June 29, 2016

Highlighted Year: Bob Cifers, 1946

Back/Punter, Detroit Lions


Age: 26
1st season in pro football
College: Tennessee
Height: 5’11” Weight: 200

Prelude:
With his great speed and jumping ability, Cifers excelled in track & field as well as football in college, where he was a single-wing tailback and also an excellent punter. He entered the military during World War II and played service football before joining the Lions, who had chosen him in the second round of the 1944 NFL draft.

1946 Season Summary
Appeared in all 11 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Punting
Punts – 30 [8]
Yards – 1369 [7]
Average – 45.6 [1]
Punts blocked – 0
Longest punt – 73 yards

Rushing
Attempts – 8
Yards – 18
Average gain – 2.3
TDs – 0

Pass Receiving
Receptions – 4
Yards – 178
Yards per catch – 44.5
TDs – 4 [6, tied with Jack Ferrante, Frank Liebel & Don Currivan]

Passing
Attempts – 6
Completions – 2
Yards – 24
TD passes – 0
Interceptions – 1

Punt Returns
Returns – 1
Yards – 3
TDs – 0

Scoring
TDs – 4 [19, tied with seven others]         
Points – 24

Lions went 1-10 to finish fifth in the NFL Western Division while ranking at the bottom of the league in fewest yards generated (2146).

Aftermath:
Cifers was traded to Pittsburgh as part of the deal for star tailback Bill Dudley. As a halfback on offense, he rushed for 356 yards in 1947 and 361 in ’48 and as a punter averaged 41.1 and 39.6 yards, respectively. He spent 1949 with Green Bay, his last season. Overall, Cifers rushed for 787 yards on 230 carries (3.4 avg.), caught 12 passes for 296 yards, and averaged 41.4 yards on 161 punts. His 61.75-yard average on four punts against the Bears in 1946 remains the NFL single-game record to date. His older brother Ed also played in the NFL with the Redskins and Bears.

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Highlighted Years features players who were 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