Howard Leon Yeager
No. 6
Position:Wingback
Personal information
Born:(1915-02-19)February 19, 1915
Orosi, California, U.S.
Died:July 22, 2000(2000-07-22) (aged 85)
Purcellville, Virginia, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:173 lb (78 kg)
Career information
High school:John Muir High School
College:UC Santa Barbara Gauchos
Undrafted:1938
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com

Howard Leon Yeager (February 19, 1915 – July 22, 2000) was an American football wingback who played in the National Football League (NFL) with the New York Giants. He played college football for the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos and is a member of the school's hall of fame.

Early life and education

Yeager was born in Orosi, California, and attended the University of California, Santa Barbara. He was a student-athlete, participating in the Gauchos' football and track & field teams. He was the UCSB record holder for the 100 broad jump and low hurdles. He was inducted to the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos Hall of Fame.

Football career

Jersey City Giants

Yeager played for the Jersey City Giants of the American Association in 1938.[1] The team served as a farm team for the New York Giants and Yeager was under consideration for promotion to the parent club, but a move never materialized.[2]

New York Giants

Yeager was moved up to the parent club, New York Giants, for the 1941 NFL season. He appeared in 10 games where he gained 287 yards and scored 4 touchdowns.

Los Angeles Bulldogs

After returning from World War II, Yeager played for the Los Angeles Bulldogs who built their offense around him.[3]

Personal life

The start of American involvement in World War II saw the conclusion of Yeager's NFL career as he became a fighter pilot.[4] While serving, he suffered severe burns while attending to a plane crash, saving at least one life in the process.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Brainerd, Steve (1993). "Starting from the Bottom" (PDF). The Coffin Corner. Vol. 15, no. 5. Professional Football Researchers Association. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Giants Consider Promoting Yeager". New York Daily News. October 27, 1938. p. 60. Retrieved September 6, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Oakland Giants Open Pro Grid Season With L.A. Today". Oakland Tribune. October 7, 1945. p. 27. Retrieved September 6, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Pro Football Affected More Than Any Major American Sport By War". Princeton Daily Clarion. Princeton, Indiana. June 9, 1942. p. 6. Retrieved September 6, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ Ward, Arch (May 15, 1943). "In the Wake Of the News". The Salt Lake Tribune. p. 16. Retrieved September 6, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
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