John David Crow, Sr. was an American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator….who won the Heisman Trophy as a halfback for the Texas A&M Aggies football team in 1957….whereby after college, he played professional football in the NFL for the Chicago and St. Louis Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers between 1958 and 1968.
After his playing career, Crow became an assistant football coach for the Alabama Crimson Tide football team serving under coach Bear Bryant (whom he played for at Texas A & M) from 1969 to 1971….then he moved to the NFL as an assistant with the Cleveland Browns in 1972….followed by a move to the San Diego Chargers in 1974. In December 1975, Crow was hired as head football coach and athletic director at Northeast Louisiana University….now the University of Louisiana at Monroe….where he coached the football team for five seasons from 1976 to 1980….remaining as athletic director until 1981….when Crow returned to his alma mater, Texas A&M, in 1983 as an assistant athletic director…..who was promoted to athletic director in 1988….where he served in that capacity until 1993. John David Crow was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1976…..and a street on the campus of Texas A&M University adjacent to Kyle Field is named after him.
In the 1958 NFL Draft, Crow was a first–round draft pick for the Chicago Cardinals….where he played 11 seasons and appeared in four Pro Bowls. He later played for the St. Louis Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers. Crow received the annual Len Eshmont Award twice, in 1966 and 1967. The award is voted by the players and given to the 49er who best exemplifies the “inspirational and courageous play” of Len Eshmont.
The fact of the matter is that in the State of Texas….where football is king….John David Crow is still talked about and remember by football fans all over Texas….as one of their all time best players…..for he was the stuff that Texas legends are made of….making this video well worth the watch.
