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Paul Warfield

Paul Dryden Warfield (born November 28, 1942) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) from 1964 to 1977 for the Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins, except for a year in the World Football League (WFL) with the Memphis Southmen in 1975. He was known for his speed, fluid moves, grace, and jumping ability. A consistent big-play threat throughout his career, his 20.1 average yards per reception is the highest in NFL history among players with at least 300 receptions.

Paul Warfield
refer to caption
Warfield in 1971
No. 42
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1942-11-28) November 28, 1942 (age 82)
Warren, Ohio, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:188 lb (85 kg)
Career information
High school:Warren G. Harding (Warren, Ohio)
College:Ohio State
NFL draft:1964 / round: 1 / pick: 11
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:427
Receiving yards:8,565
Receiving touchdowns:85
Stats at Pro Football Reference
Pro Football Hall of Fame

As a star halfback playing college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes, Warfield was twice named to the all-conference team in the Big Ten. He was selected in the first round of the 1964 NFL draft by the Browns and converted into a wide receiver. After three Pro Bowl appearances with the Browns, he was traded to the Dolphins, with whom he made another five Pro Bowl appearances. He then spent one season in the WFL with the Southmen before returning to the Browns for his final two seasons of play.

Warfield played in seven championship games in his professional career—four NFL Championship Games with the Browns and three Super Bowls with the Dolphins—and earned victories in the 1964 NFL Championship Game, Super Bowl VII, and Super Bowl VIII. After his playing career, he served as a scout and adviser for the Browns for several years. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983, and is a member of the Cleveland Browns Ring of Honor and the Miami Dolphins Honor Roll.

Early life

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Paul Dryden Warfield was born in Warren, Ohio. His father, Dryden Warfield, was a deacon in a Baptist church.[1] Warfield attended Warren G. Harding High School in Warren, where he was a star running back and defensive back for the Panthers. He scored 92 points as a junior in 1958,[2] a campaign highlighted by a 6–0 victory over powerhouse Massillon Washington High School.[3] The following season, as a senior he scored 93 points, including all three of his team's touchdowns in the final game of the season.[4] As a basketball player he was noted for his speed, often leading fast breaks.[5] He also ran track and field at Warren G. Harding, and was the Ohio High School Athletic Association Class AA broad jump champion in 1958.[6] During the 1960 season he set a Class AA state record while winning the 180-yard hurdles.[7]

College career

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Warfield then attended Ohio State University, where he played for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team under coach Woody Hayes. As he did in high school, he continued to star as both a running back and defensive back. As the secondary ball-carrier behind fullback Bob Ferguson during Ohio State's national championship season in 1961, Warfield carried 77 times for 420 yards and five touchdowns. He was a third-team All-Big Ten Conference selection by the conference's coaches.[8] In 1962 he rushed for 367 yards and two touchdowns, and his 6.4 yards-per-carry average led the Big Ten. As a senior in 1963 he rushed for 260 yards and a touchdown and caught 22 passes for 266 yards and three touchdowns. He was voted by the Big Ten's coaches as the first-team halfback on both the 1962 and 1963 All-Big Ten teams.[9][10]

A two-time letterman in track and field at Ohio State, Warfield competed as a broad jumper, hurdler, and sprinter. He excelled as a broad jumper, recording a personal best of 26 feet 2 inches, and was an Olympic prospect before he decided to play professional football.[11]

Professional career

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Cleveland Browns

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The Cleveland Browns selected Warfield with the 11th pick of the 1964 NFL draft.[12] There was some thought for Warfield to play as a defensive back. But during workouts prior to the season, his play as a wide receiver impressed head coach Blanton Collier, and he was converted to the position.[13] In his rookie season, he caught 52 passes for 920 yards and nine touchdowns. He averaged 17.8 yards per reception, and his speed served to complement the power of star running back Jim Brown.[14][15] The Browns finished the season atop the East Division with a 10–3–1 record, and defeated the Baltimore Colts 27–0 in the 1964 NFL Championship Game.[16] Warfield was invited to his first Pro Bowl and was named a first-team All-Pro by the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA).[17]

