February 16, 2016

Highlighted Year: Bill Kellagher, 1947

Fullback/Defensive Back, Chicago Rockets



Age: 27
2nd season in pro football & with Rockets
College: Fordham
Height: 5’11” Weight: 205

Prelude:
Kellagher was a member of the Fordham team that appeared in the 1941 Cotton Bowl. Following service as a Marine during World War II, he joined the Rockets of the new AAFC in 1946. As a fullback on offense, he rushed for 178 yards and three touchdowns and caught two passes.

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

Rushing
Attempts – 42
Yards – 243 [20]
Yards per attempt – 5.8
TDs – 0

Pass Receiving
Receptions – 3
Yards – 22
Yards per catch – 7.3
TDs – 0

Interceptions
Interceptions – 6 [1, tied with Tom Colella & Len Eshmont]
Return yards – 77 [7]
TDs – 0

Rockets went 1-13 to finish fourth in the AAFC Western Division.

Aftermath:
Kellagher played one more season for the Rockets, gaining 97 yards on 33 carries and scoring a TD, and had no interceptions on defense. He moved to the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1949 but was a late preseason cut and spent his final season with the Bethlehem Bulldogs of the minor league AFL, rushing for 158 yards. For his three years in the AAFC, Kellagher gained 518 yards on 124 rushing attempts (4.2 avg.) and caught five passes for 58 yards, scoring four touchdowns. His six interceptions in 1947 were also his AAFC career total.

--

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

No comments:

Post a Comment