Norman S. Standlee (July 19, 1919 – January 5, 1981) was an American professional football player who was a fullback and, later in his career, linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Stanford Indians (now Cardinal) and was selected by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 1941 NFL draft with the third overall pick.[1] He paid immediate dividends by finishing fourth in the league in rushing with a total of 414 yards and second in average per carry with 5.1. He helped the Chicago Bears to the league championship title over the New York Giants that year before serving in the armed forces in World War II.
Standlee was also the first fullback for the San Francisco 49ers of the All-America Football Conference, playing with Frankie Albert, Johnny Strzykalski, and Len Eshmont in that first backfield of the 49ers.
On January 5, 1981, he died of natural causes in a motel room. He was 61.[2]
NFL/AAFC career statistics
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Won the NFL Championship | |
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
Regular season
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
| 1941 | CHI | 10 | 3 | 81 | 414 | 5.1 | 46 | 5 | 2 | -3 | -1.5 | 3 | 0 |
| 1946 | SFO | 13 | 10 | 134 | 651 | 4.9 | - | 2 | 2 | -5 | -2.5 | - | 0 |
| 1947 | SFO | 14 | 12 | 145 | 585 | 4.0 | - | 8 | 2 | 22 | 11.0 | - | 0 |
| 1948 | SFO | 14 | 13 | 52 | 261 | 5.0 | 57 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1949 | SFO | 12 | 8 | 44 | 237 | 5.4 | - | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1950 | SFO | 11 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 1.9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1951 | SFO | 11 | 11 | 16 | 65 | 4.1 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1952 | SFO | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 4.0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 86 | 68 | 486 | 2,244 | 4.6 | 57 | 23 | 7 | 15 | 2.1 | 3 | 0 | ||
Playoffs
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
| 1941 | CHI | 2 | 2 | 32 | 168 | 5.3 | - | 4 | 2 | 34 | 17.0 | 21 | 0 |
| 1949 | SFO | 2 | 2 | 14 | 50 | 3.6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | 4 | 46 | 218 | 4.7 | - | 4 | 2 | 34 | 17.0 | 21 | 0 | ||
References
- ^ "1941 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
- ^ United Press International (January 6, 1981). "NORM STANDLEE,62, STAR OF A STANFORD BACKFIELD". The New York Times. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
External links
- "Norm Standlee, 62, Star of a Stanford Backfield". The New York Times. January 6, 1981. Retrieved March 15, 2010.