May 22, 2016

Highlighted Year: Chet Mutryn, 1947

Halfback, Buffalo Bills



Age: 26
2nd season in pro football & with Bisons/Bills
College: Xavier (OH)
Height: 5’9”   Weight: 180

Prelude:
Mutryn, who played basketball and baseball as well as football in college, was a two-time Little All-American. Proficient on defense and as a kicker in addition to starring at tailback, he set school records with 12 touchdowns and 96 points scored in 1942. He was chosen by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 20th round of the ’43 NFL draft but, following service in the US Navy during World War II, he signed with the Cleveland Browns of the new AAFC in 1946. Mutryn was dealt to the Buffalo Bisons prior to the season where he was reunited with Clem Crowe, his coach at Xavier who was now an assistant with Buffalo. In his first AAFC season, Mutryn rushed for 289 yards, averaging 5.1 yards-per-carry, and caught seven passes for 168 yards and three touchdowns. His role increased with the re-named Bills in 1947.

1947 Season Summary
Appeared in all 14 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing
Attempts – 140 [7]
Yards – 868 [4]
Yards per attempt – 6.2 [2]
TDs – 9 [2, tied with Mickey Colmer]

Pass Receiving
Receptions – 10
Yards – 176
Yards per catch – 17.6
TDs – 2 [16, tied with fourteen others]

Interceptions
Interceptions – 1
Return yards – 11
TDs – 0

Kickoff Returns
Returns – 21 [2, tied with Monk Gafford]
Yards – 691 [1]
Average per return – 32.9 [1]
TDs – 1 [1, tied with five others]
Longest return – 87 yards

Punt Returns
Returns – 13 [4, tied with Billy Hillenbrand]
Yards – 187 [4]
Average per return – 14.4
TDs – 0

All-Purpose yards – 1933 [2]

Kicking
PATs – 1 [11, tied with five others]
PAT attempts – 2 [11, tied with Chet Adams & Frankie Albert]

Scoring
PATs – 1
TDs – 12 [2]  
Points – 73 [3]

Awards & Honors:
1st team All-AAFC: League, NY Daily News

Bills went 8-4-2 to finish second in the AAFC Eastern Division.

Aftermath:
Mutryn followed up with strong all-around seasons in 1948 and ’49. He rushed for 823 yards and a league-leading 10 TDs in ’48 while catching 39 passes for 794 yards (20.4 avg.) and again led the AAFC by averaging 26.3 yards returning kickoffs. He topped the circuit with 2288 all-purpose yards and 96 points on his 16 touchdowns. Mutryn again led the league in all-purpose yards with 1330 in 1949, which included 696 rushing yards and 333 on pass receptions. With the demise of the AAFC, he joined the Baltimore Colts, who transferred to the NFL, and gained 1187 total yards, primarily with 355 rushing yards and 379 on 36 catches in 1950, after which he retired. Overall, Mutryn gained 3031 yards on 583 rushing attempts (5.2 avg.), 1850 on 121 pass receptions, averaged 26.1 yards on 73 kickoff returns, and 13.1 yards returning 41 punts. He accumulated 7320 all-purpose yards and 42 touchdowns. Of those totals, 2676 rushing yards on 475 attempts, 1471 yards on 85 pass receptions, a 27.7-yard kickoff return average and 14.1 punt return average resulting in 6133 total yards and 38 TDs came in the AAFC with Buffalo. He received first-team All-AAFC honors three times.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose: Total Yards
Defense: Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff Returns: Average
Punt Returns: Average
Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970