R.I.P John David Crow

John David Crow, who won the Heisman Trophy in 1957 while playing college football at Texas A & M, died in College Station, Texas on Jume 17th at age 79. Crow was a running back at A & M, but also played defense.

Crow played for coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, just prior to Bryant’s departure for Alabama. Bryant coached 25 years at Alabama and won six national titles, but Crow was his only Heisman Trophy winner.

After college, Crow had a solid pro football career, beginning in 1958 with the then Chicago and later St. Louis Cardinals through the 1964 season. He finished his career with the San Francisco 48ers playing with them from 1965 through 1968.

Crow’s best pro season came in 1960, when he rushed for 1071 yards and six touchdowns with a league leading 5.9 yards per carry. He also had 462 receiving yards and three touchdown catches. He rushed for 14 touchdowns in 1962, and added three on passes.

After his pro career ended, Crow turned to coaching, including a stint as the offensive backfield coach for Bryant at Alabama. He was an assistant in both the college and pro ranks, and was head coach at Northeast Louisiana from 1976-80. He returned to Texas A & M, first as assistant athletic director, and from 1988-1993 as the athletic director.