By Darin ELROY (CRAZYLEGS) HIRSCH
Elroy “Crazylegs” Hirsch revolutionized the wide receiver position by turning simple passing plays into explosive touchdowns. With his iconic, wobbly running style and unmatched deep-threat speed, Hirsch scorched opposing defenses and shattered the NFL record books. Discover the story of the four-sport college phenom who transformed from a frustrated backfield runner into a Hall of Fame pass-catching pioneer.
Football Bio
June 17, 1923 – Wausau, Wisconsin – Elroy Hirsch, the famous Wisconsin and later Michigan halfback, was born. Known as “Crazylegs”, Hirsch was given the name for his unique running style.
The National Football Foundation says Hirsch was quoted once as saying, “I must have looked pretty funny,” remembering how a Chicago sportswriter had christened him “Crazy Legs” after his 62-yard touchdown run that helped Wisconsin knock off a tough Great Lakes Naval Training Center team in 1942. “I’ve always run kind of funny because my left foot points out to the side and I seem to wobble,” Hirsch explained.
Hirsch played halfback for Wisconsin in 1942, and the team had an 8-1-1 record. During World War II, he was a Marine trainee at Michigan in 1943, and his team went 8-1. Hirsch lettered at Michigan in football, baseball, basketball and track and was the first four-sport letterman in the school’s history!
Crazy Legs then was with the El Toro Marine team in 1945. He was named most valuable player in the 1946 All-Star Game, scoring two touchdowns in the Collegians’ 16-0 victory over the NFL Champion Los Angeles Rams. Out of college, Elroy joined the Chicago Rockets of the new All-America Football Conference (AAFC) in 1946. Hirsch described his three seasons in Chicago as “frightful,” per the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s bio on him.
Hirsch in 1949 felt the now-Chicago Hornets had breached a bonus obligation under his contract and demanded his release to pursue opportunities in the NFL. They soon obliged his wishes with a release per a story on the DowntonRams.com site. Happy that his AAFC contract expired, Hirsch joined the Rams. After a year spent mostly on the bench in 1949, Elroy was shifted to end.
Because it was an unfamiliar position for him at the end slot, he initially struggled. The Rams had some talent, so they were trying to couple Hirsch with. But a year later, things started to click. In a big game in the midst of the 1951 season, the Rams found themselves down by two scores to the Chicago Bears. That’s when future HOF quarterback Bob Waterfield faked a handoff, stepped back a few paces, and threw far downfield.
Elroy Hirsch took off at the snap and was running an all-out full-speed sprint down the field. Waterfield’s pass was over his head, but Elroy tracked down the ball, secured it with his fingertips, and kept on trucking for a 91-yard touchdown. The Rams went on to an important 42-17 victory. It was a patented “Elroy Hirsch special,” a sizzling shocker that was repeated 17 times that year.
That season Crazy Legs set an NFL record with 1495 receiving yards. For his career, he had 387 receptions for 7029 yards and 60 scores. Elroy Hirsch was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968, and he also has claimed a spot of honor in the College Football Hall of Fame since 1974.
Elroy Hirsch leaves behind an unforgettable legacy that bridges the gap between old-school grit and modern aerial dominance. By shattering receiving records and securing dual inductions into the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame, he forever cements his place among gridiron royalty. Hirsch reminds football fans everywhere that sometimes the most unconventional stride leads to the greatest destination.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- Pro Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1968.
- College Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1974.
- NFL Champion: 1951.
- All-Pro Selections: 2× First-Team All-Pro in 1951 and 1953.
- Pro Bowl Selections: 3× Pro Bowl from 1951 to 1953.
- NFL All-Decade Team: Selected to the NFL 1950s All-Decade Team.
- NFL Anniversary Teams: Selected to both the NFL 50th and 100th Anniversary All-Time Teams.
- College Accolades: First-Team All-Big Ten in 1942.
- NFL Record Setter: Set a then-NFL record with 1,495 receiving yards and 17 receiving touchdowns during the 1951 season.
- Career Offensive Statistics: Recorded 387 receptions, 7,029 receiving yards, and 60 receiving touchdowns during his career.
- Wisconsin Number Retired: The Wisconsin Badgers retired his No. 40 jersey