 Cross on a 1952 Bowman football card | |||||
| No. 76, 73, 57, 78, 71, 77 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Tackle | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born: | (1931-07-04)July 4, 1931 Ranger, Texas, U.S. | ||||
| Died: | June 18, 1989(1989-06-18) (aged 57) Kilgore, Texas, U.S. | ||||
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||
| Weight: | 240 lb (109 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school: | Kilgore (TX) | ||||
| College: | Stephen F. Austin State | ||||
| NFL draft: | 1952: 9th round, 104th pick | ||||
| Career history | |||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||
| |||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||
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Robert Joe Cross (July 4, 1931 – June 18, 1989) was anAmerican footballoffensive lineman in theNational Football League (NFL) for theChicago Bears,Los Angeles Rams,San Francisco 49ers, andChicago Cardinals. He also was a member of theBoston Patriots in theAmerican Football League (AFL) and theHamilton Tiger-Cats in theCanadian Football League (CFL). He playedcollege football atStephen F. Austin State University.
Cross attendedKilgore High School, where he practiced football, basketball and track. He enrolled atKilgore Junior College. He later accepted a football scholarship fromStephen F. Austin State University, where he became a three-year starter.
In 1948, he placed second in the Border Olympicsshot put competition, atrack-and-field event held in Laredo in whichSouthwest Conference teams also participated.
In 2002, he was inducted into the Kilgore College Athletics Hall of Fame.[1]
Cross was selected by theChicago Bears in the ninth round (104th overall) of the1952 NFL draft. Although he was named a starter as a rookie atright tackle, at the end of the season he opted to sign with theHamilton Tiger-Cats of theCanadian Football League.[2]
In1953, he was the startingleft tackle for theHamilton Tiger-Cats, while helping the team win theGrey Cup.
On May 8,1954, while he was in the process of asking for reinstatement into theNational Football League,[3] The Bears traded him to theLos Angeles Rams in exchange fordefensive endLarry Brink.[4] He was a starter atleft tackle. In the1955 NFL Championship Game, he was moved tocenter to replaceLeon McLaughlin who was sick withmumps.[5]
On September 9,1956, he was traded to theSan Francisco 49ers in exchange for a third round draft choice (#27-George Strugar).
On August 31,1958, after two seasons of playing atleft tackle, he was traded to theChicago Cardinals in exchange for a draft choice.
He played two seasons with theChicago Cardinals. In1959, he missed his first game in theNFL.
Cross was selected by theDallas Cowboys in the1960 NFL Expansion Draft. He was tried atoffensive tackle andcenter, but was released before the start of the season.
On November 9,1960, he was signed as afree agent by theBoston Patriots of theAmerican Football League.[6] He was a part of the franchise's inaugural season, playing in 4 games before being released on December 5.[7]