1959 Profile: Frank Gifford

Halfback
No. 16
USC

"Frank comes to the Giants from Southern California where he was a Colliers' All-American. He was All-Pacific Coast, co-captain of the West in the East-West Game and co-captain of the North in the Senior Bowl.

Frank was the Giants' No. 1 draft choice."

-1952 Bowman No. 16

"Frank came to the Giants from Southern California where he was a Colliers' All-American. He was All-Pacific Coast, co-captain of the West in the East-West Game and co-captain of the North in the Senior Bowl.

Frank was the Giants' No. 1 draft choice."

-1953 Bowman No. 43

"In 1953 Gifford led the club in scoring, had the longest punt run back, the longest run with an interception and kicked the longest field goal. A great and versatile performer, he was the No. 1 draft choice of the Giants in 1952.

Gifford is married."

-1954 Bowman No. 55

"The Giants' No. 1 draft choice in 1952 has now attained stardom in all phases of football. Frank was one of the League's top halfbacks last season. With a 5.6-yard average gain per rush, he was the Giants' most effective ball carrier. The best of NFL halfbacks at the optional pass, his 83-yard pass to Eddie Price was the second longest completion in the League last year.

Frank was a college All-American. He fills movie roles in the off-season and is also a TV commentator. He's married, with two sons."

-1955 Bowman No. 7

"The No. 1 draft choice of '52 was a busy Giant last season. Gifford, regular left halfback, gained 351 yards on 86 carries, a 4.0 average per carry. He caught 33 passes (tops on the Giants) for 437 yards. He completed two of six passes, both for touchdowns, for 96 yards. He returned five kickoffs for 114 yards. Gifford scored seven touchdowns.

One of his top college records was that only three of his 111 passes were intercepted in three years. He was named to the official All-American team of the American Football Coaches Association.

Married, with two sons, Gifford lives in Bakersfield, California."

-1956 Jay Publishing

"An all-around star, Frank was elected to the All-Pro team in 1955. In '54, he was New York's top ground gainer.

He's a clever runner who can crash through the middle or swivel-hip his way around the ends as well as toss and catch passes. Off the gridiron, handsome Frank is a movie actor."

-1956 Topps No. 53

"Frank Gifford (16) has been the Giants' top offensive threat for the past three seasons. The handsome former All-America from Southern California ranks among the leading ball-carriers and pass-receivers in the league. Strong and fast, he's a breakaway threat every time he carries the ball. On occasion, he also passes and place-kicks. There's no better all-around halfback in football."

-1956 NFL Championship Game Official Program (Yankee Stadium)

"The N.F.L.'s Player of the Year for 1956 returns for his sixth season as a Giant. He was the No. 1 draft choice of 1952 and has been a star ever since.

Last year, in 13 games including the Championship, Gifford gained 849 yards running on 164 carries, a 5.2 average. He threw two touchdown passes and caught 55 passes for 734 yards and scored ten touchdowns. He was both third in pass catching and fifth in rushing in the League, the first player ever to finish so high in both.

Gifford was selected to his fourth straight Pro Bowl. He was MVP in half a dozen polls, including that of the players.

In the off-season, Gifford is under contract to Warner Brothers. He also has a TV show and a twice-weekly sports column in Bakersfield, California. He's married, with two sons and a daughter." 

-1957 Jay Publishing

"Frank was voted the Most Valuable Player in the National Football League last year. His great running, clever pass catching and all-around play were major factors in bringing the Championship to the Giants. He caught 51 passes for four touchdowns."

1957 Topps No. 88

"Frank Gifford (16), 1956 National League player of the year by acclaim, has been pro football's top all-around halfback for six seasons. The handsome U.S.C. graduate, No. 1 Giant draft choice in 1952, is a powerful, deceptive runner; a sharpshooting passer and a quick, elusive receiver. He has been a defensive regular, has filled in at quarterback and has kicked field goals and extra points at various times for the Giants.

Versatile off the field, too, Frank is making good as a movie actor, conducts a TV show and writes a weekly sports column."

