Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Several years after the NFL began its specialty tend, Ollie Matson was doing it all for four teams. Only twice in his 16 years did he play on a team with a winning season. One of them was his last year-the 1966 Philadelphia Eagles. Through it all, Matson remained a first class gentlemen, even as he overcame racial prejudice from from the bowl officials while playing at the University of San Francisco. There Ollie teamed with two other future professionals, Gino Marchetti from the Baltimore Colts and Ed Brown from the Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers. In his pro career Ollie Matson rushed for 5,173 yards and 49 touchdowns; caught 222 passes for 3,285 yards and 23 touchdowns. Even while starting, he played on special teams, returning six punts and three kickoffs for touchdowns. Matson also intercepted three passes at defensive back. He was one of the most versatile players in NFL history and a four time Pro Bowler.

Ollie first played for the Chicago Cardinals for six years and that’s where he made his most significant mark. In 1956, he rushed for 924 yards for a 5.4 yard average. The Cardinals traded him to the Los Angeles Rams for nine players just before the 1959 season. That was Matson’s only big year in Los Angeles as he raced for 863 yards, a 5.4 yard average, and caught 18 passes. He did not play much in 1963, his one year as a Detroit Lion.

For 1964, Philadelphia Eagles named Joe Kuharich as Head Coach. He immediately brought Matson from Detroit. Kurharich was Matson’s coach in college at San Francisco. In 1964, Matson played part time. Nevertheless, he ran for 404 yards and a 4.2 yard average and caught 17 passes. Ollie Matson had a fitting end to his career. In 1966, he caught the winning touchdown pass as the Eagles won at San Francisco, 35 to 34. Very Ironic. This started a four game winning streak and a 9-5 season. The Eagles were in the Runner Up Bowl in 1966 with their only winning year between 1962 and 1977.

Ollie Matson was a great player who never got the recognition he deserved. Most good things for a player come from the team a player is with.

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From an old post, but somewhat related....

Out of boredom of every sporting event being cancelled, I crunched numbers of some 1950’s RBs to come up with a ‘usage percentage’, which is simply taking their career all-purpose yardage totals and figuring out what percentage of that total is comprised of rushing, receiving, punt return and kick return yards. The selection of RBs was somewhat random. Here are the results:

Joe Perry, Niners main team (Rushing% = 78, Receiving% = 16, Kick Return% = 6, Punt Return% = 0)
Perry was the starting point, because his workload was like that of a modern day ‘bell cow’…mostly rushing attempts, some receptions from just being on the field, and very little ST usage.

John Henry Johnson, Niners/Steelers (81/18/0/1)
JH had the highest rushing percentage of the RBs I looked at. I was surprised that he was never used as a kick returner…his size/speed would have served him well in that role.

Hugh McEllhenny, Niners (46/29/8/17)
Was never ‘fed’ the ball, but was always a punt return threat and often times would line up as a flanker. His PR yardage total more than doubled the next highest RB I looked at.

Frank Gifford, Giants (37/55/6/2)
Had the strangest usage, as his receiving was significantly higher than his rushing. Not counted in this was Gifford’s 823 passing yards, which was much greater than the next highest RB in this list (Hornung 383). It was strange that seemingly every RB had some type of passing yardage…I guess the HB option was a regular occurrence in that era…but Gifford’s total was impressive. Gifford also had 112 INT return yards, which was 2nd highest on this list.

Paul Hornung, Packers (68/27/5/0)
Had low overall yardage totals and his percentages featured a relatively high rushing rate, which may be do to the Packers offense being so ground-oriented. Hornung’s versatility isn’t measured well here…he was a good passer, great blocker, and scored points as a kicker.

Lenny Moore, Colts (42/49/9/0)
I wasn’t surprised to see Moore have a higher receiving percentage, but I was very surprised that he wasn’t more of a threat as a returner. The Colts never used him on returns at all until Moore was at the end of his career. Not sure why that was.

Ollie Matson, Cards (40/25/29/5)
He was the reason why I looked into this, because he would be dominant in one game and then the next game he would carry the ball only 5 times. Has the most impressive all-around totals...5000 rushing yards, 3000+ receiving, 4000+ returns. He even had 51 INT return yards and 119 passing yards. He was a premier KR guy. I think if you look at Matson’s season-by-season rushing totals, you don’t get the full picture of his talents.

Glenn Davis, Rams (35/39/20/6)
VT Smith, Rams (17/26/37/21)
Tommy Kalminar, Rams (21/11/48/11)
Dick Hoerner, Rams (63/34/1/0)
I wanted to see how the Rams deployed their ‘scatbacks’ and compare it to regular RB Dick Hoerner. I was surprised that even on a team with Fears and Hirsch, guys like Davis and Smith had such a high receiving percentage. Davis and Smith’s role in the 3 WR offense is pretty revolutionary. Vitamin T had the lowest run percentage of anyone on this list, as he was an excellent punt and kick returner. Tommy Kalminar didn’t touch the ball as much, but he was also a good return man.

