Bill Dudley

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Disambiguation. For the U.S. naval historian, see William S. Dudley.

William McGarvey Dudley (born December 24, 1921 in Bluefield, Virginia) is a former professional American football player. His ability as a passer to hit his target led to his nicknames of Bullet Bill and the Bluefield Bullet.

[edit] College career

Dudley was recruited to the University of Virginia after impressing scouts there with his performance at Graham High School. Although he was originally slated as a punter and placekicker, he eventually came to play the tailback position, at which he started every game for the Cavaliers as a junior. In his senior year, he became Virginia's first All-American and won the Maxwell Award. He was selected first overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1942 NFL Draft.

[edit] Service

As World War II was raging in Europe, the armed forces were drafting all able-bodied young men. In 1942 Dudley was called up by the Army Air Corps, but because of a delay in training he was able to finish his season with the Steelers. Dudley ended up leading the league in rushing and won Rookie of the Year honors (before the Associated Press began giving the award). Once he joined the Army in 1944, he played for a team fielded by Randolph Field, an Army Air Corps training facility, leading them to a 12-0 intercollegiate record and a #3 ranking by the Associated Press poll, while winning the Most Valuable Player award.

[edit] Return to the NFL

Upon the close of the war in 1945, Dudley returned to the Steelers. As a testament to his ability, he managed to lead the team in scoring for the season despite only playing in four games. In the 1946 NFL season, Dudley set a record that is unlikely to ever be broken: because of his versatility as one of the "60-minute men" who played both offense and defense, Dudley led the league in four diverse statistical categories, rushing (604 yards), interceptions (10), punt returns (27 for 385 yards), and lateral passing (which is no longer recorded). As a result, Dudley was the NFL's choice for the Joe Carr trophy, which went to the league's MVP. The award was discontinued after this season and did not return until the AP brought it back in 1957. Dudley became the first (and as of 2005, only) person to win MVP awards in college, service, and professional levels. Dudley was traded to the Detroit Lions after 1946, partly because of his contentious relationship with Steelers coach Jock Sutherland. After three years in Detroit, he was traded to the Washington Redskins. After sitting out the 1952 NFL season, he returned to the Lions in 1953, where he finished his career mostly as a placekicker and defensive player.

Dudley was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1956, the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1966, and the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1972. Dudley is an unlockable free agent running back in the videogame Madden NFL 08.

[edit] External links

• Official site
• Bill Dudley at the Pro Football Hall of Fame
• Bill Dudley at the College Football Hall of Fame