-1957 New York Giants Official Program (Yankee Stadium)

"Frank Gifford, Giant halfback, was a No. 1 draft choice in '52 and the No. 1 player in the league last year. He ranked fifth in the league in rushing and third in pass receiving."

-1957 Chicago Bears Official Program

"This popular All-Pro halfback, who works in the movies and television during the off-season, is one of the most gifted and versatile players in the game today. He can run with the best of them, catch passes like an end, and even kick."

-1958 Topps No. 73

GIFFORD RETURN SPARKS TEAM

"Frank Gifford's decision to return to football for another year, because the game had become so much a part of his life, may have given the Giants the lift they need for their second championship in three seasons.

Gifford is the most potent offensive threat in the game today, aside from the quarterbacks. At his peak over the past two seasons, everybody's MVP has recorded fantastic statistics.

In both 1956 and 1957, Frank was among the first 10 runners and the first 10 pass receivers, an unprecedented feat. No player in the NFL gained more ground than Gifford, counting both rushing and receiving.

Frank's combined rush-receive total for two seasons is 2,538 yards. Rick Casares is second at 2,254, Ollie Matson third at 2,151, Hugh McElhenny fourth at 2,045, Lennie Moore fifth at 1,926 and Giant Alex Webster sixth at 1,699 yards.

If Gifford's passing yards are included, he is even further ahead at 2,716 yards to 2,286 for Casares and 2,210 for Matson.

In receiving alone, Gifford made 92 catches in two years and is surpassed only by the great ends Billy Wilson at 112 and Bill Howton at 93. He outranks Ray Berry at 84, Jim Mutscheller at 76 and Johnny Carson at 73.

All-Pro on defense as well as offense, brilliant touchdown thrower, elusive runner, clutch catcher and  handy man anywhere on the field, Gifford is the kind of player who fires a team to a title."

-Giant Touchdown, September 1958

"Frank Gifford, veteran halfback, starts his seventh year. Drafted No. 1 in 1952, he is one of the most versatile backs in NFL history, and one of the finest.

In 1956, Frank was third in pass catching and fifth in rushing, the first player to finish so high in both. He repeated in the first ten in both in '57 with fourth in catching and tenth in rushing.

MVP of the NFL in '56, Frank made the Pro Bowl squad five straight years. On the Bowl squad as a defensive player in '53 and as an offensive player in '54, he was the first man to make it both ways.

As a forward passer, Frank has thrown 11 touchdowns in 33 attempts. In an emergency, he played 50 minutes both ways for the last five games of 1953. 

At USC, Frank was a genuine triple-threat player in an age of specialization. As a senior he rushed for 841 yards, completed 32 of 61 passes, scored seven touchdowns, and kicked 26 extra points and two field goals for 74 points. He played both single-wing tailback and T quarterback, and of his 111 passes in three years, only three were intercepted. Frank was also an accurate punter and crack pass catcher.

Frank was Co-captain of the West against the East and of the North against the South, and worked 60 minutes in both games. He was the halfback on the American Football Coaches Association All-American team.

Born August 16, 1930, Frank is under contract to Warner Brothers for moving pictures. He has a TV show and a sports column in Bakersfield. His wife Maxine was his sweetheart at USC; they have two sons and a daughter."

-1958 Chicago Cardinals Official Program (Comiskey Park)

"A part-time movie actor, some-time sportswriter in Bakersfield, California, but full-time football player and one of the NFL greats, Frank was the No. 1 draft choice in 1952 after a brilliant career at USC. He is the most versatile back in the circuit, used to catch passes, smash lines, sweep flanks and toss the running forward. Frank was on the Pro Bowl squad six straight years, making it once as a defensive performer."

