Billy Lothridge

Billy Lothridge

refer to caption

Lothridge with Bobby Dodd, 1962
No. 18, 10, 26, 7
Position: Punter
Safety
Quarterback
Personal information
Date of birth: (1942-01-01)January 1, 1942
Place of birth: Cleveland, Georgia
Date of death: February 24, 1996(1996-02-24) (aged 54)
Place of death: Pensacola, Florida
Height: 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight: 260 lb (118 kg)
Career information
High school: Gainesville (GA)
College: Georgia Tech
NFL Draft: 1964 / Round: 6 / Pick: 73
(By the Dallas Cowboys)
AFL draft: 1964 / Round: 12 / Pick: 95
(By the Oakland Raiders)
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Punts: 532
Interceptions: 1
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

William Lamar Lothridge (January 1, 1942 – February 24, 1996) was an American football Punter, Safety and Quarterback in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams, Atlanta Falcons, and the Miami Dolphins. He played college football at Georgia Tech.

Early years

Lothridge was a graduate of Gainesville High School in Gainesville, Georgia where he played quarterback. He later attended Georgia Tech where he finished second in the 1963 Heisman Trophy voting to Roger Staubach.[1] He teamed with Billy Martin both at Gainesville and Georgia Tech to form a dominant passing/rushing attack.

In 1969, he was inducted into the Georgia Tech Hall of Fame. In 1986, he was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame.

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

Lothridge was drafted in the sixth round of the 1964 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys, as well as the 12th round of the 1964 AFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders. As a rookie even though he tore a ligament in his left knee in training camp, he was named the team's punter and third-team quarterback.[2] His net punting average of 37.9 yards wasn't reached by another Cowboy until the 2006 season (Mat McBriar-38.6 yards).

On August 29, 1965, he was traded along with a fourth round draft choice (#54-Rod Sherman) to the Baltimore Colts, in exchange for the rights to future All-Pro Ralph Neely.[3]

Baltimore Colts

Lothridge was sold by the Baltimore Colts to the Los Angeles Rams before the start of the 1965 season.[4]

Los Angeles Rams

After playing in 9 games he was waived on November 17, 1965.[5]

Atlanta Falcons

On November 25, 1965, he signed with the Atlanta Falcons as one of the team's original players.[6] He won the NFL punting title in 1967 with a 43.7 average and repeated the next year with a 42.8 average and received All-Pro honors.[7] In 1968, he was also a starter at safety and had 3 interceptions.[8] He retired before the start of the 1971 season, but was brought back when the team experienced punting problems.[9] He was waived before the start of the 1972 season.[10]

Miami Dolphins

On November 22, 1972, he was signed by the Miami Dolphins to replace an injured Larry Seiple. Even though he was placed on the team's taxi squad when Seiple returned, he got a chance to be a part of the Dolphins perfect season.[11]

Personal life

Lothridge died in 1996, after suffering a series of three heart attacks over a four-year period.[12]

References

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