Charles Leigh
Encyclopedia
Charles "Charlie" Leigh is a former National Football League
(NFL) running back
. He is best known for backing up Mercury Morris
and Jim Kiick
and returning kicks for the Miami Dolphins
' back to back Super Bowl
champions in the 1972 and 1973 seasons. He also played for the Cleveland Browns
and Green Bay Packers
. He played a total of six seasons in the NFL despite never playing college ball.
after playing high school football at Albany High School in Albany
, New York without having ever played college football. As a running back, he rushed
23 times for 144 yards, a 6.3 yards per carry average, and he scored one touchdown. His number of carries, total rushing yards and yards per carry average all proved to be career highs. He was also used extensively as a kick returner. He returned 14 kickoff
s for 322 yards, a 23.0 yard per return average. And he returned 14 punts for 76 yards, a 5.4 yard per return average. Leigh led the Browns and placed 13th in the NFL in both yards per kickoff return and yards per punt return in 1968. Leigh played for the Cleveland Browns
in 1969 as well, but received little time at running back and did not carry the ball the entire season, although he did catch two passes. He did return five punts for 18 yards and two kickoffs for six yards that season.
Leigh did not play in the NFL in 1970, but played for the American Football Conference champion Miami Dolphins
in 1971. For the Dolphins that season he rushed just five times for 15 yards and returned just four kickoffs for 99 yards, although he played in all 14 games.
Leigh became the primary punt returner for the famous 1972 Miami Dolphins
team that had a perfect season
and won Super Bowl VII
. Leigh returned 22 punts for 210 yards and a 9.5 yard average for the 1972 Dolphins. The 22 punts returned ranked 5th in the NFL that season, and the 210 yards and 9.5 average each ranked 6th in the NFL that season. Leigh also returned six kickoff 153 yards, a 25.5 yard average, and rushed 21 times for 79 yards, a 3.8 yard average. Leigh got to play in Miami's 14-7 Super Bowl victory over the Washington Redskins
, but did not have any carries or returns.
Leigh had one of his most productive seasons in 1973 for the Dolphins
, another Super Bowl
championship team. Leigh rushed 22 times for 134 yards for a 6.1 yards per carry average with one touchdown. His yards per carry average was second on the team to Mercury Morris
' league leading 6.4. He also returned nine kickoffs for 251 yards, for a 27.9 average that would have ranked 6th in the NFL had he had enough returns to qualify for the league leaders. He also had nine punt returns for 64 yards, for a 7.1 average.
1974
was Leigh's final NFL season. He played one game for the Dolphins
before moving to the Green Bay Packers
. He played 10 games for the Packers. For the season, he returned 11 kickoffs, all but two for the Packers, for 251 yards and a 22.8 yard average. He also carried the ball one time for the Packers but did not gain any yards.
Leroy Kelly
(4.2), Hall of Famer Larry Csonka
(4.3), 3 time Pro Bowl
er Mercury Morris
(5.1) and 2 time Pro Bowler Jim Kiick
(3.7). He also returned 46 kickoffs for 1082 yards and a 23.5 yards per return average, and returned 50 punts for 368 yards and a 7.4 yards per return average.
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...
(NFL) running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
. He is best known for backing up Mercury Morris
Mercury Morris
Eugene Edward "Mercury" Morris , is a former American football player, nicknamed early on for his mercurial quickness when running with the ball. Morris was a running back and kick returner for 9 years, playing mostly for the Miami Dolphins...
and Jim Kiick
Jim Kiick
James Forrest Kiick is a former professional American football running back, who is best known for playing halfback for the Miami Dolphins in the American Football League from 1968 to 1969 and in the National Football League from 1970 through 1974...
and returning kicks for the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
' back to back Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
champions in the 1972 and 1973 seasons. He also played for the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North 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...
. He played a total of six seasons in the NFL despite never playing college ball.
Career
He began his NFL career with the 1968 Cleveland Browns1968 Cleveland Browns season
The 1968 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 19th season with the National Football League.The Browns made it to the playoffs for the 2nd straight year thanks to a 8-game winning streak and the brillant play of quarterback Bill Nelsen who replaced Frank Ryan as the starting quarterback prior to...
after playing high school football at Albany High School in Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, New York without having ever played college football. As a running back, he rushed
Rush (American football)
Rushing has two different meanings in gridiron football .-Offense:The first is an action taken by the offensive team that means to advance the ball by running, as opposed to passing. A run is technically any play that does not involve a forward pass...
23 times for 144 yards, a 6.3 yards per carry average, and he scored one touchdown. His number of carries, total rushing yards and yards per carry average all proved to be career highs. He was also used extensively as a kick returner. He returned 14 kickoff
Kickoff (American football)
A kickoff is a method of starting a drive in American football and Canadian football. Typically, a kickoff consists of one team – the "kicking team" – kicking the ball to the opposing team – the "receiving team"...
s for 322 yards, a 23.0 yard per return average. And he returned 14 punts for 76 yards, a 5.4 yard per return average. Leigh led the Browns and placed 13th in the NFL in both yards per kickoff return and yards per punt return in 1968. Leigh played for the Cleveland Browns
1969 Cleveland Browns season
The 1969 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 20th season with the National Football League and the last before the 1970 AFL-NFL Merger.-NFL Draft:The following were selected in the 1969 NFL Draft.-Preseason:...
in 1969 as well, but received little time at running back and did not carry the ball the entire season, although he did catch two passes. He did return five punts for 18 yards and two kickoffs for six yards that season.
