Posted on 06/23/2022 1:11:21 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Hugh McElhenny, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame who used his speed and elusiveness to rise to prominence as a halfback in the 1950s, died June 17 at age 93, the Hall of Fame announced Thursday.
McElhenny died of natural causes at his home in Nevada, the Hall of Fame said.
Known for his long strides and high-knee propulsion, McElhenny rushed for 5,281 yards and 38 touchdowns in a 13-year career that included stops with the Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants and Detroit Lions. But it was his nine-year run with the San Francisco 49ers that vaulted "Hurryin' Hugh" into football stardom.
Using a traditional T-formation, the 49ers employed the famed "Million Dollar Backfield," which featured fullback Joe Perry, quarterback Y.A. Tittle and halfback John Henry Johnson, along with McElhenny, a six-time Pro Bowl selection who had a career-high 916 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground in 1956.
"Hugh McElhenny was a threat in all phases of the game offensively -- rushing, pass receiving and as a kick and punt returner," Pro Football Hall of Fame president Jim Porter said. "His all-around talent -- obvious to pro football scouts when Hugh was still a teenager -- will be celebrated and preserved forever in Canton."
McElhenny's unique running style stood out in an era where most running backs used more deliberate, smashmouth approaches.
The No. 9 overall selection in the 1952 NFL draft by the 49ers out of Washington, McElhenny burst onto the professional scene, turning his first play from scrimmage into a 40-yard touchdown run. McElhenny, also known as "The King," quickly became a top target for Tittle out of the backfield, using his 6-foot-1, 195-pound frame to weave his way through defenses off screen passes.
McElhenny had 37 catches for 458 yards and two touchdowns in 1957, and he finished his career with 264 receptions for 3,247 yards and 20 scores.
"There's no question he could do everything," former 49ers teammate Billy Wilson told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer in 2004. "He could change direction on a dime. He had great cutting ability where other backs were just slashers."
McElhenny, a Los Angeles native, was a five-time first-team All-Pro selection and was named to the NFL's 1950s All-Decade Team. He was a first-team All-American in 1951 with the Huskies, and his No. 39 is retired by the 49ers.
Upon retirement following the 1964 season, McElhenny was one of only three players to have amassed more than 11,000 all-purpose yards (11,375). He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1970, and he is also a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
On his enshrinement day in Canton, a humbled and emotional McElhenny opened by acknowledging his teammates through the years, as well as his opponents.
"I want to pay tribute to the athletes that I played with for their second efforts which made my runs successful," McElhenny said, "and to my opponents for all the mistakes they made to make me look good."
McElhenny played in just two postseason NFL games -- one for the 49ers in 1957 and one for the Giants in 1963 -- rushing for 101 yards on 21 carries. He also caught eight passes for 116 yards and a touchdown.
Did he die “suddenly”?
On January 20, 1985, McElhenny participated in the opening coin toss at Super Bowl XIX at Stanford Stadium, along with U.S. President Ronald Reagan, who participated by video feed from the White House after having been sworn into his second term of office earlier that day.[27]
Well, he was 93 years old.
Must be the Vax.
??? took him 93 years!!
Waaay too young!.......................
If I make it to 93, I hope it’s sudden.
From back when professional football was played...
An excellent athlete and a fine man...
Too young to go...
R.I.P.
“Waaay too young!.......................”
At my stage of the game...late 3rd quarter...that’s no joke!
Helluva football team UP THERE and coached by Lombardi.
A great niner
That guy was good! His was one of my favorite football cards in 1956 — the classic raised-knee pivot with stiffarm. He could fly and was shifty.
RIP.
No, it took 93 years. Hardly considered to be suddenly. 🙂
Watched some highlights. That guy was amazing, like greased lightning.
I didn’t think sarcasm tag was warranted.
I was wrong🙄
But at least I thought my smiley face would indicate that I was being sarcastic back, because I knew you were being sarcastic. so, i guess I was wrong, not you, for I did understand you were being sarcastic, but you didn't catch that I was also being sarcastic.
Upon looking at other responses, which I hadn’t done until now, I see you may have been referring to others, more so than me. 🙂
I remember when the Philadelphia Eagles had a particularly horrible game back in the 60’s Pete Retloft refused to take his paycheck that week. Said he did not deserve it after that game, and apologized to the fans
The greats are leaving us.
I keep wondering when I'll hear about Bud Grant leaving us. He turned 95 last Month in May.
Bud was a head coach and played for both the NFL (Philadelphia Eagles), and Canadian Football league, was a member of the NBA World Champion Minneapolis Lakers in the "50s", head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, and won 4 Gray Cups as head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the (CFL) he coached for ten seasons, fifth most successful NFL coach with a total of 286 wins in the NFL and CFL. He resides in both the College Hall of Fame, the NFL and CFK hall of fame.
Telling ya, they don't make athletes like these guys no more.
You never seen these guys, who struggled to make a living complaining about life like these pampered multimillionaire athletes do today.
Played Baseball for the Minnesota Gophers, and in the off season he was a hired gun, because he was an ace pitcher. So he got paid to pitch for semi pro baseball teams to make extra money. But he wanted to bat more than pitch. Knocked a ball out of Comisky park one day.
Coached Winnipeg in CFL
Won the Grey cup 4 times
Playing both offense and defense at times, in 1952, he gained 203 Receiving Yards against the Dallas Texans 
Eagle Grant, was also a line backer in some games, here he tackles an Opponent
2 sport star, Pro Basketball and Football player 
Won NBA title ring with the Minneapolis Lakers, 
WON LADST NFL CHAMPIONSHIP 1969
AKA, Stoneface 
Avid hunter 
95 and still going strong
I do not think any athlete will ever equal or surpass the accomplishments of Bud Grant. His life should be immortalized on the big screen.
The only reason he never won the Super Bowl in 69, was because the Kansas City chiefs were given Gatorade, while the Vikings only drank Water. Mind you, a week earlier they defeated the Cleveland Brown in Minnesota in a brutal game. Then they went to New Orleans and the humidity and heat, after playing in near 0 temps a week earlier.
In the game the Kansas Chiefs ran all over the Vikings, because they had a new product to quench their thirst with that was loaded with electrolytes, and the Vikings were only allowed water. I want to see them try that today. Now, someone tell me that the Chiefs beat the Vikings fairly, they didn't. But the NFL, and the AFL needed to make the merger work for the money, and the Vikings were sacrificed for the good of the future.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.