Ed Beard (football player)
Encyclopedia
Edward Leroy Beard is a former professional American
football
player.
in South Norfolk
,Virginia, Beard was an All-American and also State Heavyweight
Wrestling Champion in 1957 when his high school, Oscar F. Smith, did not have a wrestling team;
the only time this has ever been accomplished. wrestler
. In 1960 Beard completed his post-graduate year at the Staunton Military Academy
, where he was a standout football player. Beard played two years of college football
at Tennessee
before joining the Army
, where he was selected Outstanding Player on the Army football team
.
in 1964
, Beard was a special teams captain
and middle linebacker; during his eight years with the team, San Francisco won the NFC West
three years in a row. Beard won the Len 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 and New Orleans Saints
, and later became defensive coordinator
for the Detroit Lions
.
at Oscar Smith was re-named Beard-DeLong-Easley Field in honor of Beard and fellow alumni Steve DeLong
and Kenny Easley
. In 2002 Beard was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame
. He was honored along with other former 49ers on November 5, 2006 at an Alumni Day. After leaving football, Beard entered the contracting business
and helped promote country music in the greater Hampton Roads area. On October 23, 2011 Beard was riding his bicycle in the north section of Chesapeake, Virginia
and saw a person beating beaten by about 15-20 teenagers. He stopped to help the victim but was attacked by the group of youths and suffered a concussion, cuts, and bruises. Beard stated he would continue working with youth groups, something he had done for several years.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
football
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.
Education
A 1959 graduate of Oscar F. Smith High SchoolOscar F. Smith High School
Oscar Frommel Smith High School was originally built in South Norfolk, Virginia, to replace the aging South Norfolk High School in 1954. In 1994, a new school was constructed in the Greenbrier/Great Bridge area of Chesapeake, Virginia, and has a current enrollment of over 2,100 students...
in South Norfolk
South Norfolk, Virginia
South Norfolk was an independent city in the South Hampton Roads region of eastern Virginia and is now a section of the City of Chesapeake, one of the cities of Hampton Roads which surround the harbor of Hampton Roads and are linked by the Hampton Roads Beltway.-History:Located a few miles south of...
,Virginia, Beard was an All-American and also State Heavyweight
Wrestling Champion in 1957 when his high school, Oscar F. Smith, did not have a wrestling team;
the only time this has ever been accomplished. wrestler
Greco-Roman wrestling
Greco-Roman wrestling is a style of wrestling that is practised worldwide. It was contested at the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and has been included in every edition of the summer Olympics held since 1908. Two wrestlers are scored for their performance in three two-minute periods, which can...
. In 1960 Beard completed his post-graduate year at the Staunton Military Academy
Staunton Military Academy
Staunton Military Academy was an all-male military academy located in Staunton, Virginia for much of its 116-year history. The school closed in 1976. Many notable American political and military leaders are graduates...
, where he was a standout football player. Beard played two years of 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 Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
before joining the Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, where he was selected Outstanding Player on the Army football team
Army Black Knights football
The Army Black Knights football program represents the United States Military Academy. Army was recognized as the national champions in 1944, 1945 and 1946....
.
National Football League
Drafted by the San Francisco 49ersSan 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 1964
1964 NFL season
The 1964 NFL season was the 45th regular season of the National Football League. Before the season started, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle reinstated Green Bay Packers running back Paul Hornung and Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alex Karras, who had been suspended for the 1963 season due to...
, Beard was a special teams captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
and middle linebacker; during his eight years with the team, San Francisco won the NFC West
NFC West
The NFC West is a division of the National Football League's National Football Conference. It currently has four members: Arizona Cardinals, St...
three years in a row. Beard won the Len Eshmont
Len Eshmont
Leonard Charles Eshmont was an American football running back and defensive back for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. He was drafted out of Fordham University by the New York Giants in the 1941 NFL Draft.He served as an assistant football coach at Virginia.Eshmont died in...
award in 1971
1971 NFL season
The 1971 NFL season was the 52nd regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl VI when the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Miami Dolphins...
and was the first special teams captain in 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...
history. After his career was cut short by injuries, Beard served as linebackers coach
Linebackers coach
A linebackers coach is a position coach in charge of the linebackers in gridiron football. This role is common in the CFL, NFL, and college football programs. The linebackers coach serves the defense, which is led by the defensive coordinator and works with the players of the three linebacker...
for the 49ers and New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
, and later became defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
for 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...
.
After the NFL
In 1996 the football fieldPlaying field
A playing field is a field used for playing sports or games. They are generally outdoors, but many large structures exist to enclose playing fields from bad weather. Generally, playing fields are wide expanses of grass, dirt or sand without many obstructions...
at Oscar Smith was re-named Beard-DeLong-Easley Field in honor of Beard and fellow alumni Steve DeLong
Steve DeLong
Steven Cyril DeLong was an American football defensive lineman who played professionally in the American Football League and the National Football League . He played collegiately for the University of Tennessee, and professionally for the San Diego Chargers and Chicago Bears...
and Kenny Easley
Kenny Easley
Kenny Mason Easley Jr. is a former American football strong safety who played seven seasons for the Seattle Seahawks from 1981 to 1987 in the National Football League...
. In 2002 Beard was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame
Virginia Sports Hall of Fame
The Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum is a sports hall of fame located in Portsmouth, Virginia. Founded in 1972, it moved to its current location in 2005...
. He was honored along with other former 49ers on November 5, 2006 at an Alumni Day. After leaving football, Beard entered the contracting business
Landscape contracting
Landscape Contracting is: "a profession that involves the art and technology of landscape and garden project planning, construction and landscape management, and maintenance and gardening; for garden aesthetics, human enjoyment and safety, and ecosystem-plant community sustainability...
and helped promote country music in the greater Hampton Roads area. On October 23, 2011 Beard was riding his bicycle in the north section of Chesapeake, Virginia
Chesapeake, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 199,184 people, 69,900 households, and 54,172 families residing in the city. The population density was 584.6 people per square mile . There were 72,672 housing units at an average density of 213.3 per square mile...
and saw a person beating beaten by about 15-20 teenagers. He stopped to help the victim but was attacked by the group of youths and suffered a concussion, cuts, and bruises. Beard stated he would continue working with youth groups, something he had done for several years.