Gene Filipski
{{Short description|American football player (1931–1994)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Gene Filipski
| image =
| position = Halfback
| birth_date = {{birth date|1931|6|14}}
| birth_place = Webster, Massachusetts, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1994|8|23|1931|6|14}}
| death_place = Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 11
| weight_lbs = 185
| high_school = Grant Union
(Sacramento, California)
| college = Army (1949–1950)
Villanova (1952–1953)
| draftyear = 1953
| draftround = 7
| draftpick = 83
| pastteams =
- Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|1954}})*
- New York Giants ({{NFL Year|1956}}–{{NFL Year|1957}})
- Calgary Stampeders ({{CFL Year|1958}}–{{CFL Year|1961}})
| highlights =
- NFL champion (1956)
- WIFU All-Star ({{CFL Year|1959}})
- First-team All-American (1952)
- 2× First-team All-Eastern (1952, 1953)
- 1954 Senior Bowl MVP
| pfr = F/FiliGe20
}}
Eugene C. Filipski (June 14, 1931 – August 23, 1994) was a professional gridiron football halfback who played two seasons with the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL) and four seasons with the Calgary Stampeders of the Western Interprovincial Football Union (WIFU).
Early life and college
Eugene C. Filipski was born on June 14, 1931, in Webster, Massachusetts.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/f/fili00600.html | title=Gene Filipski | publisher=profootballarchives.com | accessdate=4 December 2024}} He attended Grant Union High School in Sacramento, California.
He first played college football at the United States Military Academy from 1949 to 1950 and lettered in 1950. He transferring to Villanova University for the 1952 to 1953 seasons, and was a letterman both years. He was a first-team All-American in 1952, and was the MVP of the Senior Bowl Game in 1954.
Filipski served in the United States Marine Corps.
Professional career
He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the seventh round of the 1953 NFL draft and signed with the Browns on January 7, 1954.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/transactions/f/fili00600.html | title=Gene Filipski NFL Transactions | publisher=profootballarchives.com/ | accessdate=4 December 2024}} He was traded to the New York Giants just prior to the start of the 1956 season. In the 1956 NFL Championship Game, Filipski returned the opening kickoff 54 yards, setting the tone for the Giants convincing 47–7 victory over the Chicago Bears.
He was released by the Giants in 1958 and signed with the Calgary Stampeders of the Western Interprovincial Football Union (WIFU). He was a WIFU All Star in {{CFL Year|1959}}.{{cite web | url=https://www.statscrew.com/football/stats/p-filipgen001 | title=Gene Filipski | publisher=statscrew.com | accessdate=4 December 2024}} He retired after the 1961 season.{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1787&dat=19520905&id=keMcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vmQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5349,500905 | title=Stampede Of Recruiters For Ousted Army Gridders Faded Before It Began; Most Schools Shrank Behind Their Ivy | work=Sarasota Herald-Tribune | date=September 5, 1952 | accessdate=July 26, 2014 | author=Olderman, Murray}}
Later life
Filipski died on August 23, 1994, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.justsportsstats.com/footballstatsindex.php?player_id=filipgen001 Stats Crew profile]
- [http://www.footballcardgallery.com/1962_Post_CFL/105/Gene_Filipski/ Gene Filipski CFL trading card]
- {{Find a Grave|34270441}}
{{Browns1953DraftPicks}}
{{1956 New York Giants}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Filipski, Gene}}
Category:Players of American football from Worcester County, Massachusetts
Category:American football halfbacks
Category:Army Black Knights football players
Category:Villanova Wildcats football players
Category:Cleveland Browns players
Category:New York Giants players
Category:Calgary Stampeders players
Category:People from Webster, Massachusetts
Category:Military personnel from Massachusetts
Category:20th-century American sportsmen
Category:Canadian football running backs