Donn Moomaw: UCLA Two-Way Player

Donn Moomaw terrorized opposing offenses as a dominant UCLA linebacker before trading the gridiron for the pulpit to serve his community as a Presbyterian minister.

Football Bio

October 15, 1931 – Donn Moomaw, a former center and linebacker from UCLA. was born.

After his football career, Moomaw became a Presbyterian Minister.

Early in his UCLA football career, he terrorized opposing quarterbacks by coveting the ball they possessed, intercepting 11 passes in his career.

He also sought out and tackled opposing ball carriers in their tracks with his low-hitting signature tackles.

In 1952, he was the Associated Press Lineman of the Year, leading the Bruins to an 8-1 record.

After College, he played in the CFL and had a great career there. Donn Moomaw was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1973 [National Football Foundation]

Moomaw left an indelible mark on college football history, combining fierce athleticism on the field with a lifelong commitment to faith and public service off it.

Accolades and Football Accomplishments

• His jersey number (50) was retired by the UCLA Bruins.
• Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1973.
• Consensus First-Team All-American in 1952.
• Named the Associated Press Lineman of the Year in 1952.
• First-Team All-American in 1950.
• Drafted in the 1st round (11th overall) of the 1953 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams, though he opted to play in the CFL instead.
• Played in the Canadian Football League for the Toronto Argonauts (1953) and the Ottawa Rough Riders (1955).
• Inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame as a charter member in 1984.

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