Bulldog Turner

Clyde Douglas (Bulldog) Turner (March 10, 1919 – October 30, 1998) was a professional football player for the Chicago Bears.

NFL playing career

Turner, coming out of Hardin-Simmons University, was the Bears first round draft pick in the 1940 draft. But, at first at least, Turner didn't want to be on the Bears. It turned out that the Detroit Lions' owner paid him $200 to "get his teeth fixed" and turn down other teams proposals. The Detroit Lions were fined $5000 for tampering, and the Chicago Bears got a great two-way player.

Clyde "Bulldog" Turner was big for his day (6-2, 235); however, he was smart and very fast. A six time all-pro center, and a steady linebacker, Turner intercepted 4 passes in 5 NFL title games. In 1942, he led the league in interceptions (8). He said that he studied all 11 assignments for all plays, which came in handy when some players were ejected for fighting one game in '43. Teammate George Musso once said of Bulldog, "Who knows what kind of player he would have been if he ever got to rest during a game?"

Coaching career

Turner served as head coach for the 1962 season of the New York Titans (now the New York Jets) of the American Football League. Under his leadership, the team finished last in the Eastern Conference with a 5-9 record.

External links

• Pro Football Hall of Fame: member biography
• Find-A-Grave biography
• New York Times Obit