Leigh did not play in the NFL in 1970, but played for the American Football Conference champion Miami Dolphins
1971 Miami Dolphins season
-NFL Draft:-Schedule:-Playoffs:- Standings : -Roster:-Scoring summary:*Dallas Mike Clark, FG 14 yds *Dallas L.Alworth, 9 yd pass from Staubach *Miami Yeprmeniam, FG 23 yds...
in 1971. For the Dolphins that season he rushed just five times for 15 yards and returned just four kickoffs for 99 yards, although he played in all 14 games.
Leigh became the primary punt returner for the famous 1972 Miami Dolphins
1972 Miami Dolphins season
The 1972 Miami Dolphins are the only National Football League team to win the Super Bowl with a perfect season. The undefeated campaign was led by coach Don Shula and notable players Bob Griese, Earl Morrall, and Larry Csonka...
team that had a perfect season
Perfect Season
A perfect season is any sports season, excluding the playoff portion of a season, in which a team remains undefeated and untied. The feat is extremely rare at the professional level of any team sport, and has occurred more commonly at the collegiate level in the United States.A perfect season may...
and won Super Bowl VII
Super Bowl VII
Super Bowl VII was an American football game played on January 14, 1973, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California, to decide the National Football League champion following the 1972 regular season...
. Leigh returned 22 punts for 210 yards and a 9.5 yard average for the 1972 Dolphins. The 22 punts returned ranked 5th in the NFL that season, and the 210 yards and 9.5 average each ranked 6th in the NFL that season. Leigh also returned six kickoff 153 yards, a 25.5 yard average, and rushed 21 times for 79 yards, a 3.8 yard average. Leigh got to play in Miami's 14-7 Super Bowl victory over the Washington Redskins
1972 Washington Redskins season
The 1972 Washington Redskins began with the team trying to improve on their 9-4-1 record from 1971.-NFL Draft:-Schedule:-Standings:-Playoffs:-Awards and records:* Larry Brown, NFL MVP * Larry Brown, Bert Bell Award...
, but did not have any carries or returns.
Leigh had one of his most productive seasons in 1973 for the Dolphins
1973 Miami Dolphins season
-Awards and honors:* Larry Csonka, Super Bowl Most Valuable Player* Larry Csonka, Pro Bowl Selection* Bob Griese, Pro Bowl Selection-Notes and references:**...
, another Super Bowl
Super Bowl VIII
Super Bowl VIII was a professional American football game played on January 13, 1974 at Rice Stadium. in Houston, Texas to decide the National Football League champion following the 1973 regular season. The American Football Conference champion Miami Dolphins defeated the National Football...
championship team. Leigh rushed 22 times for 134 yards for a 6.1 yards per carry average with one touchdown. His yards per carry average was second on the team to Mercury Morris
Mercury Morris
Eugene Edward "Mercury" Morris , is a former American football player, nicknamed early on for his mercurial quickness when running with the ball. Morris was a running back and kick returner for 9 years, playing mostly for the Miami Dolphins...
' league leading 6.4. He also returned nine kickoffs for 251 yards, for a 27.9 average that would have ranked 6th in the NFL had he had enough returns to qualify for the league leaders. He also had nine punt returns for 64 yards, for a 7.1 average.
1974
1974 NFL season
The 1974 NFL season was the 55th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl IX when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Minnesota Vikings...
was Leigh's final NFL season. He played one game for the Dolphins
1974 Miami Dolphins season
-NFL Draft:-Schedule:- Standings :-AFC: Oakland Raiders 28, Miami Dolphins 26:-Notes and references:**...
before moving to the Green Bay Packers
1974 Green Bay Packers season
The 1974 Green Bay Packers season was their 54th season in the National Football League. The club posted a 6-8 record under coach Dan Devine, earning them a third-place finish in the NFC Central division...
. He played 10 games for the Packers. For the season, he returned 11 kickoffs, all but two for the Packers, for 251 yards and a 22.8 yard average. He also carried the ball one time for the Packers but did not gain any yards.
Career stats
For his career, Leigh rushed 72 times for 372 yards, a 5.2 yards per carry average and two touchdowns. The 5.2 yards per carry average was better than several of his more celebrated teammates, including Hall of FamerPro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
Leroy Kelly
Leroy Kelly
Leroy Kelly was an American football player. A Pro Football Hall of Fame running back, he played for the Cleveland Browns in the National Football League from 1964-73....
(4.2), Hall of Famer Larry Csonka
Larry Csonka
Larry Richard Csonka is a former collegiate and professional American football fullback.-Childhood:One of six children, Csonka was born in Stow, Ohio where he was raised on a farm by his Hungarian family...
(4.3), 3 time Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
er Mercury Morris
Mercury Morris
Eugene Edward "Mercury" Morris , is a former American football player, nicknamed early on for his mercurial quickness when running with the ball. Morris was a running back and kick returner for 9 years, playing mostly for the Miami Dolphins...
(5.1) and 2 time Pro Bowler Jim Kiick
Jim Kiick
James Forrest Kiick is a former professional American football running back, who is best known for playing halfback for the Miami Dolphins in the American Football League from 1968 to 1969 and in the National Football League from 1970 through 1974...
(3.7). He also returned 46 kickoffs for 1082 yards and a 23.5 yards per return average, and returned 50 punts for 368 yards and a 7.4 yards per return average.