Pat Gibbs

{{Short description|Football player (born 1950)}}

{{For|the British military pilot and journalist|Patrick Gibbs}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| image =

| position = Defensive back, Kick returner

| number = 45

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1950|04|05}}

| birth_place = Marshall, Texas, U.S.

| death_date =

| height_ft = 5

| height_in = 10

| weight_lbs = 188

| high_school = Lutcher Stark (TX)

| college = Lamar

| draftyear = 1972

| draftround = 9

| draftpick = 222

| teams =

• Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|1972}})
• Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|1973}})*
• Shreveport Steamer (1974-1975)
• New Orleans Saints ({{NFL Year|1976}})*

| pfr = GibbPa20

}}

Patrick Henry Gibbs (born April 5, 1950) is an American former professional football defensive back who played for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL).

Gibbs played college football at Lamar University, where he also played wide receiver.{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-08-29|newspaper=Philadelphia Daily News|date=August 11, 1972|title=Gibbs survives Eagles' cut on his domino theory|author=Shefski, Bill|page=42|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108559335/philadelphia-daily-news/}} He was drafted by the Eagles in the 9th round of the 1972 NFL draft with the 222nd overall selection.{{cite web|title=Pat Gibbs|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GibbPa20.htm|publisher=Sports Reference|work=Pro Football Reference|accessdate=2022-08-29}} He made the Eagles for the 1972 regular season and played in their first two games, primarily as a kick returner.{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-08-29|newspaper=San Bernardino County Sun|date=August 30, 1972|title=Eagles are still a light year behind Dallas Cowboys|page=D5|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108559775/the-san-bernardino-county-sun/}} Against the Dallas Cowboys on September 17 he returned two kickoffs for 44 yards.{{cite web|title=Pat Gibbs Game Logs|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GibbPa20/gamelog/1972/|publisher=Sports Reference|work=Pro Football Reference|accessdate=2022-08-29}} In his second game against the Cleveland Browns on September 24 he returned one kickoff for 17 yards and one punt for 8 yards. In the second half of that game while attempting to field a kickoff he suffered a torn medial collateral ligament in his knee that required surgery and he had to miss the rest of the season.{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-08-29|date=September 25, 1972|newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer|title=Eagles lose Gibbs for 10 weeks|page=22|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108558775/the-philadelphia-inquirer/}}{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-08-29|newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer|title=Pain becomes a way of life for "No Superman" Pat Gibbs|pages=1C–2C|author=Forbes, Gordon|date=July 21, 1972|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108560892/the-philadelphia-inquirer/}} The Eagles waived him during the 1973 preseason.{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-08-29|newspaper=Standard-Speaker|date=September 4, 1973|title=Eagles place eight players on waivers|page=24|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108561176/standard-speaker/}} He joined the Houston Texans of the World Football League (WFL) (who relocated during the season to Shreveport, Louisiana to play as the Shreveport Steamer) for the 1974 season.{{cite news|title=Bell's loss to Steamer gets sticky|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-08-29|newspaper=Philadelphia Daily News|date=October 17, 1974|page=48|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108561517/philadelphia-daily-news/}}{{cite news|newspaper=Shreveport Journal|date=September 26, 1974|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-08-29|title=Detroit Wheels coming to Shreveport after all|author=Byrd, Jerry|page=25|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108561777/the-shreveport-journal/}}{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-08-29|newspaper=Odessa American|date=July 18, 1974|title=Texans gain initial triumph|page=1B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108562433/the-odessa-american/}} He finished the season tied for 4th in the league with 8 interceptions.{{cite web|title=1974 World Football League Leaders|url=https://www.statscrew.com/football/leaders/l-WFL/y-1974|publisher=Stats Crew|accessdate=2022-08-29}} He also returned punts for the Texans/Steamer.{{cite web|title=Patrick Gibbs|url=https://www.statscrew.com/football/stats/p-gibbspat001|publisher=Stats Crew|accessdate=2022-08-29}} He was suspended by the Steamer before their 1975 season began after he left camp without permission after losing his starting job.{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-08-29|newspaper=The Times|date=July 19, 1975|title=Sleek new Steamer ready for opening test with Steel|author=Van Thys, Nico|page=1-C|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108563232/the-times/}} He signed with the New Orleans Saints for the 1976 NFL season but was cut during the preseason.{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-08-29|newspaper=Florida Today|page=3C|date=July 9, 1976|title=Saints ask police search for Gilliam|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108563706/florida-today/}}{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-08-29|newspaper=Sun Herald|date=August 4, 1976|title=Saint honeymoon ends|page=D-1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108563903/sun-herald/}}