Jerry Anderson (American football)

NFL player
Name=Jerry Anderson


DateOfBirth=October 27, 1953
Birthplace= Murfreesboro, Tennessee
DateOfDeath=death date and age|1989|5|27|1953|10|27
Deathplace=Murfreesboro, Tennesse
College=Oklahoma
Position=Safety
Height_ft=5
Height_in=11
Weight_lbs=200
DraftedYear=1977
DraftedRound=4
DraftedPick=105
years=1977
1978
1980-1981
teams=Cincinnati Bengals (NFL)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL)
Hamilton Tiger-Cats (CFL)
DatabaseFootball=ANDERJER01

Jerry O. Anderson (October 27, 1953 - May 27, 1989) was a gridiron football defensive back. He played one season for the Cincinnati Bengals and one season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the National Football League. He played in 14 games in 1977 with Cincinnati and 2 games in 1978 with Tampa Bay, but never had an interception. He then played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League in 1980 and 1981.

Following his career, he was viewed as a hero by his family and community. On May 27, 1984, he rescued some trapped motorists from floodwaters in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was haunted from that day on for being unsuccessful in saving one woman. Exactly five years later, on May 27, 1989, he died attempting to save two young boys from drowning in his home town of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. On October 31, 1989, the story of his heroism and death was aired on "Rescue 911". [http://youtube.com/watch?v=d17kgWT1gcQ see video part 1] [http://youtube.com/watch?v=_8BOnf_dRSo&feature=related part 2]