Joe Alexander (American football)

• Syracuse Pros ( 1921)
• Rochester Jeffersons (1921-1924)
• New York Giants (1925-1927)

• 2 × All- Pro ( 1921-1922 )
• NFL Champion (1927 )
• College Football Hall of Fame (1954 )
• International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame (1985 )

Joseph A. "Joe" Alexander ( born April 1, 1898 in Silver Creek, New York, USA, † September 12, 1975 in New York City ), nicknamed Doc, was an American doctor and an American football player and coach. He played mostly on the offensive line, among others, at the New York Giants in the National Football League ( NFL).

Playing career

College career

Joe Alexander studied from 1916 to 1921 at Syracuse University. He played from 1916 to 1920 for the Syracuse Orange Football. Until 1919, he played as a guard and then moved to the position of a center. In the years 1918 to 1920, he was elected because of his athletic achievements in each case to the All American.

Professional career

Alexander graduated in 1921, immediately after completing his medical studies, the Syracuse Pros, which in the existing since 1920 American Professional Football Association played, but had to adjust their playing mode after only three games. Even in the current season, he moved to the Rochester Jeffersons. The Jeffersons were a notoriously unsuccessful team, which had to suspend their gaming operation after the season 1925. A year earlier, Alexander had changed to the New York Giants, where he was primarily used as a center, but also played, as was customary, in the defense of the team. Alexander was the first player signed to the newly formed team under contract. In the years 1926 and 1927, the Giants were able to strengthen their team significantly. Players like Joe Guyon, Steve Owen or Cal Hubbard were gewommen under contract. In 1927, Alexander won with the Giants in eleven of 13 games, which meant winning the NFL championship. Alexander ended his career after this championship.

Coaching career

Alexander worked twice as a player-coach. In 1922, he coached the unsuccessful Rochester Jeffersons. In 1926 he took over as coach at the Giants. He finished the season with eight wins, with four defeats and a draw from.

After the NFL

"Doc" Alexander was one of the few players who played for a fixed annual salary. Nevertheless, he worked in the off-season as a doctor. Alexander was pulmonologist in New York City, where he established one of the first tuberculosis clinics.

Honors

Joe Alexander was selected twice to the All- Pro, he is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and in 1985 into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame since 1954. His College annually awards the Joseph Alexander Award to the best players in the college football team.