George Andrews (American football)
Encyclopedia
George Eldon Andrews, II (born November 28, 1955 in Omaha, Nebraska
) is a former American football
linebacker
. He is a graduate of the University of Nebraska who played in the National Football League
from 1979–1984 for the Los Angeles Rams
.
in Omaha, Nebraska where he excelled in both football and basketball.
, 27-24 in the 1976 Bluebonnet Bowl
. As a junior in 1977, George Andrews made 84 tackles with eight for a loss, knocked down three passes, intercepted one pass and recovered one fumble. For his efforts, he was voted honorable mention All-Big Eight. The 1977 season ended with Nebraska beating the University of North Carolina 21-17 in the Liberty Bowl
. In that game, Andrews totaled 19 tackles.
As a senior, in 1978, Andrews was a First Team All-American by NEA and "Football News." He was also a Second Team choice on the AP and UPI teams. George Andrew was also a consensus All-Big Eight selection. His statistics were the best of his career, with 84 tackles (good for 3rd on the team) with 10 of those coming behind the line as sacks. Andrews broke up three passes and intercepted another. He ended his career with 217 tackles, with 24 of those totaling 118 yards in losses.
In addition, Andrews was an Academic All-American as well with a 3.1 GPA in Business Administration.
, the 19th pick overall by the Los Angeles Rams. His tackling prowess, 360-pound bench press and 4.7 40-yard dash speed seemed ideal for a 230-pound NFL outside linebacker, or a stand-up defensive end.
As a rookie, Andrews played well on special teams, totaling 33 tackles and a fumble recovery. In 1980, Andrews began the season with a thigh injury, missing three games. However, in the tenth week of the season, starting linebacker Bob Brudzinski
left the team and Andrews started the remaining seven games in Brudzinski's place. In the final six games, the Rams defense allowed only 75 points in a defensive surge that helped them to make the playoffs. George Andrews ended the season with 44 tackles, three passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
In 1981, Andrews was the Rams' starter all season at right linebacker. He was the Rams' fifth leading tackler with 75, with three going for a loss and he had a half quarterback sack, the first of his career. In the strike-shortened 1982 season, Andrews started all nine games, recording 67 tackles, tying with Johnnie Johnson
for the team lead. He also had six tackles for losses and recorded three sacks. He recorded a forced fumble and batted away five passes either in pass rushes or pass coverages.
The following season, George Andrews had a new coach, John Robinson, and a new defensive scheme. Andrews would be an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense, similar to the position he had played in college. He responded with 77 tackles and three sacks. His first NFL interception, he returned 22 yards and it led to a Ram offensive score. Nine of his tackles (including sacks) went for losses and Andrews defended 12 passes, the most among Rams' linebackers.
In 1984, Andrews was off to a great start, sacking Gary Hogeboom
on the third play of the season that forced Hogeboom to cough up the ball and Jack Youngblood
recovered it on the Dallas 2-yard line, where 2,000-yard rusher Eric Dickerson
ran it over for the first Rams score of the 1984 season. Andrews prowess at sacking quarterbacks in 1984 prompted Bill Bain to call Andrews, "The White Lawrence Taylor"
But his luck seemed to run out when he injured his knee in Week 10 against the St. Louis Cardinals. Through 10 full weeks Andrews recorded 43 tackles, 13 of them were for losses with six being quarterback sacks, which was second on the team, behind Youngblood. Andrews played one series in Week Eleven of 1984 but was put on injured reserve
for the remainder of the season.
In 1985, Andrews, who had rehabbed the knee, attempted a comeback but another knee injury in training camp in 1985 ended the comeback. Andrews was attempting a quick maneuver around a New England Patriot blocker in the final exhibition game of 1985. As he moved, untouched by defenders, Andrews planted his right foot and felt his cleats catch in the turf. "I felt my knee explode," he said.
