Motley, Marion

born June 5, 1920, Leesburg, Ga., U.S.

died June 27, 1999, Cleveland, Ohio,

U.S. gridiron football player.

He played fullback and linebacker for South Carolina State University and the University of Nevada. In 1946 he helped desegregate professional football by joining the Cleveland Browns as a fullback. A bruising rusher, he established himself as a running back and helped the Browns to five consecutive league championships (All-American Football Conference, 1946–49; NFL, 1950).

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▪ 2000

      American athlete (b. June 5, 1920, Leesburg, Ga.—d. June 27, 1999, Cleveland, Ohio), helped desegregate professional football while leading the Cleveland Browns to five league championships (1946–50). Motley played football at South Carolina State University and the University of Nevada but was not a standout on the gridiron. After college he joined the U.S. Navy, and in 1945 he participated on the Great Lakes Naval Training Station team. There he played for Paul Brown, who was later named coach of the All-American Football Conference (AAFC) Cleveland Browns. In 1946 the Browns signed Motley as a fullback, and he became the fourth African-American to play professional football. Motley went on to be the league's leading rusher, amassing 3,024 yd as he led the Browns to four consecutive AAFC championships (1946–49). At 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) and more than 108 kg (238 lb), he was a powerful runner and an outstanding pass blocker. Many considered him the game's best all-around player. In 1950 the Browns joined the National Football League (NFL), and that year Motley led the league in rushing (810 yd) and was named to the All-Pro team. Over the next four seasons, Cleveland appeared in every championship game, winning the NFL title in 1950. A knee injury, however, forced Motley to retire after the 1953 season, though he attempted a brief comeback with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1955. His totals included 4,720 rushing yards and an average of 5.7 yd per carry, an NFL career record. In 1968 Motley was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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▪ American athlete

born June 5, 1920, Leesburg, Georgia, U.S.

died June 27, 1999, Cleveland, Ohio

      African American gridiron football player who helped desegregate professional football in the 1940s during a career that earned him induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968. Motley's bruising running style and exceptional blocking ability marked him as one of the sport's greatest players.

      Motley was a fullback and linebacker for both South Carolina State University (Orangeburg) and the University of Nevada (Reno) before playing for the Great Lakes Naval Training Station during World War II. His coach there was Paul Brown (Brown, Paul), who later was named the first coach of the Cleveland Browns in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC). Motley signed with Cleveland as a fullback in 1946, breaking professional football's 13-year colour barrier along with three other players.

      Motley, 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 metres) tall and weighing 238 pounds (108 kg), was the leading rusher in the four-year history of the AAFC, with 3,024 yards. The Cleveland Browns won every AAFC title and compiled a 47–4–3 regular-season record. Motley, who also contributed defensively, was an AAFC linebacker in each of his first three seasons.

      When the Browns joined the National Football League (NFL) in 1950, Motley led the league with 810 yards, an average of 5.8 yards per carry, and was named to the All-Pro team. The Browns won the NFL title in 1950 and advanced to the title game in each of the next three seasons. Motley missed the 1954 season because of a knee injury. He finished his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1955. In all, Motley totaled 4,720 rushing yards (a 5.7-yard average) and scored 31 touchdowns.

      Motley's career has been overshadowed by later Browns fullback Jim Brown (Brown, Jim), who played in an era when the NFL attracted a broad national audience through television. However, Motley, using a similar combination of speed and power, was just as dominant during his career and was considered by many, including Coach Paul Brown, to have been the more complete player.

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