Napoleon McCallum dominated the college gridiron, combining raw power and unmatched agility to become one of the greatest running backs in Navy history before taking his talents to the NFL.
Football Bio
October 6, 1963 – Napoleon McCallum was a former running back of the Navy Midshipmen.
Napoleon was a dynamite runner, leading the nation in all-purpose yards in both 1983 and 1985, according to the National Football Foundation.
McCallum was a two-time consensus All-American, making Navy fans proud.
The prolific runner was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 2002.
Due to his naval commitments, he put his professional career on hold for a bit, but he eventually played for the NFL’s LA Raiders for five seasons. [National Football Foundation]
McCallum cemented his legacy as an extraordinary athlete who proudly served his country while conquering the sport at its highest collegiate and professional levels.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- He managed a unique arrangement to play for the Raiders in 1986 while serving his active-duty Navy assignment, then returned to the NFL full-time in 1990.
- Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2002.
- Two-time Consensus First-Team All-American (1983, 1985).
- Led the NCAA in all-purpose yards twice (1983, 1985).
- Set an NCAA record for career all-purpose yards (7,172) at the time of his graduation.
- The United States Naval Academy retired his jersey number (30).
- Drafted in the 4th round of the 1986 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Raiders.
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