October 17, 2016

Highlighted Year: Larry Garron, 1963

Fullback, Boston Patriots


Age: 26
4th season in pro football & with Patriots
College: Western Illinois
Height: 6’0”   Weight: 215

Prelude:
Garron played at Western Illinois and followed his college coach, Lou Saban, to the Patriots of the new AFL in 1960. He appeared in only four games as a rookie and, suffering from tonsillitis, was cut. Garron returned in ’61 with added weight and split time at fullback with Billy Lott, rushing for 389 yards. His 5.6 yards-per-attempt included a team-record 85-yard run and he also caught 24 passes for 341 yards (14.2 avg.), averaged 27.4 yards on 16 kickoff returns, and scored a total of six touchdowns. Garron was a second-team All-AFL choice by the league and was selected for the AFL All-Star Game. Slowed by injuries in 1962, Garron still gained 1314 all-purpose yards, averaging 5.9 yards while rushing for 392 yards and 28.6 yards on 24 kickoff returns that included a TD.

1963 Season Summary
Appeared in all 14 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing
Attempts – 175 [5]
Most attempts, game – 23 (for 91 yds.) vs. San Diego 11/10
Yards – 750 [5]
Most yards, game – 107 yards (on 17 carries) at Houston 12/8
Average gain – 4.3 [4]
TDs – 2 [19, tied with five others]
100-yard rushing games – 1

Pass Receiving
Receptions – 26      
Most receptions, game – 5 (for 45 yds.) at San Diego 9/14
Yards – 418
Most yards, game – 92 (on 2 catches) vs. Houston 11/1
Average gain – 16.1 [10]
TDs – 2

Passing
Attempts – 1
Completions – 0
Interceptions – 0

Kickoff Returns
Returns – 28 [4]
Yards – 693 [4]
Most yards, game – 131 (on 3 ret.) vs. Denver 10/18
Average per return – 24.8 [5]
TDs – 0
Longest return – 58 yards

Punt Returns
Returns – 1
Yards – 23
TDs – 0

All-Purpose yards – 1884 [1]

Scoring
TDs – 4
Points – 24

Postseason: 2 G
Rushing attempts – 22
Most rushing attempts, game – 19 at Buffalo, Eastern Division playoff
Rushing yards – 59
Most rushing yards, game – 44 at Buffalo, Eastern Division playoff
Average gain rushing – 2.7
Rushing TDs – 1

Pass receptions – 6
Most pass receptions, game – 4 at Buffalo, Eastern Division playoff
Pass receiving yards – 126
Most pass receiving yards, game – 120 at Buffalo, Eastern Division playoff
Average yards per reception – 21.0
Pass Receiving TDs – 2

Kickoff returns – 2  
Kickoff return yards – 32
Average per return – 16.0
TDs – 0
Longest return – 17 yards

Awards & Honors:
AFL All-Star Game

Patriots went 7-6-1 to tie for first in the AFL Eastern Division. Won Divisional playoff over Buffalo Bills (26-8). Lost AFL Championship to San Diego Chargers (51-10).

Aftermath:
Garron was an AFL All-Star again in 1964, although showing signs of wear. He rushed for 585 yards but averaged only 3.2 yards on a career-high 183 carries with two TDs; he also caught 40 passes for another 350 yards and seven touchdowns. Garron was shifted to halfback and became more productive as a pass receiver, especially with FB Jim Nance emerging as the primary runner. He played until 1968, a total of nine seasons (all with the Patriots), and rushed for 2981 yards on 759 carries (3.9 avg.) with 14 touchdowns and caught 185 passes for 2502 yards (13.5 avg.) and 26 TDs. He averaged 25.8 yards on 89 kickoff returns that included two more touchdowns, giving him 42 TDs in all. Garron was selected to four AFL All-Star Games.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders (NFC/AFC since 1970) 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