Turk Edwards

NFLretired


position=Offensive tackle
number=17
birthdate=birth date|1907|09|28
Mold, Washington
deathdate=death date and age|1973|01|12|1907|09|28
Seattle, Washington
debutyear=1932
finalyear=1940
college=Washington State
teams=
* Boston Braves (1932)
* Boston Redskins (1933-1936)
* Washington Redskins (1937-1940)
stat1label=Games played
stat1value=86
stat2label=Games started
stat2value=77
stat3label=Touchdowns
stat3value=2
nfl=EDW030762
highlights=
* Pro Bowl selection (1939)
* NFL 1930s All-Decade Team
* 70 Greatest Redskins
HOF=62
CollegeHOF=30077

Albert Glen "Turk" Edwards (September 28, 1907 – January 12, 1973) was an American football offensive tackle in the National Football League. He played his entire career for, and eventually became the head coach of, the Washington Redskins. Edwards was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1969.

College career

Edwards attended and played college football at Washington State University from 1929 to 1931. While there, he helped lead the Cougars to a 9-0 record during the 1930 season and gained a invitation to the 1931 Rose Bowl.cite web | work=College Football Hall of Fame | url=http://www.collegefootball.org/famersearch.php?id=30077 | title=Turk Edwards' College HOF Profile | accessdate=2008-06-15] Edwards, along with Mel Hein, became the first All-Americans selected from Washington State.

Professional career

After finishing college, Edwards received offers from three NFL franchises, the recently created Boston Braves, the New York Giants, and the Portsmouth Spartans. [cite web | work=How Stuff Works | url=http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/turk-edwards-at.htm | title=Turk Edwards | accessdate=2008-06-15] He chose the highest bid –- $1,500 for 10 games from the Braves, a team that would later become the Boston Redskins and then move to Washington D.C. in 1937.cite web | work=Pro Football Hall of Fame | url=http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?player_id=62 | title=Turk Edwards' HOF Profile | accessdate=2008-06-15]

Edwards played for the Braves/Redskins for nine seasons, winning All-NFL honors from major media outlets every year of his career except his last one.

Unfortunately, his career was cut short due to an injury that did not even occur in a game. Edwards was injured at a coin-tossing ceremony prior to a game against the New York Giants in 1940. After calling the coin toss and shaking hands with former teammate Mel Hein (the Giants' captain), Edwards attempted to pivot around to head back to his sideline. However, his cleats caught in the grass and his oft-injured knee gave way, ending his season and ultimately his career.

Coaching career

Edwards continued with the Redskins as an assistant coach from 1941 to 1945 and then as the head coach from 1946 to 1948. Then after 17 straight seasons with the Redskins, Edwards retired from professional football.

References

External links

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