Coy Bacon

Lander McCoy Bacon (August 30, 1942 – December 22, 2008) was a professional American football defensive lineman in the National Football League. He was selected to three Pro Bowls during his 14-year career. While quarterback sacks were not an official statistic during his career, researchers credit Bacon with a career total of 130.^[1]

Professional career

Bacon tried out with the AFL's Houston Oilers in 1964 but was not signed as it was discovered that he had not graduated from Jackson State. Bacon began his career in 1965 with the Charleston (W.Va.) Rockets of the Continental Football League. He signed as a undrafted free agent with the Dallas Cowboys and spent the 1967 season on their taxi squad. In 1968, he was traded to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for a fifth round draft choice, and was teamed with the Fearsome Foursome line of Deacon Jones, Merlin Olsen, Roger Brown and Lamar Lundy after spending the first half of the season on the practice squad.^[2] Bacon had his first opportunity for serious playing time at right defensive tackle in 1969 due to injuries to Brown. Following Lamar Lundy's retirement in 1970, Bacon lined up at right defensive end for the next three years. He had eleven sacks in 1971, and was named to Second-team All-Pro. Bacon was voted as the Rams defensive lineman of the year in 1971 and 1972 by the Rams Alumni Organization. Bacon was Second-team All-Pro again in 1972.

In 1973, Bacon was sent to the San Diego Chargers along with running back Bob Thomas for quarterback John Hadl.^[3] He had an 80-yard interception return for a touchdown that year. In 1976, Bacon was traded from the Chargers to the Bengals for wide receiver Charlie Joiner. Bacon then had a NFL high 21½ sacks for Cincinnati in 1976 prior to the NFL officially recognizing individual sacks. He made the Pro Bowl and was a Second-team All-Pro selection.

The Washington Redskins traded for Bacon and Lemar Parrish before the 1978 season in exchange for a first round draft pick. He recorded 15 sacks in 1979 and 11 in 1980.

He finished his career in the USFL with the Washington Federals in 1983 where he started in 16 of 18 games and recorded 62 total tackles, 7 sacks and recovered 1 fumble with the 3–15 club. At 40 years old, in 1983 he was drafted by the Jacksonville Bulls of the United States Football League.^[4]

Coy Bacon was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame in June, 2013 and the American Football Association's Semi Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986

Personal

Bacon eventually moved to Ironton, Ohio. He was wounded in a drug-related shooting in Washington, D.C., on August 16, 1986, and later became a born-again Christian and traveled as a motivational speaker. Coy also spent several years working with troubled youth at the Ohio River Valley Juvenile Correctional Facility.^[5]

Death

Bacon died in Ironton, Ohio, on December 22, 2008. The cause of death was not immediately available. He was 66.^[6] At his memorial service, Bacon was remembered as a man of God who had helped many people.^[7]

References