Defensive
Halfback, Chicago Bears
Age: 23
College: Illinois
Height: 6’1” Weight: 190
Prelude:
Caroline led
the nation in rushing with 1256 yards as a sophomore at Illinois, but was
declared academically ineligible the next year. He spent 1955 playing for Toronto
and Montreal in Canada, where he rushed for 575 yards in 10 games. Eligible for
the NFL draft in 1956, he was taken by the Bears in the 7th round and was used
on defense until injuries depleted the backfield later in his rookie season.
1956 Season Summary
Appeared in
all 12 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Interceptions
– 6 [9, tied with Jack Butler, Dicky Moegle & Emlen Tunnell]
Int. return
yards – 182 [4, tied with Yale Lary]
Int. TDs – 2 [1]
Fumble
recoveries – 1
Rushing
Attempts – 34
Yards – 141
Average gain
– 4.1
TDs – 2
Punt Returns
Returns – 2
Yards – 29
Average per
return – 14.5
TDs – 0
Longest
return – 16 yards
Kickoff
Returns
Returns – 2
Yards – 32
Average per
return – 16.0
TDs – 0
Longest
return – 18 yards
Scoring
TDs – 4
Points – 24
Postseason: 1 G (NFL Championship at New York
Giants)
Interceptions
– 0
Fumble
recoveries – 0
Kickoff
returns – 1
Kickoff ret.
yds. – 14
Kickoff ret.
TDs – 0
Awards &
Honors:
NFL Rookie of
the Year: Sporting News
1st
team All-NFL: NY Daily News
Pro Bowl
Bears went 9-2-1
to finish first in the Western Conference. Lost NFL Championship to New York
Giants (47-7).
Aftermath:
Caroline
continued to be a versatile performer with the Bears over the course of a
10-season career that ended in 1965. He saw action on offense and as a kick
returner in 1957 and ’58 but was most effective on defense where he was used at
both cornerback and safety. Caroline intercepted a total of 24 passes and
scored six touchdowns, three of them on offense.
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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie
of the Year in the NFL (including NFC/AFC), AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by
a recognized organization (Associated Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper
Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, or the
league itself – Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year).
