George_Wilson_(quarterback)

George Wilson (quarterback)

George Wilson (quarterback)

American football player (1943–2011)

For other people with the same name, see George Wilson (disambiguation).

George William Wilson, Jr. (May 29, 1943 – August 6, 2011) was an American football player. He played college football at Xavier University and professionally for the American Football League's (AFL) 1966 expansion team, the Miami Dolphins. In 1965, Wilson was selected in the 20th round of the National Football League (NFL) draft by the Detroit Lions, with the overall 277th pick.[1] However, he eventually signed with the AFL's Buffalo Bills, who drafted him as the 96th pick in the 12th round of the Red Shirt draft.[2] In 1966, Wilson was traded to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a 13th round 1967 draft pick.[3] At the time, the Dolphins' head coach was his father, George Wilson, Sr.[4]

Quick Facts No. 10, 48, Position: ...

During his only season in Miami, George Wilson, Jr. shared starting quarterback duties with Rick Norton, John Stofa, and Dick Wood.[5] On October 16, 1966, Wilson led the Miami Dolphins to their first win, defeating the Denver Broncos by a score of 24–7.[4] He played all 14 games, starting in 7 of them. Wilson compiled a win–loss record of 2–5 when starting. Wilson's season stats included completing 41.1% of his passes – 46 out of 112 pass attempts – for a total of 764 yards. Although he threw five touchdown passes, Wilson was intercepted ten times. Additionally, Wilson rushed 137 yards on 27 attempts. He received an unimpressive passer rating of 42.4.[5]

Prior to the 1967 season, Wilson, along with Earl Faison, Cookie Gilchrist, and Ernie Park, were traded to the Broncos in exchange for Abner Haynes, Jerry Hopkins, Dan LaRose, and a draft pick.[6] However, he was cut from the Broncos on July 15, 1967, after practicing for less than a week.[7] Wilson became a free agent and signed with the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts on April 23, 1968,[8] before being cut by the team in the following months. By August 1968, he joined the Pottstown Firebirds of the Atlantic Coast Football League, a minor football league.[9] However, Wilson quit the Firebirds on September 10, citing "personal reasons".[10]

Wilson died of throat cancer in Weeki Wachee, Florida, on August 6, 2011.[4]

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "Draft History-1960–1969". Detroit Lions. Archived from the original on March 22, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  2. [2]
    "1965 AFL Draft". Archived from the original on February 25, 2017. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
  3. [3]
    Alain Poupart (April 18, 2016). "Five Fins Facts: Dolphins Draft-Related Trades". Miami Dolphins. Archived from the original on June 15, 2018. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  4. [4]
    Andrew Meacham (August 30, 2011). "George Wilson Jr. made Miami Dolphins history with first win". Tampa Bay Times. Weeki Watchee, Florida. Archived from the original on March 22, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  5. [5]
    "1966 Miami Dolphins Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  6. [6]
    "Miami Must Settle Quarterback's Job". The Express. September 7, 1967. p. 33. Retrieved March 21, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  7. [7]
    "George Wilson Cut By Denver". Danville Register & Bee. Denver, Colorado. Associated Press. July 16, 1967. p. 40. Retrieved March 21, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  8. [8]
    "QB For Argos". Ottawa Journal. Toronto, Ontario. United Press International. April 24, 1968. p. 26. Retrieved March 29, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  9. [9]
    "Two Way Players". The Gettysburg Times. August 29, 1968. p. 10. Retrieved March 29, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  10. [10]
    Jack Smith (September 11, 1968). "Quarterback Wilson Quits Firebirds". The Mercury. p. 16. Retrieved March 29, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
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