team that played in the All-America Football Conference from 1946 to 1949. The team played in Yankee Stadium in the Bronx and often played in front of sold-out crowds . They were owned by Dan Topping, who brought many of his Brooklyn...
of the All-America Football Conference in 1946, a team which shared Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium was a stadium located in The Bronx in New York City, New York. It was the home ballpark of the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. The stadium hosted 6,581 Yankees regular season home games during its 85-year history. It was also the former home of the New York...
, but not ownership, with their baseball namesakes
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. He started a single game for the Yankees in 1946, becoming a regular left tackle for the team in the 1947 and 1949 seasons. The team made it to the AAFC Championship Game in both 1946 and 1947, falling to the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in both seasons.
Traded to the Browns before the 1949 season, he was part of the team that won the AAFC title that season. The AAFC folded after that season, with the Browns, Baltimore Colts and San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
added to the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. In their first NFL season, the Browns continued their winning ways, taking the NFL championship in 1950, their first in the league. The Browns won the league's East Division each year from 1951 to 1953, his last in professional football, but lost the NFL Championship Game each of those seasons.
At Cleveland, Palmer played with Otto Graham
Otto Graham
Otto Everett Graham, Jr. was a professional American football and basketball player who played for the Cleveland Browns in both the All-America Football Conference and National Football League, as well as the Rochester Royals in the National Basketball League.-Early life:Born in Waukegan,...
, Lou Groza
Lou Groza
Louis Roy Groza was an American football placekicker and offensive tackle who played his entire career for the Cleveland Browns....
, Dante Lavelli
Dante Lavelli
Dante Bert Joseph "Gluefingers" Lavelli was an American football end who played for the Cleveland Browns in the All-America Football Conference and National Football League from 1946 to 1956...
, Marion Motley
Marion Motley
Marion Motley was a professional football player, a fullback for the Cleveland Browns, and briefly for the Pittsburgh Steelers.-Early years:...
and Mac Speedie
Mac Speedie
Mac Speedie was a football player who starred as a wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns in both the All-America Football Conference and National Football League for seven years, and later served for two years as head coach of the American Football League's Denver Broncos.-Early life:Speedie was...
, with head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Paul Brown
Paul Brown
Paul Eugene Brown was a coach in American football and a major figure in the development of the National Football League...
calling Palmer one of the two best defensive tackles he ever coached.
A resident of Cleburne, Texas
Cleburne, Texas
Cleburne is a city in Johnson County, Texas, United States, and a suburb of Fort Worth. According to 2007 United States Census Bureau estimates, the population is 29,050. It is the county seat of Johnson County. Cleburne is named for a Confederate General, Patrick Cleburne...
, Palmer died at age 85 on February 22, 2009.