Nathan Lee Ramsey (July 12, 1941 – March 8, 2019) was a professional American football safety and cornerback who played for the Philadelphia Eagles for most of his 11-year NFL career from 1963 through 1973. Ramsey was drafted by the Eagles from Indiana University in the fourteenth round (186th overall) of the 1963 NFL draft.
| No. 24, 21 | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Safety / Cornerback |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | July 12, 1941 Neptune Township, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died: | March 8, 2019 (aged 77) |
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Weight: | 200 lb (91 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College: | Indiana |
| NFL draft: | 1963 / round: 14 / pick: 186 |
| Career history | |
| Stats at Pro Football Reference | |
Early life
editRamsey was born on July 12, 1941 in Neptune Township, New Jersey. He was the sixth child of Henry Theodore Ramsey and Nancy Ramsey. He grew up in Asbury Park and Neptune, New Jersey. He attended Neptune High School, where he played basketball and football.[1][2][3]
After graduating, Ramsey attended Indiana University in Bloomington on a football scholarship. While at Indiana, he became a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Zeta Epsilon Chapter in 1961.[1] He wore number 44 on the football team, playing halfback on offense and cornerback on defense. He was considered a distinguished pass defender in the Big Ten during his playing years (1960-1962), and had over a thousand yards in offense with 18 receptions and 169 rushing attempts.[3]
Future NFL player Marv Woodson played in Indiana's offensive and defensive backfields with Ramsay at Indiana. He was also teammates with future NFL players Tom Nowatzke and Rudy Kuechenberg.[4][5][6]
Professional football career
editIn the 1963 NFL draft, the Eagles drafted Ramsey in the 14th round, 186th overall. He became a starting cornerback in 1964, paired with Irv Cross as the other cornerback. Ramsey played defensive back for 10 seasons with the Eagles (1963-1972), and one season with the New Orleans Saints (only playing in four games). He was a team caption on the Eagles. In 1964 (5) and 1965 (6), Ramsey led the Eagles in interceptions. He had 21 career interceptions with the Eagles over 134 regular season games played. Three of his 1965 interceptions came in one November game against the St. Louis Cardinals.[1][3][7][8][9][10][11]
In 1970, while still playing for the Eagles, Ramsey was shot in the chest on a West Philadelphia street corner. The bullet lodged in his chest, but was not life threatening, and doctors decided not to remove it. He played all 14 games the following year.[1][7][8]
Death
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e Bell, Daryl (March 15, 2019). "Nathan Lee Ramsey, 77, former Eagles standout". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
- ^ Nate Ramsey profile Archived 2007-09-30 at the Wayback Machine, database Football. Accessed June 19, 2007.
- ^ a b c "Nate Ramsey FB". www.njsportsheroes.com. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
- ^ "1961 Indiana Hoosiers Roster". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
- ^ "1962 Indiana Hoosiers Roster". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
- ^ Hyman, Mervin (September 24, 1962). "The Season of the Sophomore". Sports Illustrated.
- ^ a b "Sheldon Brown Came Close to the Top Spot but was Edged by Nate Ramsey". Philadelphia Eagles On SI. August 20, 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
- ^ a b "Ramsey of Eagles Shot by Gunman". New York Times. December 15, 1970.
- ^ "Eagles mourn the passing of former DB Nate Ramsey". www.philadelphiaeagles.com. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
- ^ "Nate Ramsey". statscrew.com.
- ^ "Philadelphia Eagles | Official Site of the Philadelphia Eagles". www.philadelphiaeagles.com. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
- ^ "Former Eagles Defensive Back Nate Ramsey Passes Away". Archived from the original on April 6, 2019. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
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