Charley Trippi, Versatile Football Hall of Famer, Dies at 100

He retired after the 1955 N.F.L. season, having played at halfback, quarterback and then mostly at defensive back late in his career. He ran for 23 career touchdowns, passed for 16, caught 11 touchdown passes and scored twice on punt returns and once on an interception.

Trippi was later an assistant coach with Georgia and the Cardinals, in Chicago and in St. Louis, their first stop before moving to Arizona. He had lucrative investments in commercial real estate in Athens after leaving football full time.

His first wife, Virginia (Davis) Trippi, died in 1971. Trippi is survived by his second wife, Peggy (McNiven) Trippi; his son, Charles Jr., and his daughter Brenda Fleeman, both from his first marriage; three stepchildren, Rob Bell, Kim Gunnin and Terry Bell; 15 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. Another daughter from his first marriage, Joann Trippi Johns, died in 2019.

Long after Trippi’s exploits at Georgia, the football program held an annual Charley Trippi Day before the intrasquad spring game, and the Bulldogs present an annual Trippi Award to their most versatile player.

Jim Thorpe, considered one of America’s greatest all-around athletes, called Trippi “the greatest football player I’ve ever seen.”

“Trippi is an excellent runner, punter and passer,” Thorpe told The Associated Press in 1949. “He blocks well and is a sure tackler. Guess that covers the field.”

Alex Traub contributed reporting.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/19/sports/ncaafootball/charley-trippi-dead.html