Al Witcher
{{Short description|American football player (born 1936)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Al Witcher
| image =
| number = 88
| position = Linebacker
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1936|9|28}}
| birth_place = Burnet, Texas, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lbs = 200
| high_school = Lampasas (Lampasas, Texas)
| college = Baylor (1956–1959)
| draftyear = 1959
| draftround = 13
| draftpick = 152
| afldraftyear = 1960
| afldraftround = 2
Pick: First selections
| pastteams =
| highlights =
- AFL champion (1960)
- First-team All-SWC (1959)
- Second-team All-SWC (1958)
| pfr = W/WitcAl00
}}
Thomas Albert Witcher (born September 28, 1936) is an American former professional football linebacker who played one season with the Houston Oilers of the American Football League (AFL). He played college football at Baylor University.
Early life and college
Thomas Albert Witcher was born on September 28, 1936, in Burnet, Texas.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/w/witc00200.html | title=Al Witcher | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=15 May 2025}} He attended Lampasas High School in Lampasas, Texas.
Witcher was a member of the Baylor Bears of Baylor University from 1956 to 1959 and a three-year letterman from 1957 to 1959. He earned Associated Press (AP) second-team All-Southwest Conference (SWC) honors in 1958 and AP first-team All-SWC honors in 1959.{{cite news|title=SWC Coaches Pick All-Conference Grid Outfit; UT Fails to Place|newspaper=Corsicana Daily Sun|date=December 1, 1958|page=6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3073155/swc_coaches_pick_allconference/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}{{cite news|title=Texas, TCU Pace SWC's Honor Roll|newspaper=Corpus Christi Times|date=November 30, 1959|page=8B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3072490/texas_tcu_pace_swcs_honor_roll/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}} He was later inducted into Baylor's athletics hall of fame.{{cite web | url=https://baylorbears.com/honors/baylor-athletics-hall-of-fame?type=sport | title=Baylor Athletics Hall of Fame | publisher=Baylor University | accessdate=15 May 2025}}
Professional career
Witcher was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the 13th round, with the 152nd overall pick, of the 1959 NFL draft. He was also selected by the Minneapolis AFL team in the 1960 AFL draft.
Witcher's AFL rights were later traded to the Houston Oilers.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/transactions/w/witc00200.html | title=Al Witcher Transactions | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=15 May 2025}} He played in fourteen games, starting seven, for the Oilers during the team's inaugural 1960 season, totaling one interception, one sack, and four receptions for 34 yards and one touchdown.{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WitcAl00.htm | title=Al Witcher | publisher=Pro Football Reference | accessdate=15 May 2025}} He also started for the Oilers in the 1960 AFL Championship Game, a 24–16 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Personal life
Witcher retired from professional football to attend law school. He then became a lawyer in Texas.{{cite web|url=http://www.oldestlivingprofootball.com/thomasaalwitcher.htm |title=Thomas Albert 'Al' Witcher |publisher=oldestlivingprofootball.com |accessdate=October 15, 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016012258/http://www.oldestlivingprofootball.com/thomasaalwitcher.htm |archivedate=October 16, 2015 }}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Los Angeles Rams 1959 draft navbox}}
{{1960 Houston Oilers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Witcher, Al}}
Category:Players of American football from Burnet County, Texas
Category:American football linebackers
Category:Baylor Bears football players
Category:Houston Oilers players
Category:20th-century American lawyers