Sam Huff

Robert Lee “Sam” Huff (October 4, 1934-) (LB) walked away from his first New York Giants training camps but was chased down by assistant coach, Vince Lombardi, and begged to return. Sam played on the offensive and defensive lines in college at the University of West Virginia where he earned All-American honors in 1955. The New York Giants took him in the third round of the 1956 NFL Draft. The Giants coaching staff redesigned the defense to accommodate Huff's power, speed and agility, placing him at the relatively new middle linebacker position. Huff played in six championship games and helped the Giants capture the 1956 NFL League Championship in his rookie season. Sam felt right at home in New York, as Madison Avenue and the New York media capitalized on Huff’s celebrity, making him one of the many faces of the powerful Giants team. In 1958, Huff became the first player to make the cover of Time Magazine, and in 1960 was the subject of the CBS Television special “The Violent World of Sam Huff.” Often pitted against the oppositions star running backs, Huff delivered hit after punishing hit, driving backs into the ground and often stopping the run on his own, saving a potential score. Sam Huff was a five-time NFL Pro Bowl selection and was named to the 1958 and 1958 NFL All-Pro First Teams. He played thirteen seasons for the Giants (1956-1963) and the Washington Redskins (1964-1967, 1969). After initially retiring from football in 1967, Huff was coaxed out of retirement by Vince Lombardi after he took over as head coach of the Redskins, and Sam helped Washington to a 7-5-2 record, keeping intact Lombardi’s record of never having a losing season. Sam Huff finished his career with 17 fumble recoveries, 30 interceptions for 381 yards and scored 30 points of five all-purpose touchdowns. Sam spent several years in the broadcast booth after retirement and began breeding thoroughbred horses in the late 1980s. Sam Huff was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1982 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1980.