Buddy Young, Yanks (28/28/36/7)
I was hoping to find someone with an exactly equal distribution, and Buddy Young was the closest to it. Had a very productive career with nearly 10,000 APY while nearly every team he played for would fold. A very good kick returner and an excellent receiver.

Dickie James, Redskins (21/18/50/10)
Similar to Young in that he had nearly 10,000 APY on dreadful teams. Had the highest KR% on the list, as the majority of his yards came on returns. His 142 INT return yards was the highest on the list as well.

Dub Jones, Browns (39/50/8/3)
A weird player who may have been the first guy with a relative 50/50 split of his rushing and receiving yards. Part of his high receiving% was due to the Browns offense, but he also was pretty special in his athleticism.

Bobby Mitchell, Browns/Skins (19/56/19/6)
I threw him in at the end after seeing a spectacular highlight film of Mitchell. I thought he had spent the majority of his career strictly as a flanker, but that was not the case. He was incredibly effective as a RB and also was a great return man. Impressive.

Alex Webster, Giants (63/37/0/0)
Late addition.

LeonardRachiele wrote:Several years after the NFL began its specialty tend, Ollie Matson was doing it all for four teams. Only twice in his 16 years did he play on a team with a winning season. One of them was his last year-the 1966 Philadelphia Eagles. Through it all, Matson remained a first class gentlemen, even as he overcame racial prejudice from from the bowl officials while playing at the University of San Francisco. There Ollie teamed with two other future professionals, Gino Marchetti from the Baltimore Colts and Ed Brown from the Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers. In his pro career Ollie Matson rushed for 5,173 yards and 49 touchdowns; caught 222 passes for 3,285 yards and 23 touchdowns. Even while starting, he played on special teams, returning six punts and three kickoffs for touchdowns. Matson also intercepted three passes at defensive back. He was one of the most versatile players in NFL history and a four time Pro Bowler.

Ollie first played for the Chicago Cardinals for six years and that’s where he made his most significant mark. In 1956, he rushed for 924 yards for a 5.4 yard average. The Cardinals traded him to the Los Angeles Rams for nine players just before the 1959 season. That was Matson’s only big year in Los Angeles as he raced for 863 yards, a 5.4 yard average, and caught 18 passes. He did not play much in 1963, his one year as a Detroit Lion.

For 1964, Philadelphia Eagles named Joe Kuharich as Head Coach. He immediately brought Matson from Detroit. Kurharich was Matson’s coach in college at San Francisco. In 1964, Matson played part time. Nevertheless, he ran for 404 yards and a 4.2 yard average and caught 17 passes. Ollie Matson had a fitting end to his career. In 1966, he caught the winning touchdown pass as the Eagles won at San Francisco, 35 to 34. Very Ironic. This started a four game winning streak and a 9-5 season. The Eagles were in the Runner Up Bowl in 1966 with their only winning year between 1962 and 1977.

Ollie Matson was a great player who never got the recognition he deserved. Most good things for a player come from the team a player is with.

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I don't know how you can say he "never got the recognition he deserved" when he went to five Pro Bowls, was a five-time first-team All-Pro, and is in the HOF.

rhickok1109 wrote:

LeonardRachiele wrote:Several years after the NFL began its specialty tend, Ollie Matson was doing it all for four teams. Only twice in his 16 years did he play on a team with a winning season. One of them was his last year-the 1966 Philadelphia Eagles. Through it all, Matson remained a first class gentlemen, even as he overcame racial prejudice from from the bowl officials while playing at the University of San Francisco. There Ollie teamed with two other future professionals, Gino Marchetti from the Baltimore Colts and Ed Brown from the Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers. In his pro career Ollie Matson rushed for 5,173 yards and 49 touchdowns; caught 222 passes for 3,285 yards and 23 touchdowns. Even while starting, he played on special teams, returning six punts and three kickoffs for touchdowns. Matson also intercepted three passes at defensive back. He was one of the most versatile players in NFL history and a four time Pro Bowler.

Ollie first played for the Chicago Cardinals for six years and that’s where he made his most significant mark. In 1956, he rushed for 924 yards for a 5.4 yard average. The Cardinals traded him to the Los Angeles Rams for nine players just before the 1959 season. That was Matson’s only big year in Los Angeles as he raced for 863 yards, a 5.4 yard average, and caught 18 passes. He did not play much in 1963, his one year as a Detroit Lion.

