- Coy Bacon
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Coy Bacon
Bacon in 2007Date of birth: August 30, 1942 Place of birth: Cadiz, Kentucky Date of death: December 22, 2008 (aged 66)Place of death: Ironton, Ohio Career information Position(s): Defensive lineman College: Jackson State Organizations As player: 1968-1972
1973-1975
1976-1977
1978-1981
1983Los Angeles Rams
San Diego Chargers
Cincinnati Bengals
Washington Redskins
Washington Federals (USFL)Career highlights and awards Pro Bowls: 1972, 1976, 1977 Awards: 3× Second-team All-Pro Selection (1971, 1972, 1976) Playing stats at NFL.com Lander McCoy Bacon (August 30, 1942 – December 22, 2008) was a former professional American football defensive lineman in the National Football League. He was selected to three Pro Bowls during his 14-year career. While Quarterback sacks were not an official statistic during his career, researchers credit Bacon with a career total of 130.[1]
Contents
Professional career
Tried out with AFL's Houston Oilers in 1964 but was not signed as it was discovered that he had not graduated from Jackson St.. Bacon began his career in 1965 with the Charleston (W.Va.) Rockets of the Continental Football League. Spent 1967 on the reserve squad with the Dallas Cowboys. In 1968, he was picked up by Los Angeles Rams of the NFL and teamed with Fearsome Foursome line of Deacon Jones, Merlin Olsen, Roger Brown and Lamar Lundy after spending the first half of the season on the practice squad. He had his first opportunity for serious playing time at right defensive tackle in 1969 due to injuries to Brown. Following Lamar Lundy's retirement in 1970, Bacon lined up at right defensive end for the next three years. He had eleven sacks in 1971, and was named to Second-team All-Pro. He was voted as the Rams Defensive lineman of the year in 1971 and 1972 by the Ram's Alumni Organization. He was Second-team All-Pro again in 1972.
In 1973, Bacon was sent to San Diego along with running back Bob Thomas for quarterback John Hadl. He had an 80-yard interception return for a touchdown that year. In 1976, he was traded from the Chargers to the Bengals for wide receiver Charlie Joiner. Bacon then had an NFL high 21½ sacks for Cincinnati in 1976 prior to the NFL officially recognizing individual sacks. He made the Pro Bowl and was a Second-team All-Pro selection.
The Washington Redskins traded for him and Lemar Parrish before the 1978 season in exchange for a 1st round draft pick. He recorded 15 sacks in 1979 and 11 in 1980 and finished career in the USFL with the Washington Federals in 1983 where he started in 16 of 18 games and recorded 62 total tackles, 7 sacks and recovered 1 fumble with the 3-15 club.
Coy Bacon was inducted into the American Football Association's Semi Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986
Personal
Bacon eventually moved to Ironton, Ohio. He was wounded in a drug-related shooting in Washington, D.C. on August 16, 1986, and later became a born-again Christian and traveled as a motivational speaker. Coy also spent several years working with troubled youth at the Ohio River Valley Juvenile Correctional Facility.[2]
Death
Bacon died in Ironton, Ohio on December 22, 2008. Cause of death was not immediately available. He was 66.[3]
References
Categories:- 1942 births
- 2008 deaths
- People from Cadiz, Kentucky
- African American players of American football
- American football defensive linemen
- Jackson State Tigers football players
- Los Angeles Rams players
- San Diego Chargers players
- Cincinnati Bengals players
- Washington Redskins players
- National Conference Pro Bowl players
- American Conference Pro Bowl players
- People from Lawrence County, Ohio
- Washington Federals/Orlando Renegades players
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