| No. 34, 60, 50 | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Linebacker | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born | (1941-06-03)June 3, 1941 Thorndale, Texas, U.S. | ||||||||||
| Died | January 18, 1994(1994-01-18) (aged 52) Houston, Texas, U.S. | ||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight | 247 lb (112 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school | Thorndale | ||||||||||
| College | Texas A&M | ||||||||||
| NFL draft | 1963: 7th round, 88th overall pick | ||||||||||
| AFL draft | 1963: 4th round, 25th overall pick | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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Lee Roy Caffey (June 3, 1941 – January 18, 1994) was an American professionalfootball player who was anoutside linebacker in theNational Football League (NFL) for thePhiladelphia Eagles,Green Bay Packers,Chicago Bears,Dallas Cowboys andSan Diego Chargers.[1] Caffey is one of the top 100 Green Bay Packers of All-Time. Caffey and teammates,Ray Nitschke andDave Robinson, were named one of the top 10 best linebacking trios in the history of the NFL by ESPN.[2] He playedcollege football for theTexas A&M Aggies.
Born and raised inTexas, Caffey started his football career inThorndale at the age of ten, when he played on a pee wee league that played a team fromOklahoma in the 'Milk Bowl Championship' and shook hands with American legend, Pro Football Hall of Fame member and Olympic gold medalistJim Thorpe.
AtThorndale High School, Caffey won the state title in thehigh jump and was all-state inbasketball as a senior in 1959. He broke his collarbone in football his senior year and was out most of the season. He was recruited to play college basketball by Shelby Metcalfe atTexas A&M but decided to try out for the football team when he got there, earning a scholarship and was a 3-year letterman.
Caffey accepted a football scholarship fromTexas A&M University, where he played both sides of the ball and led theAggies in rushing as a fullback in his junior season of1961. Defensively, the Aggies had 11 games where they allowed just 7 points or less and in 3 years gave up an average of 12 points.
Following his senior season in1962, Caffey played in the 1963 Challenge Bowl and on theCollege All-Star team,[3] which beat the two-time defending championGreen Bay Packers 20−17 in early August,[4][5][6] prompting head coach and general managerVince Lombardi to trade for him the next season.[7][8] According to Caffey, Lombardi personally called him and said “you’re going to be my linebacker”.
Caffey was a three-year letterman and is a member of the Texas A&M Hall of Fame, and a member of the Texas A&M All-Decade Team of the 1960s. He was the first Texas A&M Aggie to play in a Super Bowl and is considered one of Texas A&M's top 10 best players in the NFL. Caffey wore #34 during his college years.
In 1993, he was inducted into the Texas A&M Athletic Hall of Fame.
Caffey was selected by thePhiladelphia Eagles in the seventh round (88th overall) of the1963 NFL draft. He was also anAFL fourth round draft choice (25th overall) of theHouston Oilers. He started 6 out of 14 games and was named to the NFL All Rookie team.[7] He returned an interception 87 yards for a touchdown against theNew York Giants.[9] Caffey wore #34 as an Eagle.
On May 5,1964, Caffey was acquired by theGreen Bay Packers in the famousJim Ringo trade and played under head coach Vince Lombardi.[7][8][10] He started in 11 games his first year with Green Bay, during his six years with the team he would start in 80 of a possible 84 regular season games, and would become an All-Pro Player.[8] At 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) with 10.0 speed in the 100 yards (91 m), he was one of the fastest linebackers in the league, and was versatile enough to play both the outside or middle position.[11] Caffey intercepted nine passes, returning two for touchdowns, most notably one for 52 yards againstJohnny Unitas and theBaltimore Colts in the1966 season opener atMilwaukee.[12][13]
He played on the unprecedentedthree consecutivechampionship teams at Green Bay, which include the1965 NFL championship,Super Bowl I, where he led the team with 7 tackles, andSuper Bowl II. Caffey played in the legendaryIce Bowl in1967 and was a crucial factor in the outcome of that championship. He is credited with making 3 tackles for a loss, forcing a fumble, and accounted for the Packers' only sack by dumpingDon Meredith for a 9-yard loss; then spilling running backsDan Reeves andCraig Baynham for 4- and 3-yard losses.
Caffey was named AP and UPIAll-Pro in1966. Caffey was selected to thePro Bowl following the 1965 season.[14] In 2006, Caffey and fellow linebackers Dave Robinson and Ray Nitschke were named one of the top 10 best linebacking trios in the history of the NFL. Caffey wore #60 as a Packer.
On January 21,1970, after Lombardi's departure from Green Bay, Caffey,Elijah Pitts, andBob Hyland were traded to theChicago Bears for thesecond overall pick in the1970 NFL draft (#2-Mike McCoy).[15][16] Caffey would start all 14 games as outside linebacker for the Bears, beside Hall of Famer Dick Butkus, in the 1970 season under Head Coach Jim Dooley. Caffey wore #60 as a Bear.
On September 21,1971, Caffey was acquired by theDallas Cowboys in a trade for a seventh round draft choice (#182-Jim Osborne)[17] and played in 6 games as a Cowboy. After acquiring several other former Packers, Head Coach Tom Landry called Caffey his ‘insurance policy’. He was also a player mentor for the franchise's first championship team (Super Bowl VI) underTom Landry, where Caffey received his third career Super Bowl ring and fourth NFL championship ring. Caffey wore #60 as a Cowboy.
In September 1972 he joined the San Diego Chargers and appeared in 12 games with 9 starts. Caffey was set to be traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers who were rebuilding their team and wanted him at linebacker alongside future Hall of Famer Jack Ham, when he decided to announce his retirement. Caffey wore #50 as a Charger.
Caffey is considered one of the most underrated linebackers in the NFL and gave very few interviews. A popular team favorite, he is a member of theGreen Bay Packers Hall of Fame[18] and was selected to the 75th Anniversary All Time Packer Team, he ranks #57 on the Top 100 Green Bay Packers of All-Time, was selected to the Texas High School All Super Bowl Team, and was nominated for ESPN's All Time Super Bowl Team.
In 2006, the Green Bay Packers' linebacking corps ofRay Nitschke,Dave Robinson, and Lee Roy Caffey was named one of the NFL's Top 10 Greatest Linebacking Trios in the history of the NFL.
In early 1994 at age 52, Caffey lost a lengthy battle[19] withcolon cancer atMD Anderson Cancer Hospital inHouston.[1][20][21] He is buried inMilam County at Salty Cemetery, southeast of his hometown, Thorndale, and many former teammates attended his funeral. Some of the pall bearers included former NFL greatsJerry Kramer,Boyd Dowler,Donny Anderson,Tommy Joe Crutcher,Forrest Gregg, andDon andDiron Talbert. He was survived by his wife of 33 years, Dana, two daughters, and a son.[1]