Bobby Douglass
Encyclopedia
Robert Gilchrist Douglass (born June 22, 1947 in Manhattan, Kansas
) is a former American football
quarterback
in the NFL
, who played most of his career with the Chicago Bears
, who drafted him in the second round of the 1969 NFL Draft
. During his career, he also played for the San Diego Chargers
, the New Orleans Saints
, the Oakland Raiders
,
and Green Bay Packers
. Douglass retired after the 1979 season, after playing 11 seasons in the NFL.
Bobby attended the University of Kansas
. Douglass was a two-time All-Big Eight Conference (1967–68) selection and an All-American in 1968. During his senior season, Douglass directed the Jayhawks to a 9-2 record, a share of the Big Eight Conference title and a spot in the 1969 Orange Bowl. He passed for 1,316 yards and 12 touchdowns during his final year as a Jayhawk and finished seventh in the Heisman Trophy voting that season.
In 1972, playing for the Chicago Bears, Douglass set the record for most rushing yards by a QB in one season. The record stood for 34 years. In a 14-game 1972 season
, he ran for 968 yards and 8 touchdowns on 141 carries. Four QBs (three in the CFL, one in the NFL) have since run for over 1,000 yards. With Douglass starting, the Chicago Bears had only a 13-31-1 record.
In five seasons from 1971–1975, Douglass played in 47 games and amassed 2,040 rushing yards. During that span, he averaged 43.4 rushing yards per game played—the second highest rushing yards per game average over a five-season span for a QB. Randall Cunningham
ranks first with 43.5 yds/g over a five-season span from 1986–1990).
However, Douglass had little success as a passer, going 507-for-1178 for 36 touchdowns and 64 interceptions with a quarterback passer rating
of only 48.5 during his 11-season NFL career.
After his NFL career was over, Douglass briefly played minor league baseball in the Chicago White Sox organization. In 1979 he pitched four games for the Iowa Oaks where he had 7 innings pitched, issued 13 walks and failed to record a strikeout.
Douglass was married to former Playboy
model Carol O'Neal.
Douglass was arrested on charges of trespassing on April 13, 2011.
Manhattan, Kansas
Manhattan is a city located in the northeastern part of the state of Kansas in the United States, at the junction of the Kansas River and Big Blue River. It is the county seat of Riley County and the city extends into Pottawatomie County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 52,281...
) is a former American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
in the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
, who played most of his career with the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, who drafted him in the second round of the 1969 NFL Draft
1969 NFL Draft
The 1969 National Football League Draft was part of the Common Draft, the third and final year in which the NFL and American Football League held a joint draft of college players. The draft took place on January 28–29, 1969....
. During his career, he also played for the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
, the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
,
and Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
. Douglass retired after the 1979 season, after playing 11 seasons in the NFL.
Bobby attended the University of Kansas
Kansas Jayhawks
The sports teams at the University of Kansas are known as the Jayhawks. They are one of three schools in the state of Kansas that participate in NCAA Division I. The Jayhawks are also a member of the Big 12 Conference...
. Douglass was a two-time All-Big Eight Conference (1967–68) selection and an All-American in 1968. During his senior season, Douglass directed the Jayhawks to a 9-2 record, a share of the Big Eight Conference title and a spot in the 1969 Orange Bowl. He passed for 1,316 yards and 12 touchdowns during his final year as a Jayhawk and finished seventh in the Heisman Trophy voting that season.
In 1972, playing for the Chicago Bears, Douglass set the record for most rushing yards by a QB in one season. The record stood for 34 years. In a 14-game 1972 season
1972 NFL season
The 1972 NFL season was the 53rd regular season of the National Football League. The Miami Dolphins became the first NFL team to finish a championship season undefeated and untied when they beat the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII.-Major rule changes:...
, he ran for 968 yards and 8 touchdowns on 141 carries. Four QBs (three in the CFL, one in the NFL) have since run for over 1,000 yards. With Douglass starting, the Chicago Bears had only a 13-31-1 record.
In five seasons from 1971–1975, Douglass played in 47 games and amassed 2,040 rushing yards. During that span, he averaged 43.4 rushing yards per game played—the second highest rushing yards per game average over a five-season span for a QB. Randall Cunningham
Randall Cunningham
Randall W. Cunningham is a former American football quarterback.After playing college football at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, he was selected in the second round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, with whom he remained through the 1995 season...
ranks first with 43.5 yds/g over a five-season span from 1986–1990).
However, Douglass had little success as a passer, going 507-for-1178 for 36 touchdowns and 64 interceptions with a quarterback passer rating
Passer rating
Passer rating is a measure of the performance of quarterbacks or any other passers in American football and Canadian football. There are at least two formulae currently in use: one officially used by the National Football League and the Canadian Football League, and one used in college football...
of only 48.5 during his 11-season NFL career.
After his NFL career was over, Douglass briefly played minor league baseball in the Chicago White Sox organization. In 1979 he pitched four games for the Iowa Oaks where he had 7 innings pitched, issued 13 walks and failed to record a strikeout.
Douglass was married to former Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
model Carol O'Neal.
Douglass was arrested on charges of trespassing on April 13, 2011.