Age: 22
2nd
season in pro football & with 49ers
College: LSU
Height: 6’0” Weight: 168
Prelude:
Cason was
part of the LSU team that went 9-1-1 in 1946 and appeared in the Cotton Bowl,
and was chosen by the 49ers in the third round of the 1948 AAFC draft (he was
also picked by the Chicago Cardinals in the seventh round of the corresponding
NFL draft). He gained 245 yards from scrimmage and scored three touchdowns as a
rookie on offense, averaged 14.0 yards on 22 punt returns and 21.2 yards
returning kickoffs, and intercepted five passes on defense.
1949 Season Summary
Appeared in all
12 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Interceptions
Interceptions
– 9 [1]
Int. return
yards – 152 [1]
Int. TDs – 0
Rushing
Attempts – 21
Yards – 70
Yards per
attempt – 3.3
TDs – 1
Pass
Receiving
Receptions – 5
Yards – 38
Yards per
catch – 7.6
TDs – 0
Kickoff
Returns
Returns – 11
[8, tied with Buddy Young]
Yards – 247 [9]
Average per
return – 22.5
TDs – 0
Punt Returns
Returns – 21
[2]
Yards – 351 [1]
Average per
return – 16.7 [3]
TDs – 0
Passing
Attempts – 2
Completions –
1
Yards – 38
TD passes – 1
Interceptions
– 0
Scoring
TDs – 1
Points – 6
Postseason: 2 G
Pass
receptions – 1
Pass
receiving yards – 30
Pass
receiving TDs – 0
Interceptions
– 2
Int. return
yards – 21
TDs – 0
Kickoff
returns – 1
Kickoff ret.
yards – 23
Kickoff ret.
TDs – 0
Punt returns
– 8
Punt ret.
yards – 108
Average per
return – 13.5
Punt ret. TDs
– 0
Longest
return – 10 yards
Awards & Honors:
1st
team All-NFL/AAFC: INS
49ers went 9-3
to finish second in the AAFC while leading the league in interceptions (32) and
fewest yards allowed (3313). Won AAFC First Round playoff over New York Yankees
(17-7). Lost AAFC Championship to Cleveland Browns (21-7).
Aftermath:
Cason moved
on to the NFL with the 49ers in 1950 and was chosen to the Pro Bowl in ’51
after intercepting eight passes, one of which he returned for a TD. The
versatile halfback also caught 30 passes for 374 yards in 1950. Cason spent the
1953 season in Canada with Saskatchewan but returned to the 49ers in ’54 and
was chosen to another Pro Bowl. He was traded to the Rams in 1955 and spent his
last two seasons with them, playing defensive halfback and intercepting nine
passes. Over the course of eight years with the 49ers and Rams, he accumulated
34 interceptions, two of which he returned for TDs, with 25 occurring with San
Francisco, 14 while in the AAFC. Cason also rushed for 351 yards and four TDs,
caught 40 passes for 519 yards and another four scores, returned 67 punts for a
14.1-yard average and 33 kickoffs for an average of 21.3 yards. He was chosen
to two Pro Bowls. Cason was an assistant coach for the Denver Broncos in their
inaugural 1960 season.
--
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