For 1964, Philadelphia Eagles named Joe Kuharich as Head Coach. He immediately brought Matson from Detroit. Kurharich was Matson’s coach in college at San Francisco. In 1964, Matson played part time. Nevertheless, he ran for 404 yards and a 4.2 yard average and caught 17 passes. Ollie Matson had a fitting end to his career. In 1966, he caught the winning touchdown pass as the Eagles won at San Francisco, 35 to 34. Very Ironic. This started a four game winning streak and a 9-5 season. The Eagles were in the Runner Up Bowl in 1966 with their only winning year between 1962 and 1977.

Ollie Matson was a great player who never got the recognition he deserved. Most good things for a player come from the team a player is with.

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I don't know how you can say he "never got the recognition he deserved" when he went to five Pro Bowls, was a five-time first-team All-Pro, and is in the HOF.

Yeah, just because the average Joe today (aside from PFRA members) has no idea who Ollie Matson is/was, that's not to say he didn't get the recognition he deserved in his time. I mean, really, how many people watching this weekend's games know who Doak Walker was? Sic transit gloria.

It was just Matson's bad luck not to play on contending teams.

rhickok1109 wrote:

LeonardRachiele wrote:Several years after the NFL began its specialty tend, Ollie Matson was doing it all for four teams. Only twice in his 16 years did he play on a team with a winning season. One of them was his last year-the 1966 Philadelphia Eagles. Through it all, Matson remained a first class gentlemen, even as he overcame racial prejudice from from the bowl officials while playing at the University of San Francisco. There Ollie teamed with two other future professionals, Gino Marchetti from the Baltimore Colts and Ed Brown from the Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers. In his pro career Ollie Matson rushed for 5,173 yards and 49 touchdowns; caught 222 passes for 3,285 yards and 23 touchdowns. Even while starting, he played on special teams, returning six punts and three kickoffs for touchdowns. Matson also intercepted three passes at defensive back. He was one of the most versatile players in NFL history and a four time Pro Bowler.

Ollie first played for the Chicago Cardinals for six years and that’s where he made his most significant mark. In 1956, he rushed for 924 yards for a 5.4 yard average. The Cardinals traded him to the Los Angeles Rams for nine players just before the 1959 season. That was Matson’s only big year in Los Angeles as he raced for 863 yards, a 5.4 yard average, and caught 18 passes. He did not play much in 1963, his one year as a Detroit Lion.

For 1964, Philadelphia Eagles named Joe Kuharich as Head Coach. He immediately brought Matson from Detroit. Kurharich was Matson’s coach in college at San Francisco. In 1964, Matson played part time. Nevertheless, he ran for 404 yards and a 4.2 yard average and caught 17 passes. Ollie Matson had a fitting end to his career. In 1966, he caught the winning touchdown pass as the Eagles won at San Francisco, 35 to 34. Very Ironic. This started a four game winning streak and a 9-5 season. The Eagles were in the Runner Up Bowl in 1966 with their only winning year between 1962 and 1977.

Ollie Matson was a great player who never got the recognition he deserved. Most good things for a player come from the team a player is with.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment | Edit

I don't know how you can say he "never got the recognition he deserved" when he went to five Pro Bowls, was a five-time first-team All-Pro, and is in the HOF.

Agreed. I remember Ollie Matson as a player. he was famous and highly respected as an Olympic athlete as well. Anyone who followed pro football in the 50s and 60s knew who he was.

Bryan wrote: Ollie Matson, Cards (40/25/29/5)
...he would be dominant in one game and then the next game he would carry the ball only 5 times.

Does anyone have an explanation for this? There is a bio of Deacon Jones I read that mentions Matson as a teammate after the big multi-player deal that sent him to LA and implies he didn't get a fair shake for playing time because... well, I don't remember the details, could it have been because Matson was involved in the NFLPA? In any case, he had hit 30 by the time he got to the Rams in the early '60s and what I'm wondering is why the Cardinals didn't feature him more in his prime? Why not use him as an every down bell cow RB?

Glad your back T&S ...

I know this sounds crazy but I truly believe the Cardinals wanted and felt Matson could be a 60 minute player on both sides though they tried to use him only when necessary on pass coverage.
A great athlete but even for 12 games a year, hard to play that much on the field without injuries or the defenses wearing him down.

Along the same lines as not knowing who Matson was, my spouse hosted a small gathering of teachers at our house last year. This included our high school's 40 year old football coach. While talking w/ him it became evident he'd never heard of Don Hutson.

Size and speed or not, it wasnt like the Cardinals had an offensive line like the Bears. With his talent, it made sense to get him out more in space, which is why his receiving and return yardage were so good. His first year with the Rams was excellent but then he was wasted along with his time in Detroit before running behind Jim Ringo with the Eagles, helped his career. Imagine if Weeb Ewbank and the Colts could have gotten him from the Rams ?