| No. 71, 72 | |||||||||
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| Positions | Defensive tackle Defensive end | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | (1933-03-05)March 5, 1933 Palatka, Florida, U.S. | ||||||||
| Died | May 15, 2008(2008-05-15) (aged 75) Raymond, Mississippi, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||
| Weight | 265 lb (120 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | Jacksonville (FL) Lee Raymond (Raymond, Mississippi) | ||||||||
| College | Hinds CC (1953-1954) LSU (1955-1956) | ||||||||
| NFL draft | 1957: 1st round, 13th overall pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
Playing | |||||||||
Coaching | |||||||||
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| Awards and highlights | |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Earl Franklin Leggett (March 5, 1933 – May 15, 2008) was an American professionalfootballdefensive lineman in theNational Football League (NFL) for theChicago Bears,Los Angeles Rams, andNew Orleans Saints. He playedcollege football atLouisiana State University (LSU). He was also an assistant coach for various teams.[1]
Leggett's career in professional football began as a first-round draft pick of the Bears in 1957 and spanned 11 years from 1957 to 1968. He is recorded as having played in 132 games in the NFL.
His career lasted from 1957 to 1965 with Chicago, where he played at both defensive tackle and defensive end positions. He was part of the famed "Monsters of the Midway" defense that led the Bears to the 1963 NFL championship. He was traded to theLos Angeles Rams in 1966, where he played in 10 regular season games with the Rams' "Fearsome Foursome" defense.
Toward the end of his career, journeyman Leggett played 20 games in 1967 and 1968 for the expansionNew Orleans Saints franchise. While statistics on sacks were not recorded back then, www.pro-football-reference.com credits Leggett with 16 fumble recoveries, 1 safety and 1 interception.
Leggett did outstanding community service inMississippi and the Gulf Coast region. He first played college football at Hinds Jr. College (today known asHinds Community College) which was the only school that would give him a chance due to academic circumstances. He started playing for them at 16 (which was then legal) and was able to raise his academic standing to get into LSU. Leggett became an All-Southeastern Conference player at LSU.
Leggett had four children and 14 grandchildren.
Leggett helped shape the careers ofHowie Long with the Raiders andMichael Strahan with theNew York Giants. He introduced Long into thePro Football Hall of Fame in 2000.
