Claude Humphrey

Humphrey was born on June 29, 1944, in Memphis, to Dosie and Millie (Mays) Humphrey.{{Cite news |last=Goldstein |first=Richard |date=2021-12-06 |title=Claude Humphrey, Pillar of N.F.L. Falcons’ ‘Grits Blitz,’ Dies at 77 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/06/sports/football/claude-humphrey-dead.html |access-date=2025-02-13 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} He grew up in a "shotgun house".{{Cite web |title=Claude Humphrey {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/claude-humphrey/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=pfhof |language=en}} He attended Lester High School in Memphis. Humphrey played football, basketball, ran the low hurdles and excelled in the shot put in high school.{{Cite web |title=Humphrey, Claude « Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame |url=https://tshf.net/halloffame/humphrey-claude/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |language=en-US}} Humphrey held the Tennessee high school record in the shot put for almost four decades. His high school basketball team finished as state runners-up twice.

Humphrey attended Tennessee State University (TSU), an Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in Nashville. He played varsity football from 1965-67 under coach John Merritt. As a freshman (1964), he came in as an offensive tackle, but was switched to defensive tackle. As a defensive tackle, he became a two or three time All-American. Tennessee State was twice HBCU national champion with Humphrey, winning the Grantland Rice Bowl in 1965 and 1966; while achieving an overall 35–3–1 record during his tenure.{{Cite web |date=2021-12-04 |title=TSU mourns the loss of NFL great Claude Humphrey, Claude Humphrey {{!}} Tennessee State University Newsroom |url=https://tnstatenewsroom.com/tag/claude-humphrey/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=TSU Football All-Americans |url=https://tsutigers.com/sports/2020/11/24/tsu-football-all-americans.aspx |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Tennessee State University |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Grantland Rice Bowl |url=https://ehbcsports.com/grantland-rice-bowl/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Black College Sports History & Legends |language=en-US}} Humphrey's 39 sacks were a school record at the time of his graduation, and this still ranked fifth at the time of his death.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-05 |title=TSU Remembers Claude Humphrey (1944-2021) |url=https://tsutigers.com/news/2021/12/4/football-tsu-remembers-claude-humphrey-1944-2021.aspx |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Tennessee State University |language=en}}

Humphrey played in four college all star games: the Senior Bowl, the Blue-Gray Game, the Coaches All-American Game and the College All-Star game. In 1967, the Associated Press (AP) named him a first-team Little All-American, and he was named an All-American by The Pittsburgh Courier, The Sporting News, and Time Magazine.

Humphrey was a member of Phi Beta Sigma.{{Cite web |last=Craige |first=Brent |date=2021-11-24 |title=Pro Football Hall of Famer Claude Humphrey Is A Member of Phi Beta Sigma |url=https://www.watchtheyard.com/sigmas/pro-football-hall-of-famer-claude-humphrey-is-a-member-of-phi-beta-sigma/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Watch The Yard |language=en-US}}

Humphrey was drafted out of Tennessee State University in the first round of the 1968 NFL draft with the third overall choice by the Falcons.{{cite web |title=Player BIO |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/claude-humphrey/biography/ |website=profootballhof.com |publisher=Pro Football Hall of Fame |access-date=18 January 2022}}{{Cite web |title=1968 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1968/draft.htm |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He had been well prepared as a defensive lineman at TSU by coach Merritt and defensive coordinator Joe Gilliam Sr.{{Cite web |last=Organ |first=Mike |date=August 1, 2014 |title=Claude Humphrey got head start to Hall of Fame at TSU |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nfl/2014/08/01/claude-humphrey-pro-football-hall-fame-tennessee-state-atlanta-falcons/13460971/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=The Tennessean |language=en-US}} In his Falcons' rookie year (1968), Humphrey started every game, had 11.5 sacks, recovered three fumbles, and was named the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year.{{Cite web |title=1968 Awards Voting |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/awards_1968.htm |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Defensive Menace, Claude Humphrey: 1944-2021 {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2021/12/defensive-menace,-claude-humphrey-1944-2021/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=pfhof |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Claude Humphrey Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HumpCl00.htm |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}

Even after an excellent rookie season, Humphrey knew he had to expand his technique and skill set to continue his success in the NFL. He credited the Falcons' new 1969 defensive coordinator, Marion Campbell, with helping him branch out to obtain that knowledge, leading to his continued success. In 1969, he had 10 or 10.5 sacks, without any signs of a "sophomore slump"; being named second-team All-Pro by the AP and Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA).

Quarterback sacks did not become an official NFL statistic until 1982, after Humphrey retired, but retrospective film study of his games gave him 130 unofficial sacks in his career. Following his sophomore NFL season, he had 10 sacks in 1970 and 13 in 1971 for the Falcons. Humphrey would have double digit sacks in three of the next five full seasons he played for the Falcons, not including the 9.5 sacks he had in his final full year with Atlanta (1977). He missed the 1975 season with a knee injury.

