Andy russell wife

American football player (–)

American football player

Position:	Linebacker
Born:	()October 29, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Died:	March 1, () (aged&#;82)
Height:	6&#;ft 2&#;in (&#;m)
Weight:	&#;lb (&#;kg)
High school:	Ladue Horton Watkins (Ladue, Missouri)
College:	Missouri
NFL draft:	&#;/ round:&#;16&#;/ pick:&#;

Charles Andrew Russell (October 29, – March 1, ) was an American professional football player who spent his entire year career as a linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL).

Early life

Russell was born in Detroit, Michigan to a family that relocated multiple times in his childhood (to Chicago and New York) due to his father's work as an executive with the Monsanto chemical company, with the family eventually settling in Ladue, a suburb of St. Louis. He attended Ladue High School and graduated in to the interest of colleges that wanted to recruit a player nicknamed “the Horse” for his power as a stiff-armed tackler.^[1] Heavily recruited by out-state universities, he selected the University of Missouri under Coach Dan Devine and played both linebacker and fullback.

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In his three seasons (–) with the team, they lost just four times (with one loss later vacated) while Russell led the team in rushing () and interceptions (). In addition to his football talents, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics in ^[2] He played in the Blue Bonnet Bowl for Missouri.^[3] He never missed a game in high school or college.^[4]

Playing career

His father did not wish for him to play professional football, and Russell put a "no" on every questionnaire mailed to him by prospective NFL teams.

However, the one team that did not send him a letter was the one who drafted him in the Pittsburgh Steelers.^[5] However, he elected to sign for a $12, salary and a $3, signing bonus. After playing for the Steelers his rookie season in , Russell temporarily left the team for the Army to fulfill ROTC commitments that had him stationed in Germany.^[6][7] He then returned to the Steelers in , having convinced his father that it would be best for him to play football to pay for further studies in economics for a master's degree.

Russell would play the next eleven seasons and graduate with an M.B.A. from Missouri in economics/finance in (the following year, he formed his own company involving investment vehicle syndicates).^[3][7][8]

Russell was one of the few players future Pro Football Hall of Fame and member of the NFL th Anniversary Team coach Chuck Noll kept, when he became the Steelers head coach in Russell was an early member of Pittsburgh's famed Steel Curtain defense and was named the Steelers' MVP in He made seven Pro Bowl appearances—in and from through —and earned two Super Bowl rings in Super Bowl IX and Super Bowl X.^[8][9] When future Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Jack Ham joined the team as a rookie in , Russell took the time to mentor Ham, contrary to the usual customs of veteran-rookie interactions at the time.^[8]

On December 27, , Russell set the NFL playoff record for a returned touchdown–93 yards in a Three Rivers Stadium victory over the Baltimore Colts.

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Some have claimed it as the longest football play from scrimmage in time duration.^[10] The record was broken with a 98 yard return in ^[7]

He never missed a game, playing in consecutive games for the Steelers.^[9][7] His teammates voted him team captain for ten seasons.^[8][9] He was named a member of the Steelers All-Time Team and the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the s.^[11] In , he was an inaugural member into the Steelers Hall of Honor.^[11] Russell was one of only four inductees, out of a class of twenty-seven, who were not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.^[12]

In , he was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame and to the Mizzou Athletics Hall of Fame in In , the Professional Football Researchers Association named Russell to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of ^[13][14]

Personal life

After his playing days ended, Russell maintained his interest in business and investing to go along with endurance canoeing, mountain climbing, and philanthropy.^[3][4][9] Russell's financial success came outside football, and he was an active entrepreneur involved in the investment business during and after his football career.

He was a partner with various investment banking firms.^[11]

Among his charitable and community service efforts, he founded the Andy Russell Charitable Foundation in ,^[15] and generated over $10 million in contributions to Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh through the Andy Russell Charitable Golf Tournament.

The foundation also supported charities and charitable causes such as The Ronald McDonald House, Leukemia Society, The Cancer Society, Economics PA, Cystic Fibrosis, Mothers Hope, Juvenile Diabetes, SIDS, and Pittsburgh Vision Services. Russell's most recent charitable work before his death was Everyone's Playground,^[16] a park for special needs children located in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania.^[11]

In , he was named Big Brothers and Sisters Man of the Year.^[8]

Russell wrote three books, A Steeler Odyssey (), An Odd Steelers Journey (), and Beyond the Goalpost ().^[8]

Death

Russell died on March 1, , at the age of ^[17] He died of complications from Alzheimer’s Disease and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).^[11] A memorial service for Russell was held on June 15, at Everyone's Playground.^[18]

References

External links