Leroy Kelly

May 20, 1942, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Leroy Kelly rose from a multi-sport athlete at Morgan State University to become a dominant running back for the Cleveland Browns and a Pro Football Hall of Famer.  

College Career:

Kelly attended Morgan State University from 1960 to 1963, where he played under coach Earl Banks. Initially a quarterback, Banks moved Kelly to running back and also utilized him on defense as a defensive back. He excelled, leading the team in rushing, scoring, and punting in 1962 when Morgan State won the CIAA Championship. In his senior year, he was named MVP of the Orange Blossom Classic. Kelly set Morgan State records for touchdowns in a half, longest scoring play from scrimmage, and longest punt return. He was inducted into Morgan State's Hall of Fame in 1977.  

Road to the Pro Game:

Kelly was drafted in the eighth round (110th overall) of the 1964 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. Initially a backup to the legendary Jim Brown and a key return specialist, Kelly led the NFL in punt return average in 1965 and helped the Browns win the 1964 NFL Championship.  

Football Legacy:

When Jim Brown surprisingly retired before the 1966 season, Kelly stepped into the starting role and excelled. For the next three seasons, he rushed for over 1,000 yards each year, leading the NFL in rushing touchdowns (1966-1968) and rushing yards (1967-1968). A versatile player, he also contributed as a receiver and returner. Kelly played ten seasons with the Browns (1964-1973), earning six Pro Bowl selections and four First-team All-Pro honors. At the time of his retirement, he ranked high in career rushing yards and touchdowns. Kelly's remarkable career, stepping out of a legend's shadow to forge his own Hall of Fame path, solidified his place as one of the Browns' all-time greats. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Cleveland Browns Ring of Honor in 2010.  

Accolades, Awards, and Career Stats:

✦ NFL Champion (1964)

✦ 4x First-team All-Pro (1966-1968, 1971)

✦ Second-team All-Pro (1969)  

✦ 6x Pro Bowl (1966-1971)  

✦ 2x NFL Rushing Yards Leader (1967, 1968)  

✦ 3x NFL Rushing Touchdowns Leader (1966-1968)  

✦ NFL Scoring Leader (1968)  

✦ NFL 1960s All-Decade Team

✦ Bert Bell Award (1968)  

✦ Cleveland Browns Ring of Honor  

✦ Morgan State Hall of Fame (1977)

✦ Pro Football Hall of Fame (1994)  

✦ Black College Football Hall of Fame (2013)

✦ Career NFL Stats: 136 games played, 1,727 carries, 7,274 rushing yards, 4.2 avg, 74 rushing touchdowns, 190 receptions, 2,281 receiving yards, 13 receiving touchdowns, 94 punt returns, 990 punt return yards, 3 punt return touchdowns, 76 kickoff returns, 1,784 kickoff return yards.  

Info courtesy of Newspapers.com and Pro-Football-Reference.com