Earl Leggett
Encyclopedia
Earl Franklin Leggett was an American football
defensive lineman in the NFL
for the Chicago Bears
, Los Angeles Rams
, and the New Orleans Saints
. He played college football
at Louisiana State University
. He was also an assistant coach for various teams.
Leggett's career as a professional football athlete began as a first-round draft pick of the Chicago Bears in 1957 and spanned 11 years (1957–1968). He is recorded as having played in 132 professional football games.
His career with the Chicago Bears lasted from 1957-1965 where he played at both Defensive Tackle and Defensive End positions. He was part of the famed "Monsters of the Midway
" defense that led the Bears to the 1963 NFL championship. He was traded to The Los Angeles Rams in 1966 where he played in 10 regular season games with the Los Angeles Rams' "Fearsome Foursome
" defense.
Toward the end of his career, journeyman Leggett played 20 games in 1967 & 1968 for the expansion New Orleans Saints franchise. While statistics on sacks were not recorded back then, www.pro-football-reference.com credits Leggett with 16 fumble recoveries, 1 safety and 1 interception.
Leggett was a good friend to many and did outstanding community service in the Mississippi area and Gulf Coast region. He first played college football at Hinds Jr. College (today known as Hinds Community College
) which was the only school that would give him a chance due to academic cirumstances. He started playing for them at 16 (which was then legal) and was able to raise his academic standing to get into Louisiana State University. Leggett became an All-Southeastern Conference player at LSU.
Howie Long
spoke at his funeral in Raymond, Mississippi.
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...
defensive lineman in the NFL
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...
for the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Los Angeles Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
, and the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
. He 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...
at Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
. He was also an assistant coach for various teams.
Leggett's career as a professional football athlete began as a first-round draft pick of the Chicago Bears in 1957 and spanned 11 years (1957–1968). He is recorded as having played in 132 professional football games.
His career with the Chicago Bears lasted from 1957-1965 where he played at both Defensive Tackle and Defensive End positions. He was part of the famed "Monsters of the Midway
Monsters of the Midway
The "Monsters of the Midway" is most widely known as the nickname for the National Football League's Chicago Bears—particularly the dominant teams of 1940 and 1941...
" defense that led the Bears to the 1963 NFL championship. He was traded to The Los Angeles Rams in 1966 where he played in 10 regular season games with the Los Angeles Rams' "Fearsome Foursome
Fearsome Foursome
The Fearsome Foursome is a fictional supervillain group in the Marvel Comics universe. It was made up of Devos the Devastator, Huntara, Klaw, and Paibok the Power-Skrull. They worked together to destroy the Fantastic Four, though they also came into conflict with the Avengers....
" defense.
Toward the end of his career, journeyman Leggett played 20 games in 1967 & 1968 for the expansion New Orleans Saints franchise. While statistics on sacks were not recorded back then, www.pro-football-reference.com credits Leggett with 16 fumble recoveries, 1 safety and 1 interception.
Leggett was a good friend to many and did outstanding community service in the Mississippi area and Gulf Coast region. He first played college football at Hinds Jr. College (today known as Hinds Community College
Hinds Community College
Hinds Community College is a community college with its main campus located in Raymond, Mississippi, about five miles west of Jackson, the state capital. The Hinds Community College District includes Hinds County, Claiborne County, part of Copiah County, Rankin County, and Warren County...
) which was the only school that would give him a chance due to academic cirumstances. He started playing for them at 16 (which was then legal) and was able to raise his academic standing to get into Louisiana State University. Leggett became an All-Southeastern Conference player at LSU.
Howie Long
Howie Long
Howard "Howie" Matthew Moses Long is an American former National Football League defensive end and actor. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000...
spoke at his funeral in Raymond, Mississippi.