Russ Francis
Encyclopedia
Russell Ross Francis is a former professional football player who was drafted by the New England Patriots
in the 1st round (16th pick) of the 1975 NFL Draft
. He grew up in Hawaii. A 6'6", 242 lbs. tight end from the University of Oregon
, Francis played in 13 NFL seasons. He retired temporarily in 1981, then played for the San Francisco 49ers
from 1982 to 1986. He was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
in 1993. Francis finished his career with 393 receptions for 5,262 yards and 40 touchdowns.
on Oahu, Hawaii and at Pleasant Hill High School in Oregon, he set the national high school record for the javelin
in 1971 at 259 feet, 9 inches; the record stood until 1988. Francis was also a decathlete for Pleasant Hill.
on September 26, 1976, Francis caught a 38 yard touchdown pass from Steve Grogan
, on 4th & 2. In that same game, Francis had a career best 139 yards receiving. As a result, Howard Cosell
proclaimed him as the "All World Tight End".
He also had a career longest 53 yard reception and 126 yards receiving in the Patriots 21-14 win over the Oakland Raiders
at the Oakland Coliseum on September 24, 1978. That year, Russ led the Patriots in receptions in 1978 with 39 catches for 543 yards.
During his span with the Patriots, Russ was the first Patriot tight end with three career receptions on fourth down plays. Francis is the only Patriot player with three receptions from a pass thrown by a wide receiver. Francis was a three-time Pro Bowl
selection from 1977–1979.
Following the 1980 NFL season, Francis retired from professional football. Two things that Francis has said contributed greatly to this decision were, one, when the Patriots refused to give him his promised bonus for making the Pro Bowl (because his injury from a motorcycle accident kept him out of the game); and, secondly, when his roommate, Darryl Stingley
, was paralyzed by a Jack Tatum
hit, the Patriots tried to cancel Stingley's medical insurance. Francis was the first Patriot player at Stingley's side immediately after the hit. Francis has said it was tough to play after that.
, Francis interviewed Bill Walsh, the 49ers head coach. Walsh told him this was the only time in his life he would be able to play football, and that he would never get these years back and should not turn his back on this chance. Francis came out of retirement, after sitting out the 1981 season, joined the 49ers and eventually won a Super Bowl
ring as a member of the 1984 49er team
. Francis played a key role in San Francisco's win over the Miami Dolphins
in Super Bowl XIX
(5 catches for 60 yards). In 1985, Francis had a career-high 44 receptions.
, Francis signed with his old team, the Patriots, before the season's final game. His second tenure in New England was less successful than his first, however, and he played just one more season
. Francis spent 1989
injured before being waived and retiring.
final and the World Superstars in 1980 and 1981, finishing second in the 1980 final and fourth in 1981. He won the football preliminary in 1981 and set a record of 23.91 seconds in the 50 yard swimming event. The record stood until 1986 when it was broken by Greg Louganis
.
Francis appeared in a twenty-man battle royal
at WrestleMania 2
along with other NFL stars. He is the son of wrestling promoter Ed Francis
, He briefly competed full-time in the American Wrestling Association
after retiring from football. He also competed in the National Wrestling Alliance
's NWA Hawaii where he held the NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship
one time with his older brother, Billy Roy Francis.
After retiring, he hosted The Russ Francis Show from 8 AM to 12 PM on 107.7 WTPL "The Pulse"
, out of Concord, New Hampshire
.
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
in the 1st round (16th pick) of the 1975 NFL Draft
1975 NFL Draft
The 1975 National Football League Draft was held on January 28–29, 1975.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
. He grew up in Hawaii. A 6'6", 242 lbs. tight end from the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
, Francis played in 13 NFL seasons. He retired temporarily in 1981, then played for the 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...
from 1982 to 1986. He was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
The Oregon Sports Hall of Fame honors Oregon athletes, teams, coaches, and others who have made a significant contribution to sports in Oregon. The first class was inducted in 1980, with new inductees added in the fall...
in 1993. Francis finished his career with 393 receptions for 5,262 yards and 40 touchdowns.
Early life
During his high school years at Kailua High SchoolKailua High School
Kailua High School is a four-year public high school located in the Maunawili CDP, City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, United States on the island of O‘ahu, adjacent to the Kailua CDP. The school serves students grades 9 through 12.-History:...
on Oahu, Hawaii and at Pleasant Hill High School in Oregon, he set the national high school record for the javelin
Javelin throw
The javelin throw is a track and field athletics throwing event where the object to be thrown is the javelin, a spear approximately 2.5 metres in length. Javelin is an event of both the men's decathlon and the women's heptathlon...
in 1971 at 259 feet, 9 inches; the record stood until 1988. Francis was also a decathlete for Pleasant Hill.
New England Patriots (1975–1980)
During the Patriots 30–27 win over the SteelersSteelers
Steelers usually refers to the Pittsburgh Steelers, an American football team which plays in the National Football League. It may also refer to the following sports teams:Association football...
on September 26, 1976, Francis caught a 38 yard touchdown pass from Steve Grogan
Steve Grogan
Steve James Grogan is a former American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. Grogan played for the Patriots for his entire NFL career, from 1975 to 1990.-High school and college:...
, on 4th & 2. In that same game, Francis had a career best 139 yards receiving. As a result, Howard Cosell
Howard Cosell
Howard William Cosell was an American sports journalist who was widely known for his blustery, cocksure personality. Cosell said of himself, "Arrogant, pompous, obnoxious, vain, cruel, verbose, a showoff. I have been called all of these...
proclaimed him as the "All World Tight End".
He also had a career longest 53 yard reception and 126 yards receiving in the Patriots 21-14 win over the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
at the Oakland Coliseum on September 24, 1978. That year, Russ led the Patriots in receptions in 1978 with 39 catches for 543 yards.