In the 1965 Chicago College All-Star Game, which annually pitted the reigning NFL champion against star college players, Warfield shattered his collarbone and missed the majority of the 1965 season as a result. He returned for the penultimate game of the season and caught three passes for 30 yards before bruising his collarbone, causing him to miss the final game of the regular season.[18] The Browns returned to the NFL Championship Game in 1965, in which Warfield caught two passes for 30 yards in a 23–12 loss to the Green Bay Packers.[19]

Warfield returned to form in 1966, catching 36 passes for 741 yards and five touchdowns, and in 1967 recorded 32 receptions for 702 yards and eight touchdowns.[20][21] In 1968, Warfield caught 50 passes and for the only time in his career eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards, finishing with 1,067.[22] His career-high 12 receiving touchdowns led the league that year.[23] The Browns again reached the NFL Championship Game, where they were shutout by the Baltimore Colts, 34–0.[24] Warfield earned first-team All-Pro honors from the Associated Press (AP), United Press International (UPI), Pro Football Weekly, and NEA, and made another Pro Bowl appearance.[17]

After another NFL championship game appearance for the Browns and Pro Bowl season for Warfield in 1969, he was traded to the Miami Dolphins for the third pick in the 1970 draft.[25] The trade came as a shock to Warfield, who had established himself as one of the Browns' most popular players. "I have to admit going to Miami was not a place I desired to go," said Warfield 30 years later.[26] The Browns used the pick acquired in the trade on Purdue University quarterback Mike Phipps. The trade is considered one of the most lopsided in NFL history, as Phipps had only limited success for the Browns, while Warfield was a major factor in the Dolphins' championships in the early 1970s.[27]

Miami Dolphins

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In need of a deep-play receiver, Dolphins head coach Don Shula stated he "jumped at the chance" to acquire Warfield, saying he had always admired him and called him "a real thoroughbred, equal to the best in the game."[28] In his first season with Miami, Warfield caught only 28 passes but recorded 703 yards, an average of 25.1 yards per catch.[29] He was invited to his first Pro Bowl with the Dolphins and was named a second-team All-Pro by the NEA.[17] The Dolphins finished with a 10–4 record and lost to the Oakland Raiders in the divisional round of the 1970 playoffs.[30]

In 1971, Warfield caught 43 passes for 996 yards and again led the league in receiving touchdowns, with 11.[31][32] He earned first-team All-Pro honors from the AP and UPI, among other selectors, and made his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl appearance.[17] Through the Dolphins' first two games of the 1971 playoffs, against the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Colts, Warfield caught nine passes for 265 yards and a touchdown. Shortly before Super Bowl VI between the Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys, President Richard Nixon famously telephoned Dolphins coach Don Shula to suggest that they run a particular pass play to Warfield.[33][34] The play, a down-and-in pattern, was tried and resulted in an incomplete pass.[35] Covered by star defensive back Mel Renfro,[36] Warfield was limited to four receptions for 39 yards as the Dolphins were defeated 24–3.[37]

Warfield missed two games in the Dolphins' undefeated 1972 season due to an injured foot but still led the team with 606 receiving yards.[38] Through Miami's three postseason games of 1972, Warfield caught seven passes for 149 yards and carried the ball twice for 41 yards.[17] The Dolphins defeated the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII to earn their first Super Bowl title.[39]

Although Warfield caught only 29 passes during the 1973 season, 11 of those receptions were touchdowns, with 4 coming in the first half of the regular season finale over the Detroit Lions.[40][41] In the Dolphins' three playoff games that year, Warfield caught seven passes for 155 yards and a touchdown. The Dolphins reached the Super Bowl for the third consecutive year, and won it for the second straight time by defeating the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl VIII.[42]

In 1974, Warfield caught 27 passes for 536 yards and 2 touchdowns, and was invited to the last of 2 consecutive Pro Bowls.[43] The Dolphins again reached the playoffs, this time losing to the Raiders in the divisional round. Through 5 seasons with the Dolphins, Warfield compiled 156 receptions for 3,355 yards and 33 touchdowns. In 11 playoff games, he caught 34 passes for 717 yards and 4 touchdowns.[17]

