Jackie Simpson (defensive back)

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Jackie Simpson

| image =

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| number = 41, 47

| position = Defensive back

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1934|4|2|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Miami, Florida, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2017|12|20|1934|4|2|mf=y}}{{cite web |url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/pensacolanewsjournal/obituary.aspx?pid=187701355 |title=Jackie Simpson: Obituary |author= |date=January 3, 2018 |website= |publisher=Pensacola News Journal |access-date=February 9, 2018}}

| death_place = Pensacola, Florida, U.S.

| height_ft = 5

| height_in = 10

| weight_lbs = 183

| high_school = Miami (FL) Edison

| college = Florida

| draftyear = 1957

| draftround = 4

| draftpick = 44

| pastteams =

Baltimore Colts ({{NFL Year|1958}}–{{NFL Year|1960}})
Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|1961}}–{{NFL Year|1962}})

| highlights =

2× NFL champion (1958, 1959)
Second-team All-SEC (1956)
2× Third-team All-SEC (1954, 1955)
University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame

| statleague = NFL

| statlabel1 = Games played

| statvalue1 = 45

| statlabel2 = Interceptions

| statvalue2 = 2

| statlabel3 = Fumbles recovered

| statvalue3 = 1

| pfr = SimpJa21

}}

John Marlin Simpson (April 2, 1934 - December 20, 2017{{Cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/pensacolanewsjournal/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=187701355|title=Jackie Simpson Obituary|last=|first=|date=|website=|access-date=}}) was an American college and professional football player who was a defensive back in the National Football League (NFL) for five seasons during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Simpson played college football for the University of Florida, and then played professionally for the Baltimore Colts and the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL.

Early life

Simpson was born in Miami, Florida in 1934,Pro-Football-Reference.com, Players, [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SimpJa21.htm Jackie M. Simpson]. Retrieved July 6, 2010. and grew up in an apartment complex on the Miami bayfront.John Steadman, "{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120516134602/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1995-02-01/sports/1995032182_1_jackie-simpson-simpson-died-colts Ex-Simpson glad obit was dead wrong]}}," The Baltimore Sun (February 1, 1995). Retrieved June 5, 2010. He attended Miami Edison Senior High School in Miami,databaseFootball.com, Players, {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110610095126/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=SIMPSJAC01 Jackie Simpson]}}. Retrieved June 5, 2010. and he was a standout high school football halfback for the Edison Raiders.

College career

Simpson accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he played both halfback and defensive back for coach Bob Woodruff's Florida Gators football team from 1953 to 1956.[http://web.gatorzone.com/football/media/2011/media_guide.pdf 2011 Florida Gators Football Media Guide] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402035222/http://web.gatorzone.com/football/media/2011/media_guide.pdf |date=April 2, 2012 }}, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 96, 98, 138, 146, 150, 154, 158, 185 (2011). Retrieved August 31, 2011. Simpson was a third-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selection in 1954 and 1955, and a second-team All-SEC selection in 1956. Memorably, he had two touchdowns including a 100-yard interception return in a 20–14 win over the Mississippi State Bulldogs in 1955,Associated Press, "[https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0C14F83B5E127A93CAA81782D85F418585F9 Florida Turns Back Mississippi State in Southeastern Conference Opener; Simpson Big Gun In 20–14 Triumph]," The New York Times, p. S4 (September 18, 1955). Retrieved June 19, 2010. which remains the longest interception return for a touchdown in SEC history. Several weeks later, he had a 62-yard punt return for a touchdown in the Gators' 18–14 win against the LSU Tigers, again providing the margin of victory.Associated Press, "[https://www.nytimes.com/1955/10/16/archives/2-long-runs-help-florida-top-lsu-dashes-by-rountree-simpson-lead-to.html 2 Long Runs Help Florida Top L.S.U.]," The New York Times, P. S12 (October 16, 1955). Retrieved June 19, 2010. As a halfback on offense, he finished his college career with an average of 6.3 rushing yards per carry—still one of the three best career averages in Gators history. Woodruff ranked him as the Gators' best defensive back and one of their three best running backs of the 1950s.Tom McEwen, The Gators: A Story of Florida Football, The Strode Publishers, Huntsville, Alabama, pp. 210–211 (1974).

Simpson was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great" in 2001.F Club, Hall of Fame, [http://www.gatorfclub.org/hall-of-fame/greats Gator Greats]. Retrieved December 14, 2014."[http://www.gatorzone.com/story.php?id=2815 Nine Former Gators Enshrined into the Hall of Fame] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004070654/http://www.gatorzone.com/story.php?id=2815 |date=October 4, 2012 }}," GatorZone.com (April 6, 2001). Retrieved July 21, 2011.

Professional career

The Baltimore Colts selected Simpson in the fourth round (forty-fourth pick overall) of the 1957 NFL draft.Pro Football Hall of Fame, [http://www.profootballhof.com/history/release.aspx?release_id=1447 1957 National Football League Draft] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916023520/http://www.profootballhof.com/history/release.aspx?release_id=1447 |date=September 16, 2011 }}. Retrieved May 24, 2010. He signed with the Colts for $7,800 per season and a $1,000 signing bonus, and played three seasons for the Colts.National Football League, Historical Players, [http://www.nfl.com/players/jackiesimpson/profile?id=SIM537207 Jack Simpson]. Retrieved July 6, 2010. Before he could report to the Colts' training camp, however, he first had to report for twenty-one months of U.S. Army infantry and paratrooper training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. After completing his military service obligations, Simpson was activated for the final two games of the {{NFL Year|1958}} season and served as a reserve defensive back and periodic kick returner for the Baltimore Colts' 1958 and 1959 NFL championship teams of coach Weeb Ewbank.

The Colts traded Simpson to the Pittsburgh Steelers for Billy Ray Smith after the {{NFL Year|1960}} season, and he played his final two professional seasons for the Steelers in {{NFL Year|1961}} and {{NFL Year|1962}}. During his five-season NFL career, Simpson played in forty-five regular season games, and recorded two interceptions.

References

Bibliography

Carlson, Norm, University of Florida Football Vault: The History of the Florida Gators, Whitman Publishing, LLC, Atlanta, Georgia (2007). {{ISBN|0-7948-2298-3}}.
Golenbock, Peter, Go Gators! An Oral History of Florida's Pursuit of Gridiron Glory, Legends Publishing, LLC, St. Petersburg, Florida (2002). {{ISBN|0-9650782-1-3}}.
Hairston, Jack, Tales from the Gator Swamp: A Collection of the Greatest Gator Stories Ever Told, Sports Publishing, LLC, Champaign, Illinois (2002). {{ISBN|1-58261-514-4}}.
McCarthy, Kevin M., [https://books.google.com/books?id=_Tk-IQepI6cC Fightin' Gators: A History of University of Florida Football], Arcadia Publishing, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina (2000). {{ISBN|978-0-7385-0559-6}}.
McEwen, Tom, The Gators: A Story of Florida Football, The Strode Publishers, Huntsville, Alabama (1974). {{ISBN|0-87397-025-X}}.

Category:1934 births

Category:2017 deaths

Category:Miami Edison Senior High School alumni

Category:Players of American football from Miami

Category:American football defensive backs

Category:Florida Gators football players

Category:Baltimore Colts players

Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players