Cullen Bryant
Encyclopedia
William Cullen Bryant was a professional American football
player who spent thirteen seasons in the National Football League (NFL)
as a running back
and return specialist for the Los Angeles Rams
and Seattle Seahawks
. He played college football
at Colorado
.
, named him after the poet William Cullen Bryant
. He graduated
as part of the first class to spend all four years at William (Billy) Mitchell High School
in Colorado Springs, Colorado
in 1969.
A three-year letterman (1970–1972) who played for Eddie Crowder
at the University of Colorado
, Bryant, who wore uniform number 16, starred at defensive back
. During his junior and senior years, the Buffaloes were nationally ranked in the Associated Press (AP) Poll
, finishing 3rd and 16th in 1971 and 1972 respectively. He played in the Senior Bowl
and College All-Star Game
in 1973.
. He was the primary return specialist in his first four years with the team, working exclusively on kickoffs as a rookie
. He scored his first NFL touchdown
on September 30, 1973 when he returned a first-quarter kickoff 93 yard
s in a 40–20 victory over the 49ers
in San Francisco.
Bryant's one-yard touchdown run in the first quarter gave the Rams an early 7–3 lead in its 31–19 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers
in Super Bowl XIV
. He ended the game with 6 carries for 30 yards.
, Bryant went to court in 1975 to challenge his transfer to the Detroit Lions
under the Pete Rozelle Rule. This came after Rozelle ordered Bryant off the Rams and sent to Detroit as compensation for the Rams signing free agent wide receiver Ron Jessie
. After the Judge appeared sympathetic to Bryant's case, the NFL backed off and the Rozelle Rule was subsequently modified.
at the University of Memphis
from 1990 through 1993. Bryant died of natural causes
on October 13, 2009 at his home in Colorado Springs.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player who spent thirteen seasons in the National Football League (NFL)
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
as a running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
and return specialist for the Los Angeles Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
and Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Colorado
Colorado Buffaloes football
The Colorado Buffaloes football program represents the University of Colorado at Boulder in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The team is currently a member of the Pacific-12 Conference, having previously been a charter member of the Big 12 Conference. Before joining the Big 12,...
.
Early life
Bryant was born in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, his father, who was a fan of poetryPoetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
, named him after the poet William Cullen Bryant
William Cullen Bryant
William Cullen Bryant was an American romantic poet, journalist, and long-time editor of the New York Evening Post.-Youth and education:...
. He graduated
Graduation
Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day. The graduation itself is also...
as part of the first class to spend all four years at William (Billy) Mitchell High School
William (Billy) Mitchell High School (Colorado Springs)
William Mitchell High School is the third-oldest high school in District 11 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, built in 1965 and named for aviation pioneer Billy Mitchell.Mitchell High School is the only school in the district to feature a planetarium....
in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...
in 1969.
A three-year letterman (1970–1972) who played for Eddie Crowder
Eddie Crowder
Eddie Crowder was an American football player and coach. He was an All-American quarterback and safety at the University of Oklahoma in the early 1950s and a successful head coach and athletic director at the University of Colorado in the 1960s and 1970s.He is quoted as saying "Life is boring...
at the University of Colorado
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
, Bryant, who wore uniform number 16, starred at defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
. During his junior and senior years, the Buffaloes were nationally ranked in the Associated Press (AP) Poll
AP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
, finishing 3rd and 16th in 1971 and 1972 respectively. He played in the Senior Bowl
Senior Bowl
The Senior Bowl is a post-season college football exhibition game played in Mobile, Alabama which showcases the best NFL Draft prospects of those collegiate players who have completed their eligibility. First played in 1950 in Jacksonville, Florida, the game moved to Mobile's Ladd Peebles Stadium...
and College All-Star Game
College All-Star Game
The Chicago Charities College All-Star Game was a preseason American football game played annually from 1934 to 1976 between the National Football League champions and a team of star college seniors from the previous year...
in 1973.
Professional career
He was selected by the Rams in the second round (31st overall) of the 1973 NFL Draft1973 NFL Draft
The 1973 National Football League Draft was held on January 30–31, 1973.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
. He was the primary return specialist in his first four years with the team, working exclusively on kickoffs as a rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
. He scored his first NFL touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
on September 30, 1973 when he returned a first-quarter kickoff 93 yard
Yard
A yard is a unit of length in several different systems including English units, Imperial units and United States customary units. It is equal to 3 feet or 36 inches...
s in a 40–20 victory over the 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
in San Francisco.
Bryant's one-yard touchdown run in the first quarter gave the Rams an early 7–3 lead in its 31–19 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
in Super Bowl XIV
Super Bowl XIV
Super Bowl XIV was an American football game played on January 20, 1980 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1979 regular season...
. He ended the game with 6 carries for 30 yards.
Rozelle Rule challenge
At the behest of Rams owner Carroll RosenbloomCarroll Rosenbloom
Carroll Rosenbloom was an American entrepreneur and former owner of two professional football teams, the Baltimore Colts and the Los Angeles Rams....
, Bryant went to court in 1975 to challenge his transfer to the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
under the Pete Rozelle Rule. This came after Rozelle ordered Bryant off the Rams and sent to Detroit as compensation for the Rams signing free agent wide receiver Ron Jessie
Ron Jessie
Ron Ray Jessie was a professional American football wide receiver in the National Football League from 1971 through 1981. His best season came in 1976 with the Los Angeles Rams, when he was named to the Pro Bowl. Jessie died after suffering a heart attack in his Huntington Beach home.-External...
. After the Judge appeared sympathetic to Bryant's case, the NFL backed off and the Rozelle Rule was subsequently modified.
Later years
He served as running backs coach under Chuck StobartChuck Stobart
-External links:...
at the University of Memphis
University of Memphis
The University of Memphis is an American public research university located in the Normal Station neighborhood of Memphis, Tennessee and is the flagship public research university of the Tennessee Board of Regents system....
from 1990 through 1993. Bryant died of natural causes
Death by natural causes
A death by natural causes, as recorded by coroners and on death certificates and associated documents, is one that is primarily attributed to natural agents: usually an illness or an internal malfunction of the body. For example, a person dying from complications from influenza or a heart attack ...
on October 13, 2009 at his home in Colorado Springs.