| Date of birth | (1897-12-22)December 22, 1897 |
|---|---|
| Place of birth | Hammond, Indiana, U.S. |
| Date of death | September 26, 1977(1977-09-26) (aged 79) |
| Place of death | Bradenton, Florida, U.S. |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Fullback,Head Coach |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) |
| Weight | 208 lb (94 kg) |
| US college | Purdue |
| Career history | |
| As coach | |
| 1920 | Muncie Flyers |
| As player | |
| 1920 | Muncie Flyers |
| 1920 | Fort Wayne Friars |
| 1921 | Chicago Staleys |
| 1922–1925 | Dayton Triangles |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Career stats | |
| |
Kenneth Wilbur Huffine (December 22, 1897 – September 26, 1977) was a professionalfootballplayer-coach who played in theNational Football League (NFL) from 1920 until 1925. During that time, he played for theMuncie Flyers,Chicago Staleys and theDayton Triangles. He was a member of the Staleys' 1921 Championship team. The Staleys were renamed theChicago Bears in 1922. Ken also played with the independentFort Wayne Friars in 1920, alongside the legendaryJim Thorpe.[1]
Prior to playing football professionally, Ken playedcollege football atPurdue University. He was a three-timeletterman with the Boilermakers in 1916, 1917 and 1919.[2]
Ken also played in one of the first NFL games as Muncie played theRock Island Independents on October 3, 1920. While serving as the team'spunter, Huffine had three of his punts blocked during the game. The Independents used each blocked punt to score three touchdowns in the first quarter. Rock Island'sEd Shaw blocked Huffine's first attempt andArnie Wyman picked it up to run 35 yards for the score. Later Huffine got off a successful punt, however the Islanders drove to the Muncie two-yard line, only to fumble. But, when Huffine went into theend zone for yet another punt attempt,Walt Buland broke through to block, and Wyman scored again by falling on the ball in the end zone. As soon as Huffine was called upon to punt again, Shaw andOak Smith blocked another one. This timeDewey Lyle recovered but stepped out of bounds on the 15-yard line.Rube Ursella then scored for Rock Island shortly after.[1][3]
According to Henry E. Beck's bookGrowin' Up With Men And Machines, Ken is described as a "soft spoken man with a hand like acatcher's mitt". He was an educated person as people like being around him. During the conversations Ken would listen to every word spoken to him.[4]
