Sprinters in the NFL

[Lee Elder]

Does anybody remember a guy named Ray Norton? He played for the 49ers for a couple of years.

Norton was once one of the fastest men in the world. He ran a 9.3 100 yards in the US Olympic trials and made the 1960 US Olympic team. He didn't medal and he didn't do much in the NFL but he was an Olympian who also played NFL football. Every time I think about Bob Hayes or read about him, I also think of Norton. I believe he played for the 49ers in 1961 and 1962, but I could be off by a year.

[JohnTurney]

Does anybody remember a guy named Ray Norton? He played for the 49ers for a couple of years.

Norton was once one of the fastest men in the world. He ran a 9.3 100 yards in the US Olympic trials and made the 1960 US Olympic team. He didn't medal and he didn't do much in the NFL but he was an Olympian who also played NFL football. Every time I think about Bob Hayes or read about him, I also think of Norton. I believe he played for the 49ers in 1961 and 1962, but I could be off by a year.

I got this from Olympics.com - looks like he won big-time in the Pan Am games in 1959 and killed it in the Olympic trials and kinda blew it in Olympics. Was KR for 49ers in 60-61

full bio:
https://olympics.com/en/athletes/otis-ray-norton

[Lee Elder]

Does anybody remember a guy named Ray Norton? He played for the 49ers for a couple of years.

Norton was once one of the fastest men in the world. He ran a 9.3 100 yards in the US Olympic trials and made the 1960 US Olympic team. He didn't medal and he didn't do much in the NFL but he was an Olympian who also played NFL football. Every time I think about Bob Hayes or read about him, I also think of Norton. I believe he played for the 49ers in 1961 and 1962, but I could be off by a year.

I got this from Olympics.com - looks like he won big-time in the Pan Am games in 1959 and killed it in the Olympic trials and kinda blew it in Olympics. Was KR for 49ers in 60-61

full bio:
https://olympics.com/en/athletes/otis-ray-norton

Thanks! I knew it was something like that. He must have returned kicks before the 49ers used Abe Woodson. Norton is one of those guys we don't think about anymore, but he was among the fastest sprinters in the world at that time and then played NFL football.

[RichardBak]

Just looked up Norton's stats in PFR. He's listed as a HB. He played 9 games over 2 seasons (1960-61) with SF, had 4 carries for 0 yards and returned one KO for 60 yds. You'd think a guy who returned his first (and last) KO 60 yds. would get a shot at returning a second, but who knows---maybe an injury.

[JohnTurney]

Thanks! I knew it was something like that. He must have returned kicks before the 49ers used Abe Woodson. Norton is one of those guys we don't think about anymore, but he was among the fastest sprinters in the world at that time and then played NFL football.

I found a 1977 article about him---searched his name on Newspapers.com earlier today--he said he got an intestinal illness during Olympics, lost maybe 18 pounds in just a few and
lost all his strength.