Eddie Meador
Encyclopedia
Eddie Doyle Meador is a former professional American football
defensive back
for the Los Angeles Rams from 1959 to 1970.
in Russellville, Arkansas. During his college career, spanning 1955-1959, Meador seldom left the playing field because he was the tailback, a defensive back, a return specialist, and a co-captain for the Wonder Boys. In addition to football, Meador played basketball and ran track for ATU.
Meador was named All-Conference in the AIC for 3 seasons and was named Little All-American following his senior season at Tech. His collegiate career includes rushing for 3,410 yards and scoring 259 points.
There were other tremendous single-game, single-season, and career achievements that resulted in unofficially setting 19 collegiate records, which have since been surpassed. To cap off his career, Meador was invited to play in the Optimist Bowl in Tucson, Arizona, where all-star-caliber football players from Division I were pitted against all-star-caliber football players from smaller colleges. Playing alongside all-star teammates such as John Madden
and John Wooten
, Meador's team was narrowly defeated by the players of Division I. He was voted Arkansas Amateur Athlete of the Year in 1958. In 1959 Meador graduated with a teaching degree (Social Studies and Physical Education).
Meador was voted to the Pro Bowl the following season, as well as being names Second-team All-Pro. In 1961 Meador tied for the NFL lead in fumbles recovered with 5 and was named All-Conference by The Sporting News
. The following season, 1962, Meador was honorable mention All-Pro and set a Ram record by blocking 4 kicks.
In 1963 he was Second-team All-Pro
and intercepted six passes. In 1964 Meador was moved from cornerback to free safety. He recorded 95 tackles and was named All-Conference by The Sporting News (an honor he would receive every year from 1964 through 1969). In 1965 he led the Rams with 126 tackles and was named Second-team All-Pro for the third time. He was the holder for the Rams placekicks and on a fake field goal attempt he ran 17 yards for a touchdown.
In 1966 Meador picked off 5 passes, recovered 3 fumbles logged 97 tackles on an improving 8-6 Rams team, that was headed by George Allen. The following season Meador had 100 tackles, intercepted 8 passes (returning 2 for touchdowns) and was named First-team All-pro for the first time in his career. It was an honor he would also receive in both 1968 and 1969. In 1969 Meador logged 102 tackles and picked off 5 passes while making First-team All-Pro for the third time in as many seasons.
Meador was a three-time First-team All-Pro and a three-time Second-team All-Pro. In addition he was a seven-time All-Western conference selection by The Sporting News
to match his six Pro Bowl Selections.
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 back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
for the Los Angeles Rams from 1959 to 1970.
High school
Meador graduated from Russellville High School in 1955 as an All-State football player and a three-sport letterman in football, basketball, and track. He has been inducted into the Russellville High School Hall of Fame.College
Meador attended Arkansas Tech UniversityArkansas Tech University
Arkansas Tech University is a comprehensive regional institution located in Russellville, Arkansas, United States. The university offers programs at both baccalaureate and graduate levels in a range of fields. As of 2004, the University also operates a small satellite campus in the town of Ozark...
in Russellville, Arkansas. During his college career, spanning 1955-1959, Meador seldom left the playing field because he was the tailback, a defensive back, a return specialist, and a co-captain for the Wonder Boys. In addition to football, Meador played basketball and ran track for ATU.
Meador was named All-Conference in the AIC for 3 seasons and was named Little All-American following his senior season at Tech. His collegiate career includes rushing for 3,410 yards and scoring 259 points.
There were other tremendous single-game, single-season, and career achievements that resulted in unofficially setting 19 collegiate records, which have since been surpassed. To cap off his career, Meador was invited to play in the Optimist Bowl in Tucson, Arizona, where all-star-caliber football players from Division I were pitted against all-star-caliber football players from smaller colleges. Playing alongside all-star teammates such as John Madden
John Madden (American football)
John Earl Madden is a former American professional football player in the National Football League, a former Super Bowl-winning head coach with the Oakland Raiders in the American Football League and later the NFL, and a former color commentator for NFL telecasts. In 2006, he was inducted into...
and John Wooten
John Wooten
John B. Wooten is a former American football guard who played nine professional seasons in the National Football League for the Cleveland Browns and Washington Redskins...
, Meador's team was narrowly defeated by the players of Division I. He was voted Arkansas Amateur Athlete of the Year in 1958. In 1959 Meador graduated with a teaching degree (Social Studies and Physical Education).
NFL
Meador was drafted in the 7th Round of the 1959 NFL draft, as the 80th pick overall. He was a starter as a rookie at comerback and was voted the Rams' Defensive Rookie of the Year.Meador was voted to the Pro Bowl the following season, as well as being names Second-team All-Pro. In 1961 Meador tied for the NFL lead in fumbles recovered with 5 and was named All-Conference by The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
. The following season, 1962, Meador was honorable mention All-Pro and set a Ram record by blocking 4 kicks.
In 1963 he was Second-team All-Pro
All-Pro
All-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season. It began as polls of sportswriters in the early 1920s...
and intercepted six passes. In 1964 Meador was moved from cornerback to free safety. He recorded 95 tackles and was named All-Conference by The Sporting News (an honor he would receive every year from 1964 through 1969). In 1965 he led the Rams with 126 tackles and was named Second-team All-Pro for the third time. He was the holder for the Rams placekicks and on a fake field goal attempt he ran 17 yards for a touchdown.
In 1966 Meador picked off 5 passes, recovered 3 fumbles logged 97 tackles on an improving 8-6 Rams team, that was headed by George Allen. The following season Meador had 100 tackles, intercepted 8 passes (returning 2 for touchdowns) and was named First-team All-pro for the first time in his career. It was an honor he would also receive in both 1968 and 1969. In 1969 Meador logged 102 tackles and picked off 5 passes while making First-team All-Pro for the third time in as many seasons.
| “Eddie Meador was one of the finest defensive backs l have ever seen. Outstanding in coverage and a fierce tackier, he had a remarkable nose for the football that allowed him to come up with big plays again and again during his career with the Rams. He was also a fine leader and one of my favorite teammates.” |
| Merlin Olsen Merlin Olsen Merlin Jay Olsen was an American football player in the National Football League, NFL commentator, and actor. He played his entire 15-year career with the Los Angeles Rams and was elected to the Pro Bowl in 14 of those seasons, a current record shared with Bruce Matthews... |
Legacy
Meador retired after the 1970 season. Meador in still the Rams All-time interception leader (with 46) and hold the team record for most opponents fumbles recovered (18) and blocked the most kicks in team history with 10. Along the way Meador was voted the Rams "defensive back of the year" seven times and was named to the Los Angeles Rams All-Time team in both 1970 and 1985 and voted to the NFL's All-Decade Team for the 1960s.Meador was a three-time First-team All-Pro and a three-time Second-team All-Pro. In addition he was a seven-time All-Western conference selection by The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
to match his six Pro Bowl Selections.
- Named as the NFL Players Association President (1969–1970)
- Inducted into the Arkansas Tech University Hall of Distinction (1969)
- Awarded the NFL Father of the Year (1969)
- Awarded the NFLPA Byron 'Whizzer' White Award"Whizzer" White NFL Man of the Year AwardThe Byron "Whizzer" White NFL Man of the Year Award has been awarded by the National Football League Players Association continuously since 1966. The most recent winner, for the 2010 season, is Tony Richardson of the New York Jets...
(1969) - Elected to the Helms Athletic Foundation Sports Hall of Fame (1972)
- Elected to the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame (1978)
- NAIA Collegiate Hall of Fame member