Memphis Southmen

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In March 1974, he was selected by the Toronto Northmen in the second round (23rd overall) of the WFL Pro Draft.[44] Prior to the start of the 1974 season, Warfield and teammates Larry Csonka and Jim Kiick made what were then surprising decisions. They left the Dolphins at the conclusion of the season for what appeared to be more lucrative pastures with the Northmen of World Football League (WFL).[45][46] The Northmen then moved to Memphis, Tennessee, without playing a game in Toronto, and became the Memphis Southmen. Warfield played the 1975 season with the Memphis Southmen, catching 25 passes for 422 yards and three touchdowns.[47]

Return to Browns and retirement

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After the dissolution of the WFL following the 1975 season, Warfield told reporters he would be interested in rejoining the Browns if the Southmen were not admitted into the NFL.[48] The Southmen were refused admittance, and Warfield was ultimately persuaded to rejoin by Browns owner Art Modell, who felt Warfield would be a valuable asset as both a receiver and in public relations.[49] Warfield played his final two pro football seasons in Cleveland, catching 38 passes for 613 yards and six touchdowns in 1976 and 18 passes for 251 yards and two touchdowns in 1977.[50][51] In his eight years with the Browns, he caught 271 passes for 5,210 yards and 52 touchdowns.[17]

In his 13 NFL seasons Warfield caught 427 passes for 8,565 yards for 20.1 yards per catch and scored 85 touchdowns. He added another 204 yards on 22 rushing attempts. In 18 playoff games, he caught 58 passes for 1,121 yards and five touchdowns.[17] His 85 career receiving touchdowns is tied for 15th most in NFL history,[52] and his 20.1 average yards per reception is tied for the fourth highest among players with at least 200 career receptions and the highest among players with at least 300 receptions.[53] At the time of his retirement, his 1,121 postseason receiving yards were the second highest total in NFL history, trailing only Fred Biletnikoff by 46 yards.[54]

Career statistics

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Legend
Led the league
Won NFL championship
Won the Super Bowl
Bold Career high

Regular season

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Year Team Games Receiving Rushing Fum
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Att Yds Avg Lng TD
1964 CLE 14 14 52 920 17.7 62 9 0 0 0 0 0 0
1965 CLE 1 0 3 30 10.0 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1966 CLE 14 14 36 741 20.6 51 5 0 0 0 0 0 0
1967 CLE 14 14 32 702 21.9 49 8 2 10 5.0 18 0 0
1968 CLE 14 14 50 1,067 21.3 65 12 0 0 0 0 0 0
1969 CLE 14 14 42 886 21.1 82 10 2 23 11.5 16 0 0
1970 MIA 11 11 28 703 25.1 54 6 2 13 6.5 16 0 0
1971 MIA 14 14 43 996 23.2 86 11 9 115 12.8 39 0 3
1972 MIA 12 11 29 606 20.9 47 3 4 23 5.8 21 0 1
1973 MIA 14 14 29 514 17.7 45 11 1 15 15.0 15 0 1
1974 MIA 9 9 27 536 19.9 54 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
1975 MIA 0 0 Missed season - Memphis Southmen (World Football League)
1976 CLE 14 14 38 613 16.1 37 6 1 3 3.0 3 0 3
1977 CLE 12 9 18 251 13.9 52 2 1 2 2.0 2 0 0
Career 157 152 427 8,565 20.3 86 85 22 204 9.3 39 0 8

Honors and later life

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Warfield's bronze bust at the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Warfield was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983, his first year of eligibility, one of only five Dolphins to accomplish this feat (Jim Langer, Jason Taylor, Dan Marino and Don Shula). He is a member of the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team as one of the best players of the decade.[55] In 1999, he was ranked 60th on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players.[56] He is on the Miami Dolphins Honor Roll,[57] and was an inaugural inductee into the Cleveland Browns Ring of Honor in 2010.[58] Warfield participated in the opening coin flip for the Ohio State–Michigan game in 2006 between the No. 1-ranked Buckeyes and No. 2-ranked Wolverines.[59] In 2013, Warren G. Harding High School erected a life-size statue of Warfield near the school's stadium.[60]

