Lucien Reeberg
{{Short description|American football player (1942–1964)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Lucien Reeberg
| image = Reeberg,Lucien1.jpg
| upright = .8
| number = 61
| position = Offensive tackle
| birth_date = {{birth date|1942|2|21}}
| birth_place = Bronx, New York, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1964|1|31|1942|2|21}}
| death_place = Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lbs = 285
| high_school =
| college = Hampton (1959–1962)
| draftyear = 1963
| draftround = 19
| draftpick = 264
| pastteams = * Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|1963}})
| pfr = R/ReebLu20
}}
Lucien Henry Reeberg (February 21, 1942 – January 31, 1964) was an American professional football offensive tackle who played one season with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Lions in the 19th round of the 1963 NFL draft. He played college football at Hampton Institute.
Early life and college
Lucien Henry Reeberg was born on February 21, 1942, in the Bronx, New York. He was a member of the Hampton Pirates of Hampton Institute from 1959 to 1962.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/r/reeb00200.html | title=Lucien Reeberg | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=13 March 2025}}
Professional career
Reeberg was selected by the Detroit Lions in the 19th round, with the 264th overall pick, of the 1963 NFL draft.{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/ReebLu20.htm | title=Lucien Reeberg | publisher=Pro Football Reference | accessdate=13 March 2025}} He played offensive and defensive tackle for the Lions during the preseason. He lost 30 pounds after going on a crash diet inssited by Lions head coach George Wilson. Reeberg played in all 14 games, starting six, for the Lions during the 1963 season as an offensive tackle and recovered two fumbles. Wilson was listed at 6'4" and 285 pounds. Coach Wilson wanted him to drop his weight further to 250 pounds. As a result, Reeberg went to the hospital for routine tesing ahead of his planned diet. After he had blood in his urine for three days, it was discovered that he had uremic poisoning. He died at Detroit Osteopathic Hospital on January 31, 1964, of “cardiac arrest due to uremic poisoning” as he was being prepared for surgery on his kidneys.{{cite web | url=https://www.vintagedetroit.com/remembering-the-sudden-death-of-lion-tackle-lucien-reeberg-in-1964/?srsltid=AfmBOooaahrLgqnpAyr3K1WLNarR2ezMRIyUcGstOn5nHsWnY40VfYFO | title=Remembering the sudden death of Lion tackle Lucien Reeberg in 1964 | publisher=Vintage Detroit Collection | date=December 2, 2011 | accessdate=13 March 2025 | author=Dow, Bill}} Reeberg was 21.
References
{{reflist}}
{{Lions1963DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Reeberg, Lucien}}
Category:American football offensive tackles
Category:Hampton Pirates football players
Category:Detroit Lions players