By Darin Bob Reifsnyder shatters expectations as a dominant tackle for the Navy Midshipmen, making history as the first interior lineman to win the prestigious Maxwell Award.
Football Bio
June 18, 1937 – Brooklyn, New York – Bob Reifsnyder, Navy’s tackle from 1956 to 1958, was born.
The FootballFoundation.org website states that in 1957 Reifsnyder was named All-America and won the Maxwell Trophy, given to the nation’s best player.
This was the first time the Maxwell Award was given to a guard or tackle.
Bob Reifsnyder received the great honor of being selected for inclusion into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1997.
Bob Reifsnyder anchors the Navy trenches during one of the most successful eras in program history. By capturing the Maxwell Award as an interior lineman, he proves that exceptional, gritty line play dictates the overall outcome of the game. Today, his legacy shines brightly within the College Football Hall of Fame and from the rafters of Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, where the program permanently retired his jersey number to honor his impact.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- College Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1997.
- Maxwell Award Winner: 1957 (The first guard or tackle to win the award).
- First-Team All-American: 1957.
- Number Retired: The United States Naval Academy retired his #58 jersey in 2024.
- Cotton Bowl Champion: Helped lead Navy to an 8-1-1 record and a Cotton Bowl victory over Rice in 1957.
- NFL Draft: Selected in the 4th round (45th overall) of the 1959 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams.
- Professional Career: Played defensive end for the New York Titans in the American Football League (AFL) from 1960 to 1961.
- Coaching Legacy: Compiled a stellar 104-39-3 record as the head football coach at Berner High School in New York.