Two Way Players in the 1960's

[Sonny9]

Didn't want to hijack another thread

And he's split time at center. The 60-minute thing was also late in his career
He'd play center some games and LBer others ... or first half one, second half the other.
SO both ways but not all game ... George Connor was probably the guy who played both ways
next-most, then maybe Tank Younger.

But there were plenty of guys who did -- Gifford, Matson ... too many to name. Intesting era.

Dick James went both ways. In 1963 he intercepted 2 passes while having 105 carries and 15 receptions. Others?
1962 Rams Richter went to center when Art Hunter went down. Dunno if he went both ways during a game.

I wonder if Marlin McKeever went both ways in a game?

[JohnTurney]

Rams Richter went to center when Art Hunter went down. Dunno if he went both ways during a game.

Les Richter did play offense and defense in the same game in 1962, though not a "60 minute man"
Merlin Olsen also did in 1962, playing offensive line and defensive line. Also, more of an experiment than anything
and did not do it lot ...

Deacon Jones started game 1 of 1961 at left tackle, was bad, played some DE in the second half.

McKeever did in 1963, Colts at LA ... more or less as a need ... not by design. He was moved to TE that game
but Jack Pardee had been ill so he sat the 2nd half and McKeever moved to his position as a fill in.

Clendon Thomas played both ways in some games in 1960

Del Shofner played offense and defense in 1960, but it was a one-year thing -- and in the same ... He was defense in 1957 them moved to end

Lamar Lundy was in the 1950s but don't think he did in the 1960s at all

Rosey Brown of the Giants played on goalline defense in his career...

[JohnTurney]

Rams Richter went to center when Art Hunter went down. Dunno if he went both ways during a game.

Les Richter did play offense and defense in the same game in 1962, though not a "60-minute man"
Merlin Olsen also did in 1962, playing offensive line and defensive line. Also, more of an experiment than anything
and did not do it lot ... it is just what teams had to do with such small rosters

Deacon Jones started game 1 of 1961 at left tackle, was bad, and played some DE in the second half.

McKeever did in 1963, Colts at LA ... more or less as a need ... not by design. He was moved to TE that game
but Jack Pardee had been ill so he sat the 2nd half and McKeever moved to his position as a fill-in.

Clendon Thomas played both ways in some games in 1960. Ollie Matson played defense at least in game 11 vs Bal.

Del Shofner played offense and defense in 1960, but it was a one-year thing -- and in the same game sometimes ... As we know he was defense in 1957 them moved to end. Also, Lou Michaels played both LT and DE and DT in 1960 and at least one game played some offense and defense

Lamar Lundy was in the 1950s but don't think he did in the 1960s at all

Rosey Brown of the Giants played on goalline defense in his career...

[Bryan]

Billy Stacy of the Cards would play DB and sometimes play WR in 1961, being very effective in both roles.

[GameBeforeTheMoney]

Night Train Lane! Holds the Cardinals all-time longest TD reception record.

Also, Bill Butler (Packers, Cowboys, Steelers, Vikings) played both DB and HB in the 60s.

[JohnTurney]

Harlon Hill was moved to defense for a year. Several others Abe Woodson. Johnnny Robinson, Mel Renfro so they ended up
playing both ... but them and others you wonder the reason why... injuries to the other side of the ball? Giving something a try?

I don't see a lot of evidence other than a couple of the names mentioned that there was a plan to play both like
there was when Cowboys used Sanders on offense ... Coach says, "Hey we gotta uses such and such, our starting RB
on defense ... we'll get him 6-7 carriers and throw to him a couple of times ... and keep in as our CB" -- you know using
them on both sides of ball as part of the game plan.

or vice versa -- the whole idea seemed to dissipate from quite a few guys in the 1950s to not that many in the 1960s. Roster expansion would
be one reason. But also, it seems it fell out of favor in the pros. College -- it was everywhere...