In 1977, Warfield earned a master's degree in telecommunications from Kent State University.[15] During his time as a student, Warfield was a sportscaster for the morning drive program on the university's radio station, WKSU-FM,[61] and presided over the station's first pledge drive in April 1974 following its conversion to a public radio outlet.[62] He worked for WKYC in Cleveland as a sportscaster from 1977 to 1980.[63] He also later served as president of a management consultant firm in Moraine, Ohio.[46] From 1981 to 1987, he worked as director of player relations for the Browns, and from 2004 to 2010 was senior adviser to the general manager for the team.[64] Warfield is retired and resides in Rancho Mirage, California.[65]

References

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  1. ^ Pluto, Terry (1997). When All the World was Browns Town: Cleveland's Browns and the Championship Season of '64 (illustrated ed.). Simon and Schuster. p. 192. ISBN 0684822466. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  2. ^ Howell, Fritz (November 16, 1958). "Alliance Voted State Grid Championship". The Evening Independent. Associated Press. p. 10. Retrieved August 16, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Powell, Charlie (October 25, 1958). "Warren Overcomes Tigers In 6–0 Battle". The Evening Independent. p. 10. Retrieved August 16, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Howell, Fritz (November 25, 1959). "Massillon Familiar Name In AP's Top Slot On Final High School State Poll". Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. Associated Press. p. 10. Retrieved August 16, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Two Road Tests Face ELHS This Weekend". The Evening Review. December 17, 1959. p. 13. Retrieved August 16, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "1958 - State Track Meet" (PDF). Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  7. ^ "1960 - State Track Meet" (PDF). Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  8. ^ "Saimes and McRae Selected On All-Big Ten Football Team". The Holland Evening Sentinel. United Press International. November 29, 1961. p. 23. Retrieved August 16, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Pick Big Ten All-Star Squad". Galesburg Register-Mail. United Press International. November 27, 1962. p. 12. Retrieved August 15, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Sainsbury, Ed (November 29, 1963). "Butkus, Eller Near-Unanimous Choices for Big Ten All-Stars". The Daily Register. United Press International. p. 9. Retrieved August 16, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Lebovitz, Hal (2006). The Best of Hal Lebovitz: Great Sportswriting from Six Decades in Cleveland. Gray & Company. p. 193. ISBN 1598510231. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  12. ^ "1964 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  13. ^ Grossi, Tony (2004). Tales from the Browns Sideline (illustrated ed.). Sports Publishing LLC. p. 44. ISBN 1582617139. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  14. ^ Hand, Jack (September 10, 1964). "Packers, Giants Rated Favorites In NFL". The Salem News. Associated Press. p. 14. Retrieved August 27, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ a b "Numbers Didn't Define Browns Great Paul Warfield". Pro Football Hall of Fame. August 20, 2015. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
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  19. ^ "Championship – Cleveland Browns at Green Bay Packers – January 2nd, 1966". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  20. ^ "Paul Warfield 1966 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  21. ^ "Paul Warfield 1967 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  22. ^ "Paul Warfield 1968 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  23. ^ "1968 NFL Receiving". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  24. ^ Strickler, George (December 30, 1968). "Colts Crush Browns for NFL Title". Chicago Tribune. p. 1, section 3. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  25. ^ "Warfield and 3 Dealt by Browns". Chicago Tribune. United Press International. January 27, 1970. p. 1, section 3. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  26. ^ Grossi 2004, p. 46.
  27. ^ Feller, Jason (May 4, 2009). "History shows it can be risky to trade great players for picks". NFL.com. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  28. ^ "Miami Duo Clicks". Warren Times-Mirror and Observer. Associated Press. November 16, 1971. p. 8. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  29. ^ "Paul Warfield 1970 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  30. ^ "Divisional Round – Miami Dolphins at Oakland Raiders – December 27th, 1970". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  31. ^ "Paul Warfield 1971 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  32. ^ "1971 NFL Receiving". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  33. ^ "Everybody At Super Bowl Except Silent Duane Talking About President's Play". The Bee. Associated Press. January 11, 1972. p. 9. Retrieved September 21, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ Sullivan, Paul (July 30, 1989). "Nixon and the Straw". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
