Freddie Summers
| No. 20 | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Defensive back |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | February 16, 1947 Columbia, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Died: | December 7, 1994 (aged 47) Randolph, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Weight: | 180 lb (82 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Dorchester (MA) |
| College: | McCook JC (1965–1966) Wake Forest (1967–1968) |
| NFL draft: | 1969 / round: 4 / pick: 98 |
| Career history | |
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Stats at Pro Football Reference | |
Freddie S. Summers (born February 16, 1947) was an American former professional football defensive back who played three seasons with the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Browns in the fourth round of the 1969 NFL/AFL draft. He first enrolled at McCook Community College before transferring to Wake Forest University, where he played quarterback.
Early life
Freddie S. Summers was born on February 16, 1947, in Columbia, South Carolina.[1] He attended Dorchester High School in Dorchester, Boston, Massachusetts.[1]
College career
Summers first played college football at McCook Junior College from 1965 to 1966.[1] He transferred to play for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons from 1967 to 1968.[1] In 1967, he became the first black quarterback to start for a major Southern university.[2] He completed 77 of 159 passes (48.4%) for 909 yards, two touchdowns, and eight interceptions while also rushing for 510 yards and an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)-best ten touchdowns, earning first team All-ACC honors.[2][3] He also led the ACC in total offense that season.[2] In 1968, he completed 125 of 250 passes (50.0%) for 1,664 yards, nine touchdowns, and a conference-high 25 interceptions while rushing for 439 yards and seven touchdowns.[3]
Professional career
Summers was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round, with the 98th overall pick, of the 1969 NFL draft.[4] He converted to defensive back with the Browns. He played in eight games, starting three, during his rookie year in 1969.[4] He appeared in 12 games, no starts, in 1970 and made one fumble recovery.[4] Summers played in three games, starting one, during his final season with the Browns in 1971.[4]
On June 15, 1972, he was traded to the New York Giants in exchange for the Giants second pick in the 1973 NFL draft.[5] He was placed on injured waivers on August 30, 1972.[6][7]
Death
Summers died on December 7, 1994, in Randolph, Massachusetts.[4]
References
- ^ a b c d "Freddie Summers". profootballarchives.com. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
- ^ a b c Jacobs, Barry (August 20, 2017). "Among a group of ground-breaking African American football players at Wake, a star QB". newsobserver.com. Archived from the original on September 6, 2017. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ a b "Freddie Summers". sports-reference.com. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Freddie Summers". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
- ^ "Grid Giants Obtain Browns' Gregory". The Central New Jersey Home News. Associated Press. June 16, 1972. p. 21. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
- ^ "Jets, Giants slice". The Journal News. Associated Press. August 31, 1972. p. 55. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
- ^ "Giants Not Taking Eagles Lightly in Jaycees Battle". Asbury Park Press. September 1, 1972. p. 43. Retrieved September 16, 2017.