Ed Meador

Los Angeles Rams (1959-1970)

6x Pro Bowl selection (1960, 1964-1968 )
8x All-Pro selection (1960, 1961, 1963-1969 ) 1 2 team
NFL 1960s All- Decade Team
Los Angeles Rams 40th Anniversary Team
Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame (1978 )
Arkansas Tech University Hall of Distinction (1969 )
" Whizzer " White NFL Man of the Year Award ( 1968)
Arkansas Amateur Athlete of the Year (1958 )

Edward Doyle " Eddie" Meador ( born August 10, 1937 in Dallas, Texas, USA) is an American former American football player. He played safety and cornerback in the National Football League ( NFL) with the Los Angeles Rams.

Youth

Eddie Meador was born in Dallas. His mother was a painter, his father worked as a craftsman. His family later moved to Kingston, Arkansas. He attended high school in Russellville. In addition to American football, he was actively involved in the school as a track athlete and basketball player. Although he played football only one year at the school, he was elected to the state selection. Because of his athletic achievements his school drew from him several times. After finishing school in 1955 he joined the Arkansas Tech University.

Playing career

College career

Ed Meador received in 1955 a scholarship to Arkansas Tech University, which is located in Russellville. The Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys, he played both football and basketball. In football, he played in various positions and was elected three times in the selection of the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference. Overall, he managed to set up 19 school records.

Professional career

The Wonder Boys played in a unterklassigen College Football, yet the scouts of the NFL had become aware of him. In 1959 he was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the seventh round to 80th place. For his signing of the contract he received a signing bonus of $ 500. He needed the money to get a car to buy, with whom he then moved with his first wife and his first son to California. The crew of the Rams was supervised by Sid Gillman, the Meador initially started as a cornerback. After his rookie season Meador played in his first Pro Bowl. His team voted him Defensive Rookie Player of the Year.

1960 took over Bob Waterfield, the coach of the Rams. Neither Gillman, nor Waterfield managed out of the team to form a top team. The Rams were willing to pay Eddie Meador 1963 an annual salary of $ 14,000, the following year, 1964, he then moved to the position of Safety. In this position he was elected after the season from his team for defensive player off-the- Year. Although the team of Rams played numerous other top players like Deacon Jones, Lamar Lundy and Merlin Olsen and he in 1965 with 126 tackles set a team record, should be based on the failure of the first team do not change. 1966 took over George Allen the Office of the Head coach for the Rams. Allen succeeded the performance of the team to increase substantially. 1967 Edward Meador could then move in with his team for the first time in the play offs. The Rams had won in the regular season eleven of 14 games and met in the Divisional play -off game to the versions that Vince Lombardi Green Bay Packers. The team from Green Bay showed superior and won the game with 28:7. The following year the Rams won ten of their 14 games, the power handed Ed Meador still not re- collect his team to the play offs.

In 1969, the eleven wins the Rams were compared with three defeats, which brought the re- making the play offs. In the Divisional play -off game, the team of Eddie Meador met team, coached by Bud Grant Minnesota Vikings. Meador was in the game to catch a pass from quarterback Joe Kapp. However, the scarce 23:20 defeat of his team he could not prevent it. After another season Eddie Meador finished his career in 1970. During his playing time with the Rams, he was able to achieve 46 interceptions, this is still team record.

After playing career

Eddie Meador served in 1970 as chairman of the NFL players union. He retired after from the Football Sport back and moved with his family to Texas, where he worked as a successful businessman. He now lives in Virginia and is the owner of a jewelry business.

Honors

Edward Meador played six times in the Pro Bowl, the final game of the best players of the season. He was elected to the All-Pro eight times. He is a member of the NFL 1960s All- Decade team, the Los Angeles Rams 40th Anniversary Team, the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame and in the Arkansas Tech University Hall of Distinction.

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