The 1977 Falcons had an historically excellent defense, known as the "Grits Blitz". The Falcons defense gave up only 129 points on the year, a 14-game record. This broke the prior record of the 1969 Minnesota Vikings team that went to the Super Bowl (133).{{Cite journal |last=Speck |first=Mark |date=1998 |title=The Grits Blitz |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/atl/1977.htm |journal=The Coffin Corner (profootballresearchers.com) |volume=20 |issue=6}} The 25th ranked offense was so poor, however, it scored only 179 points, and the team finished with a 7–7 record.{{Cite web |title=1977 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/atl/1977.htm |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}

Humphrey temporarily retired after four games in 1978, because of the team's perpetual lack of success; going to work for WAOK radio station in Atlanta, where he had The Claude Humphrey Show. He later decided to return to football, and in 1979, the Falcons traded him to the Eagles for two fourth-round draft picks.{{Cite web |title=Claude Humphrey {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/claude-humphrey/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=pfhof |language=en}} Humphrey finished out his career with the Philadelphia Eagles from 1979 to 1981. In 1980, Humphrey was a designated pass rusher, recording a team-high 14½ or 15½ sacks (career high){{Cite web |title=1980 Philadelphia Eagles Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/phi/1980.htm |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} helping the Eagles become NFC champions and earn a spot in Super Bowl XV.{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl XV - Oakland Raiders vs. Philadelphia Eagles - January 25th, 1981 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198101250phi.htm |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} During Super Bowl XV, when Humphrey was called for roughing the passer against Oakland Raiders quarterback Jim Plunkett, he picked up the penalty flag and fired it back at referee Ben Dreith.{{cite web |last1=Kracz |first1=Ed |title=Claude Humphrey, who Helped Lead Eagles to Super Bowl XV, Passes Away |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/eagles/news/claude-humphrey-who-helped-lead-eagles-to-super-bowl-xv-passes-away#:~:text=Humphrey%20died%20at%20the%20age,back%20at%20referee%20Ben%20Dreith. |website=si.com |publisher=Sports Illustrated |access-date=18 January 2022}}

He finished his career with an unofficial 122, {{frac|126|1|2}} {{citation needed|date=February 2025}}or 130 career sacks with the Falcons and Eagles. He retired in 1981, the season before sacks were recorded as an official NFL statistic.{{Cite news |date=December 4, 2021 |title=Football Hall of Famer Claude Humphrey dies as age 77 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2021/12/04/football-hall-of-famer-claude-humphrey-dies-as-age-77/49479619/ |newspaper=USA Today}}

Humphrey's stellar career included being named first-team All-Pro five times (1971/NEA, 1972/AP, 1973/AP, 1974/NEA,1977/NEA),{{Cite web |title=1971 NFL All-Pros |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1971/allpro.htm |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=1972 NFL All-Pros |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1972/allpro.htm |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=1973 NFL All-Pros |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1973/allpro.htm |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=1974 NFL All-Pros |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1974/allpro.htm |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=1977 NFL All-Pros |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1977/allpro.htm |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} second-team All-Pro four times (1969/AP, 1970/NEA, 1974/AP, 1977/AP),{{Cite web |title=1969 NFL All-Pros |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1969/allpro.htm |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=1970 NFL All-Pros |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1970/allpro.htm |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} and All-NFC six times (1970/AP, 1971/AP, 1972/AP, 1973/AP, 1974/AP, 1977/Pro Football Weekly). He was NEA second-team All-NFC in 1976{{Cite web |title=1976 NFL All-Pros |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1976/allpro.htm |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} when Humphrey unofficially recorded a Falcons career-high or career-high 14½ or 15 quarterback sacks. In addition, Humphrey was named to the Pro Bowl six times over the span of his career (1970–74, 1977).{{cite web |title=Claude Humphrey, Hall of Famer and former Falcons DE, dies at 77 |url=https://theathletic.com/news/claude-humphrey-hall-of-famer-and-falcons-de-dies-at-77/o1S04dzUc3xD/ |access-date=18 January 2022 |website=theathletic.com |publisher=The Athletic Media Company}}

Humphrey served as a defensive line coach for the Falcons in the 1990s.{{Cite web |last=Blair |first=Scott |date=February 24, 2022 |title='Larger than life:' Claude Humphrey had huge impact on Falcons, Tennessee State, on and off the field |url=https://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/larger-than-life-claude-humphrey-had-huge-impact-on-falcons-tennessee-state-on-a |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=www.atlantafalcons.com |language=en-US}}

