- Ed Beard (football player)
NFL player
ImageWidth = 150px
Name=Ed Beard
DateOfBirth=birth date and age|1939|12|9
Birthplace=Chesapeake, Virginia
DateofDeath=
Position=LB
number=50
College=Tennessee
DraftedYear=1964
DraftedRound=14 / Pick 183
DatabaseFootball=BEARDED01
PFR=
ProBowls=
years=1965-1972
teams=San Francisco 49ers Edward Leroy Beard (born
December 9 ,1939 in Chesapeake,Virginia ) [cite book |last=Shampoe |first=Clay |authorlink=Clay Shampoe |title=The Virginia Sports Hall Of Fame: Honoring Champions Of The Commonwealth |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |date=2005 |pages=50 |isbn=0738517763] is a former professional American football player.Education
A 1959 graduate of
Oscar F. Smith High School in Norfolk , Virginia, Beard was an All-American and also a wrestler. Beard played two years ofcollege football at Tennessee before joining the Army, where he was selected Outstanding Player on the Army football team.National Football League
Drafted by the
San Francisco 49ers in 1964, [Citation |last= |first= |title=NFL Draft History:Full Draft - Alphabetical Order |url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/fulldraft?abbr=B&abbr
|accessdate=2007-10-15] Beard was aspecial teams captain andmiddle linebacker ; during his eight years with the team, San Francisco won theNFC West three years in a row. Beard won theLen Eshmont award in 1971 and was the first special teams captain in NFL history. After his career was cut short by injuries, Beard served as linebackers coach for the 49ers andNew Orleans Saints , and later becamedefensive coordinator for theDetroit Lions .After the NFL
In 1996 the football field at Oscar Smith was re-named Beard-DeLong-Easley Field in honor of Beard and fellow alumni
Steve DeLong andKenny Easley . [Citation |last=Robinson |first=Tom |title= ``NEW" OSCAR SMITH HIGH DEDICATES FIELD TO OLD HEROES |url=http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1996/vp960907/09070445.htm |accessdate=2007-10-15] In 2002 Beard was inducted into theVirginia Sports Hall of Fame . He was honored along with other former 49ers onNovember 5 ,2006 at an Alumni Day. [Citation |last= |first= |title=NFL: 49ers Honor 60 Years with Alumni Day |url=http://www.noticias.info/asp/aspComunicados.asp?nid=234893 |accessdate=2007-10-15] After leaving football, Beard entered the contracting business. [Citation |last= |first= |title= BEACH BARBECUE, CONCERT TO BENEFIT WILDFOWL CENTER |url=http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1996/vp960630/06280201.htm |accessdate=2007-10-15]References
External links
* [http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=BEARDED01 Ed Beard's career stats]
* [http://www.virginiasportshalloffame.com/hall/induct_beard.html Ed Beard at the VSHOF]
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