  35. ^ Anderson, Dave (January 2, 1973). "Nixon Pledges Allegiance to Redskins". The New York Times. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
  36. ^ "Warfield Vs. Renfro Again". The Times Recorder. United Press International. January 13, 1972. p. 19. Retrieved September 21, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ Miller, Norm (January 17, 1972). "Dallas Finally Lands Big One; Super Defense Dooms Dolphs". New York Daily News. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  38. ^ "1972 Miami Dolphins Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  39. ^ Fox, Larry (January 15, 1973). "Super Bowl VII: Dolphs Do It, Upset Skins for 17–0 record". New York Daily News. Retrieved October 7, 2017.
  40. ^ "Dolphins And Warfield Rip Lions". The Fresno Bee. Associated Press. December 16, 1973. p. 78. Retrieved August 15, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  41. ^ "Paul Warfield 1973 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  42. ^ Pope, Edwin (January 14, 1974). "Miami Dolphins are pro football's all-time kings after rout of Vikings in Super Bowl VIII". Miami Herald. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  43. ^ "Paul Warfield 1974 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  44. ^ "The day Toronto stunned the football world: The ill-fated deal to bring three NFL stars north to join an upstart rival league". National Post. July 12, 2017. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  45. ^ "Csonka, Kiick, Warfield Go to WFL in '75". The Sioux City Journal. Associated Press. April 1, 1974. p. 23. Retrieved October 16, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  46. ^ a b Gustkey, Earl (March 31, 1994). "A Big Splash, Then No Cash: WFL Made History in 1974, but 'Whiffle Ball' Didn't Last". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  47. ^ "World Football League – 1975 Memphis Southmen Statistics". wflfootball.tripod.com. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  48. ^ "Paul Warfield Favors Browns". The Terre Haute Tribune. United Press International. February 24, 1976. p. 10. Retrieved October 16, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  49. ^ "Warfield happy with Cleveland". Washington Court House Record-Herald. August 4, 1976. p. 14. Retrieved October 16, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  50. ^ "Paul Warfield 1976 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  51. ^ "Paul Warfield 1977 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  52. ^ "NFL Receiving Touchdowns Career Leaders". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  53. ^ "NFL Yards per Reception Career Leaders". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  54. ^ "NFL Receiving Yards Career Playoffs Leaders". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  55. ^ "NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1970s – Offense". Pro Football Hall of Fame. January 21, 2010. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  56. ^ "Sporting News Top 100 Football Players". Democrat and Chronicle. August 15, 1999. p. 3D. Retrieved January 9, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  57. ^ Perkins, Chris (July 30, 2015). "Miami Dolphins' 50th Anniversary: By the numbers". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  58. ^ Davis, Nate (August 26, 2010). "Sixteen inaugural members of Cleveland Browns Ring of Honor unveiled". USA Today. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  59. ^ "OSU–Michigan Game Photos". Scout.com. November 18, 2006. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  60. ^ Gulas, Greg (August 28, 2013). "Warfield statue to be dedicated at WGH". Youngstown Vindicator. Archived from the original on October 17, 2017. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  61. ^ "WKSU-FM Begins 'Morning Show'". Akron Beacon Journal. March 2, 1974. p. B11. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  62. ^ "$5,000 Raised For Xenia, Station". Akron Beacon Journal. April 24, 1974. p. A6. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  63. ^ Joe Castiglione with Douglas B. Lyons (2006). "Broadcasting beginnings". Broadcast Rites and Sites: I Saw it on the Radio with the Boston Red Sox. Taylor Trade Publishing. p. 17. ISBN 1-58979-324-2.
  64. ^ Lerner, Keven (June 3, 2010). "Former Miami Dolphins star Paul Warfield retires from Cleveland Browns' front office". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  65. ^ "Ohio State football – Q&A with former Buckeye Paul Warfield". The Times-Reporter. September 3, 2015. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
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