In 1986, the Rams offered George Andrews a shot as an inside linebacker, to take some pressure off of him and the speed he lost due to two major knee surgeries in two seasons. George Andrews played inside linebacker at training camp that year but didn't like it.
On August 25, 1986, his career ended as the Rams released him.
Andrews' "Plan B" (if he could not return to football) was to finish taking the required test to be come a certified financial planner. He had taken four of the six required tests to become a CFP.
Andrews played six seasons for the Rams, playing 80 games, starting 58. He ended his career with 12½ sacks, 7 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 23 passes defensed, and 6 forced fumbles to match his 340 tackles. His right outside linebacker job had been held by a fine player, Mike Wilcher
, since 1984.
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
) 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...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
. He is a graduate of the University of Nebraska who played in the National Football League
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...
from 1979–1984 for the Los Angeles Rams
History of the St. Louis Rams
The following is a detailed history of the St. Louis Rams a professional American football team and member of the National Football League .-AFL Cleveland Rams :...
.
High school
Andrews attended Omaha Burke High SchoolOmaha Burke High School
Harry A. Burke High School is a secondary school located in Omaha, Nebraska. The principal is Dr. Deborah Frison. The school's mascot is the Bulldogs.Each year in May, the Nebraska State Track Meet is held at the school...
in Omaha, Nebraska where he excelled in both football and basketball.
College
Andrews was a three-year stater for the Nebraska Cornhuskers at defensive end. As a sophomore, in 1976, he had 49 tackles, six for a loss and recovered two fumbles. The team ended the season defeating the Texas Tech Red RaidersTexas Tech Red Raiders football
Texas Tech Red Raiders football program is a college football team that represents Texas Tech University . The team competes, as a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
, 27-24 in the 1976 Bluebonnet Bowl
Bluebonnet Bowl
The Bluebonnet Bowl was an annual college football bowl game played in Houston, Texas. A civic group was appointed by the Houston Chamber of Commerce Athletics Committee in 1959 to organize the bowl game. It was held at Rice Stadium from 1959 through 1967, and again in 1985 and 1986. The game was...
. As a junior in 1977, George Andrews made 84 tackles with eight for a loss, knocked down three passes, intercepted one pass and recovered one fumble. For his efforts, he was voted honorable mention All-Big Eight. The 1977 season ended with Nebraska beating the University of North Carolina 21-17 in the Liberty Bowl
Liberty Bowl
The Liberty Bowl is an annual U.S. American college football bowl game played in December of each year from 1959 to 2007 and in January in 2009 and 2010. The Liberty Bowl was sponsored by AXA Financial and was known as the AXA Liberty Bowl from 1997 to 2003...
. In that game, Andrews totaled 19 tackles.
As a senior, in 1978, Andrews was a First Team All-American by NEA and "Football News." He was also a Second Team choice on the AP and UPI teams. George Andrew was also a consensus All-Big Eight selection. His statistics were the best of his career, with 84 tackles (good for 3rd on the team) with 10 of those coming behind the line as sacks. Andrews broke up three passes and intercepted another. He ended his career with 217 tackles, with 24 of those totaling 118 yards in losses.
In addition, Andrews was an Academic All-American as well with a 3.1 GPA in Business Administration.
NFL
George Andrews was drafted as a linebacker in the 1979 NFL Draft1979 NFL Draft
The 1979 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held May 3–4, 1979...
, the 19th pick overall by the Los Angeles Rams. His tackling prowess, 360-pound bench press and 4.7 40-yard dash speed seemed ideal for a 230-pound NFL outside linebacker, or a stand-up defensive end.