During his span with the Patriots, Russ was the first Patriot tight end with three career receptions on fourth down plays. Francis is the only Patriot player with three receptions from a pass thrown by a wide receiver. Francis was a three-time Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
selection from 1977–1979.
Following the 1980 NFL season, Francis retired from professional football. Two things that Francis has said contributed greatly to this decision were, one, when the Patriots refused to give him his promised bonus for making the Pro Bowl (because his injury from a motorcycle accident kept him out of the game); and, secondly, when his roommate, Darryl Stingley
Darryl Stingley
Darryl Floyd Stingley was an American professional football wide receiver whose career was cut short by an injury. He played his entire career with the New England Patriots of the National Football League. He died from heart disease and pneumonia complicated by quadriplegia.-Early life:Stingley...
, was paralyzed by a Jack Tatum
Jack Tatum
John David Tatum was an American football defensive back who played ten seasons from 1971 through 1980 for the Oakland Raiders and Houston Oilers in the National Football League...
hit, the Patriots tried to cancel Stingley's medical insurance. Francis was the first Patriot player at Stingley's side immediately after the hit. Francis has said it was tough to play after that.
San Francisco 49ers (1982–1987)
After leaving the Patriots, Francis got a job with ABC Sports. While in Hawaii for the Pro BowlPro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
, Francis interviewed Bill Walsh, the 49ers head coach. Walsh told him this was the only time in his life he would be able to play football, and that he would never get these years back and should not turn his back on this chance. Francis came out of retirement, after sitting out the 1981 season, joined the 49ers and eventually won a Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
ring as a member of the 1984 49er team
1984 San Francisco 49ers season
The 1984 San Francisco 49ers season was their 39th season in the National Football League. The season was highlighted by their second Super Bowl victory. The franchise had their best season ever with a record of 15 wins and only 1 loss...
. Francis played a key role in San Francisco's win over the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in Super Bowl XIX
Super Bowl XIX
Super Bowl XIX was an American football game played on January 20, 1985 at Stanford Stadium, on the campus of Stanford University in Stanford, California, to decide the National Football League champion following the 1984 regular season...
(5 catches for 60 yards). In 1985, Francis had a career-high 44 receptions.
New England Patriots (1987–1988)
After being waived by the 49ers during the 1987 season1987 NFL season
The 1987 NFL season was the 68th regular season of the National Football League. A 24-day players' strike reduced the 16-game season to 15. The games that were scheduled for the third week of the season were canceled, but the games for weeks 4–6 were played with replacement players...
, Francis signed with his old team, the Patriots, before the season's final game. His second tenure in New England was less successful than his first, however, and he played just one more season
1988 New England Patriots season
The New England Patriots finished the National Football League's 1988 season with a record of nine wins and seven losses, and finished tied for second in the AFC East division.-Staff:-Schedule:-Roster:...
. Francis spent 1989
1989 New England Patriots season
The New England Patriots finished the National Football League's 1989 season with a record of five wins and eleven losses, and finished fourth in the AFC East division.-Staff:-Schedule:-Roster:...
injured before being waived and retiring.
Superstars, Professional wrestling career; retirement
Francis qualified for The SuperstarsSuperstars
Superstars is an all-around sports competition that pits elite athletes from different sports against one another in a series of athletic events resembling a decathlon....
final and the World Superstars in 1980 and 1981, finishing second in the 1980 final and fourth in 1981. He won the football preliminary in 1981 and set a record of 23.91 seconds in the 50 yard swimming event. The record stood until 1986 when it was broken by Greg Louganis
Greg Louganis
Gregory "Greg" Efthimios Louganis is an American Olympic diver and author.He received the James E. Sullivan Award from the Amateur Athletic Union in 1984 as the most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States....
.
Francis appeared in a twenty-man battle royal
Battle royal (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a battle royal is a multi-competitor match type in which wrestlers are eliminated until one is left and declared winner...
at WrestleMania 2
WrestleMania 2
WrestleMania 2 was the second annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation...
along with other NFL stars. He is the son of wrestling promoter Ed Francis
Ed Francis
Ed Francis was a professional wrestler and wrestling promoter in Hawaii in the 1960s. Many wrestlers who came through Hawaii in the '60s and '70s were bound to come across the name Ed Francis...
, He briefly competed full-time in the American Wrestling Association
American Wrestling Association
The American Wrestling Association was an American professional wrestling promotion based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that ran from 1960 to 1991. It was owned and founded by Verne Gagne and Wally Karbo...
after retiring from football. He also competed in the National Wrestling Alliance
National Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
's NWA Hawaii where he held the NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship
NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship
The NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship was the primary tag team title of NWA Mid-Pacific Promotions and was defended between 1952 until 1978 when it was abandoned. The title was later revived by the current incarnation of NWA Hawaii in 2000...
one time with his older brother, Billy Roy Francis.
After retiring, he hosted The Russ Francis Show from 8 AM to 12 PM on 107.7 WTPL "The Pulse"
WTPL
WTPL is a radio station broadcasting a news/talk/sports format. Licensed to Hillsborough, New Hampshire, it serves the Concord-Manchester area...
, out of Concord, New Hampshire
Concord, New Hampshire
The city of Concord is the capital of the state of New Hampshire in the United States. It is also the county seat of Merrimack County. As of the 2010 census, its population was 42,695....
.
Championships and accomplishments
- NWA HawaiiNational Wrestling AllianceThe National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
- NWA Hawaii Tag Team ChampionshipNWA Hawaii Tag Team ChampionshipThe NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship was the primary tag team title of NWA Mid-Pacific Promotions and was defended between 1952 until 1978 when it was abandoned. The title was later revived by the current incarnation of NWA Hawaii in 2000...
(1 time) - with Bill Francis