Humphrey was a final 15 candidate in 2003, 2005, and 2006. On August 27, 2008, he was named as one of two senior candidates for the 2009 Hall of Fame election.{{Cite web |url=http://www.profootballhof.com/enshrinement/story.jsp?story_id=2816 |title=Hayes, Humphrey named 2009 senior candidates - Pro Football Hall of Fame |access-date=September 3, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080903085641/http://www.profootballhof.com/enshrinement/story.jsp?story_id=2816 |archive-date=September 3, 2008 |url-status=dead }} In August 2013, he was named as one of two senior candidates for the 2014 Hall of Fame election.{{cite web |title=CLASS OF 2014 FINALISTS REVEALED |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/news/class-of-2014-finalists-revealed/ |website=profootballhof.com |publisher=Pro Football Hall of Fame |access-date=18 January 2022}}

In February 2014, Claude Humphrey was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the senior ballot.{{cite web |title=Class of 2014 |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/news/class-of-2014-elected/ |website=profootballhof.com |publisher=Pro Football Hall of Fame |access-date=18 January 2022}}

On August 2, 2014, Humphrey was officially inducted at the Enshrinement Ceremony where his bust, sculpted by Scott Myers, was unveiled.{{cite web |last1=Harville |first1=Josh |title=Hall of Fame and busts: Scott Myers is the man behind the bronze |url=https://www.yourglenrosetx.com/story/lifestyle/2015/08/08/hall-fame-busts-scott-myers/33372286007/ |website=yourglenrosetx.com |publisher=yourglenrosetx.com |access-date=18 January 2022 |archive-date=January 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118182823/https://www.yourglenrosetx.com/story/lifestyle/2015/08/08/hall-fame-busts-scott-myers/33372286007/ |url-status=dead }}

In addition to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, in 1988 Humphrey was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. In 2008, he was inducted into the Falcons' Ring of Honor.{{cite web |title=Hall of Famer and Falcons Ring of Honor member Claude Humphrey passes away at 77 |url=https://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/hall-of-famer-and-falcons-ring-of-honor-member-claude-humphrey-passes-away-at-77 |access-date=18 January 2022 |website=atlantafalcons.com |publisher=Atlanta Falcons Football Club}} In 2012, he was inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame. He has also been inducted into the Tennessee State University Hall of Fame in 1983,{{Cite web |title=TSU Hall of Fame |url=https://tsutigers.com/sports/2020/11/17/tsu-hall-of-fame.aspx |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Tennessee State University |language=en}} the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2004,{{Cite web |title=CLASS OF 2004, Georgia Sports Hall of Fame |url=https://www.georgiasportshalloffame.com/class-of-2004 |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=GSHF |language=en}} the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame,{{Cite web |date=2017-02-11 |title=Keith Brooking, Craig Sager among Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame inductees |url=https://www.11alive.com/article/sports/keith-brooking-craig-sager-among-atlanta-sports-hall-of-fame-inductees/85-407004200 |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=11Alive.com |language=en-US}} and his high school's hall of fame. Both his TSU and high school jersey numbers have been retired.{{cite web |title=DEFENSIVE MENACE, CLAUDE HUMPHREY: 1944-2021 |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/defensive-menace-claude-humphrey-1944-2021/#:~:text=Humphrey's%20name%20resides%20in%20the,as%20did%20Lester%20High%20School. |access-date=18 January 2022 |website=profootballhof.com |publisher=Pro Football Hall of Fame}}

The Professional Football Researchers Association named Humphrey to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2009.{{cite web |title=Hall of Very Good Class of 2009 |url=http://www.profootballresearchers.org/hall-of-very-good-2009.html |accessdate=November 29, 2021}}

During the off-seasons for Atlanta, he worked in Nashville for the Metro Board Parks and Recreation. After retiring as a player, Humphrey owned a livestock ranch in Oakland, Tennessee.

Humphrey also had a guest appearance on The Dukes of Hazzard episode "Repo Men" in which he portrayed Big John, a counterfeiter.{{cite web |title=Q&A with Hall-of-Fame DE Claude Humphrey |url=http://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/article-1/QA-with-Hall-of-Fame-DE-Claude-Humphrey/ebb05876-1d04-41af-877d-d807a771fb66 |website=atlantafalcons.com}}

Humphrey died in Memphis on December 3, 2021, at the age of 77.{{cite news |title=Gone Too Soon: Hall-of-Famer Claude Humphrey Passes Away at 77 |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/talkoffame/nfl/claude-humphrey-passes-away |access-date=4 December 2021 |website=Sports Illustrated}}{{Cite web |last=Newberry |first=Paul |date=2021-12-04 |title=Football Hall of Famer and former Eagle Claude Humphrey dies at age 77 |url=https://www.inquirer.com/sports/claude-humphrey-nfl-death-20211204.html |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=www.inquirer.com |language=en}} His wife Sarah (Harrell) Humphrey died in 2013. He was survived by their three daughters.

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?player_id=245 Biography] as a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006.

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Category:1944 births

Category:2021 deaths

Category:American football defensive ends

Category:Atlanta Falcons players

Category:Philadelphia Eagles players

Category:Tennessee State Tigers football players

Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players

Category:NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year winners

Category:NFL Europe (WLAF) coaches

Category:Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees

Category:Players of American football from Memphis, Tennessee