Ralph Fife
{{Short description|American football player (1920–2000)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Ralph Fife
| image =
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| position = Guard
| birth_date = January 26, 1920
| birth_place = Canton, Ohio, U.S.
| death_date = January 31, 2000 (age 80)
| death_place = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 11
| weight_lbs = 207
| high_school = Canton (OH) McKinley
| college = Pittsburgh
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| pastteams =
- Chicago Cardinals (1942, 1945)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (1946)
| highlights =
- First-team All-American (1941)
- First-team All-Eastern (1941)
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Ralph Donald Fife Sr.(January 26, 1920 - January 31, 2000) was an American football player and coach.
Early life
College football
He played college football for the Pittsburgh Panthers football team. He played guard on offense and linebacker on defense. In December 1941, he was selected by the Associated Press as a first-team guard on the 1941 All-America college football team.{{cite news|title=Ralph Fife, Panther Star, Named On A.P. 1941 All-America Team|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|author=Herb Baker|date=December 12, 1941|page=28|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104448681/ralph-fife-panther-star-named-on-ap/|via=Newspapers.com}}
Pro football and wartime service
He signed with the Chicago Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL) in October 1942.{{cite news|title=Chicago Cardinals Sign Ralph Fife|newspaper=The Hartford Courant|date=October 14, 1942|page=19|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104449100/ralph-fife/|via=Newspapers.com}} He appeared in four games, three as a starter, for the Cardinals at the guard position during the 1943 season.{{cite web|title=Ralph Fife|publisher=Pro Football Archives|access-date=June 25, 2022|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/playerf/fife00400.html}} His football career was interrupted by service in the Navy during World War II. After the war, he returned to the Cardinals for one start during the 1945 season. In 1946, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers, appearing in 10 games, nine as a starter.{{cite web|title=Ralph Fife|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=February 3, 2015|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FifeRa20.htm}} He appeared in a total of 15 NFL games.
Coaching career
In December 1946, Fife was named head coach of the Turtle Creek Union High School football team.{{cite news|title=Ralph Fife Named Turtle Creek Coach|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|author=Fred P. Alger|date=December 21, 1946|page=13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102699818/pittsburgh-post-gazette/|via=Newspapers.com}} He remained at Turtle Creek until 1950, when he accepted a job as line coach at the University of Nebraska.{{cite news|title=Penn School Coach Goes to Nebraska|newspaper=The Hartford Courant|date=January 20, 1950|page=19|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104448978/ralph-fife/|via=Newspapers.com}} He became head football coach at Mount Lebanon High School in 1954.{{cite news|title=Blue Devils Hit In High Figures: Ralph Fife's Mt. Lebanon Team Has Blasted Two Tough Foes|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|author=Fred P. Alger|date=September 24, 1958|page=22|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104449631/ralph-fife/|via=Newspapers.com}} In 1967, after coaching the 1966 Mount Lebanon team to an undefeated season and state championship, he became head football coach and director of physical education at Chartiers Valley High School.{{cite news|title=Fife Quits Mt. Lebanon for Chartiers Valley: Coach of Champ Goes to 0-9 Club|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Courier|date=January 17, 1967|page=22|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104449781/fife-quits-mt-lebanon-for-chartiers/|via=Newspapers.com}} He retired from coaching in 1978.{{cite news|title=Ralph Fife: Lebo football coach won 1966 WPIAL title, then left|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=January 28, 1968|page=13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104450129/ralph-fife/|via=Newspapers.com}}