-Pro Football Handbook 1959

"Hardly one somersault behind Jon Arnett for offensive versatility is Frank Gifford, a fellow Californian (Bakersfield) and fellow Trojan alumnus. Frank has plied his trade (now in his eighth year) farther away from home, with the New York Giants.
Last year handsome Gifford turned his back on a budding Hollywood acting career, rejected some off-season thoughts of retirement, and contributed to a thrilling Giant campaign with his usual timely run, timely pass catch, timely block and timely surprise pass. Once more he provided the unusual spectacle of a back leading his team in pass receiving, nabbing 29 tosses for 312 yards, and he became their second-leading ground gainer with 460 yards. It wasn't as flamboyant a campaign as, say, the 1956 season when he won the Jim Thorpe Trophy as the NFL's best player, but it was good enough so that the 29-year-old no longer talks retirement."

-Murray Olderman, Sports All-Stars 1959 Pro Football

"The Giants No. 1 draft pick in '52. One of the most versatile backs in the pro game, Frank may quarterback the club this season. He is a capable passer and top defensive player, playing 50 minutes in each of New York's last five games in 1953 when injuries left the team shorthanded.

He was the NFL's Most Valuable Player in 1956 when he finished third in pass catching and fifth in rushing, the first player in league history to finish so high in both departments. Finishing fourth in pass receiving in '57, the Giants' all-time pass catcher scored 10 touchdowns for 60 points last season.

At USC, Gifford scored 74 points in his senior year while rushing for 841 yards, completing 32 of 61 passes and kicking 26 extra points and two field goals. In three years of varsity ball, he had only three of 111 passes intercepted.

Under contract to Warner Bros., Frank has appeared in several motion pictures. He has a sports column and TV show back in Bakersfield, California. He's married and has three children."

-1959 N.F.L. Pro-Football Yearbook (Jay Publishing)

"In eight brilliant seasons with the Giants, Frank Gifford (16) has established himself as one of the team's all-time greats. They don't make backs more versatile than the handsome Southern California graduate. Frank annually finished among the leaders in rushing and receiving, throws a mean running pass, can place-kick and would be welcomed back on the defensive platoon, on which he was a rookie regular. Versatile off the field, too, he has made his mark in Hollywood, on television and in various enterprises."

-1959 New York Giants Official Program (Yankee Stadium, November 1)

"Frank Gifford was drafted No. 1 in 1952.  He's one of the most versatile backs in NFL history, and one of the finest.

In 1956, Gifford was third in pass catching and fifth in rushing, the first player to finish so high at both, and was MVP of the NFL. He repeated in the first ten in both in '57 with fourth in catching and 10th in running. Gifford made the Pro Bowl squad five straight years- he was on the Bowl squad as a defensive player in '53 and as an offensive player in '54, the first man to make it both ways.

As a forward passer, Gifford has thrown 12 touchdowns in 41 attempts. He played 50 minutes both ways in the last five games of the '53 season in an emergency.

At USC, Gifford was a genuine Iron Man triple-threat player in the age of specialization. As a senior he rushed for 841 yards, completed 32 of 61 passes, scored seven touchdowns, and kicked 26 extra points and two field goals for 74 points.

He played both single-wing and T quarterback. Of his 111 passes in three years, only three were intercepted. He was also an accurate punter and crack pass catcher.

Gifford was a co-captain of the West against the East, and of the North against the South, and worked 60 minutes in both games. He was selected at halfback on the American Football Coaches Association All-American team.

He is under contract to Warner Bros. for moving pictures and has had featured roles. He has a TV show and a sports column in Bakersfield.

Gifford was born on August 16, 1930. His wife Maxine was his sweetheart at USC; they have two sons and a daughter."

-1959 Cleveland Browns Official Program

"In this season's finale, Frank slashed through the Washington Redskins for 84 yards to increase his eight-year total to 3,347, a Giant record. By catching 42 passes for 768 yards this fall, he jumped his career output to 237 receptions for 3,223 yards. The 6-1, 205-pound halfback has also returned punts and kickoffs and thrown and intercepted passes since coming to New York as a number one draft pick in 1952.

The former U.S.C. standout is a constant threat to pass on the run. He's a perennial All-Pro."

-1959 Baltimore Colts Official Program (Memorial Stadium, NFL Championship Game)