As a rookie, Andrews played well on special teams, totaling 33 tackles and a fumble recovery. In 1980, Andrews began the season with a thigh injury, missing three games. However, in the tenth week of the season, starting linebacker Bob Brudzinski
Bob Brudzinski
Robert Louis Brudzinski is a former American football linebacker who played thirteen seasons in the National Football League.-Ohio State:...
left the team and Andrews started the remaining seven games in Brudzinski's place. In the final six games, the Rams defense allowed only 75 points in a defensive surge that helped them to make the playoffs. George Andrews ended the season with 44 tackles, three passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
In 1981, Andrews was the Rams' starter all season at right linebacker. He was the Rams' fifth leading tackler with 75, with three going for a loss and he had a half quarterback sack, the first of his career. In the strike-shortened 1982 season, Andrews started all nine games, recording 67 tackles, tying with Johnnie Johnson
Johnnie Johnson (American football)
Johnnie Johnson was a member of the Los Angeles Rams from 1980 to 1988. He played cornerback and safety. Johnson played football for the University of Texas from 1976 to 1979. He was a unanimous All-America selection at defensive back in 1978 and 1979...
for the team lead. He also had six tackles for losses and recorded three sacks. He recorded a forced fumble and batted away five passes either in pass rushes or pass coverages.
The following season, George Andrews had a new coach, John Robinson, and a new defensive scheme. Andrews would be an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense, similar to the position he had played in college. He responded with 77 tackles and three sacks. His first NFL interception, he returned 22 yards and it led to a Ram offensive score. Nine of his tackles (including sacks) went for losses and Andrews defended 12 passes, the most among Rams' linebackers.
In 1984, Andrews was off to a great start, sacking Gary Hogeboom
Gary Hogeboom
Gary Keith Hogeboom is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League and a contestant on the CBS reality TV show Survivor: Guatemala.-Career:...
on the third play of the season that forced Hogeboom to cough up the ball and Jack Youngblood
Jack Youngblood
Herbert Jackson "Jack" Youngblood, III is a former American college and professional football player who was a defensive end for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League for fourteen seasons during the 1970s and 1980s. He was a five-time consensus All-Pro and a seven-time Pro Bowl...
recovered it on the Dallas 2-yard line, where 2,000-yard rusher Eric Dickerson
Eric Dickerson
Eric Demetric Dickerson is a former professional running back in the National Football League who in his career played for the Los Angeles Rams, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Raiders, and Atlanta Falcons.-College career:...
ran it over for the first Rams score of the 1984 season. Andrews prowess at sacking quarterbacks in 1984 prompted Bill Bain to call Andrews, "The White Lawrence Taylor"
But his luck seemed to run out when he injured his knee in Week 10 against the St. Louis Cardinals. Through 10 full weeks Andrews recorded 43 tackles, 13 of them were for losses with six being quarterback sacks, which was second on the team, behind Youngblood. Andrews played one series in Week Eleven of 1984 but was put on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
for the remainder of the season.
In 1985, Andrews, who had rehabbed the knee, attempted a comeback but another knee injury in training camp in 1985 ended the comeback. Andrews was attempting a quick maneuver around a New England Patriot blocker in the final exhibition game of 1985. As he moved, untouched by defenders, Andrews planted his right foot and felt his cleats catch in the turf. "I felt my knee explode," he said.
In 1986, the Rams offered George Andrews a shot as an inside linebacker, to take some pressure off of him and the speed he lost due to two major knee surgeries in two seasons. George Andrews played inside linebacker at training camp that year but didn't like it.
On August 25, 1986, his career ended as the Rams released him.
Andrews' "Plan B" (if he could not return to football) was to finish taking the required test to be come a certified financial planner. He had taken four of the six required tests to become a CFP.
Andrews played six seasons for the Rams, playing 80 games, starting 58. He ended his career with 12½ sacks, 7 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 23 passes defensed, and 6 forced fumbles to match his 340 tackles. His right outside linebacker job had been held by a fine player, Mike Wilcher
Mike Wilcher
Michael Wilcher was a former NFL linebacker. He is a graduate from the University of North Carolina who played pro football from 1983–1990 for the Los Angeles Rams and San Diego Chargers....
, since 1984.