Ward Cuff

{{Short description|American football player (1913–2002)}}

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

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Ward Cuff

| image = Ward Cuff.jpg

| number = 14, 21

| position = Halfback
Placekicker

| birth_date = {{birth date|1913|08|12}}

| birth_place = Redwood Falls, Minnesota, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2002|12|24|1913|08|12}}

| death_place = Vallejo, California, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 1

| weight_lb = 192

| high_school = Redwood Falls

| college = Marquette

| draftyear = 1937

| draftround = 4

| draftpick = 34

| pastteams =

• New York Giants ({{NFL Year|1937|1945}})
• Chicago Cardinals ({{NFL Year|1946}})
• Green Bay Packers ({{NFL Year|1947}})

| highlights =

• NFL champion (1938)
• 5× Second-team All-Pro (1938, 1939, 1941, 1943, 1944)
• 3× NFL All-Star (1939–1941)
• New York Giants No. 14 retired

| statlabel1 = Rushing yards

| statvalue1 = 1,851

| statlabel2 = Rushing average

| statvalue2 = 5.4

| statlabel3 = Receptions

| statvalue3 = 106

| statlabel4 = Receiving yards

| statvalue4 = 1,559

| statlabel5 = Total touchdowns

| statvalue5 = 21

| statlabel6 = Interceptions

| statvalue6 = 13

| statlabel7 = Field goals

| statvalue7 = 43/98 (43.9%)

| pfr = CuffWa20

}}

Ward Lloyd Cuff (August 12, 1913 – December 24, 2002) was an American professional football player who was a halfback and placekicker in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Giants, Chicago Cardinals, and Green Bay Packers. He played college football at Marquette University and was drafted in the fourth round of the 1937 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=1937 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1937/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-21 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}

As a fullback at Marquette, Cuff played in the first Cotton Bowl game, in 1937, losing to TCU. He was also Marquette's heavyweight boxing champion and held the school record in the javelin throw. Cuff played for the Giants from 1937 to 1945, won the NFL championship in 1938, and became the team's career scoring leader with 319 points before being traded to the Cardinals. He played one season with the Cardinals and one with the Packers. He led the NFL in field goals made four times. After his NFL career, Cuff coached high school football in Green Bay, was an assistant coach for the Oregon State Beavers football team, and later worked for The Boeing Company.{{cite news |last1=Goldstein |first1=Richard |title=Ward Cuff, 90, Ex-Giants Back Who Was an All-Pro in the 40s |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/13/sports/ward-cuff-90-ex-giants-back-who-was-an-all-pro-in-the-40-s.html |access-date=10 June 2018 |work=The New York Times |date=13 January 2003}}

His number 14 was retired by the Giants, although owner Wellington Mara gave Y. A. Tittle permission to wear it during his time with the Giants from 1961 to 1964. It was retired again in honor of both players.{{cite web|title=New York Giants Retired Jersey Numbers|url=http://www.bigblueinteractive.com/information-pages/new-york-giants-retired-jersey-numbers/|website=Big Blue Interactive|date=September 20, 2007 |access-date=25 August 2016}}