View source for Charles Leigh (American football)

{{Short description|American football player (1945–2006)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name          = Charles Leigh Sr.
| image         =
| position      = [[Running back]]
| number        = 25, 15, 23
| birth_date    = {{birth date|mf=yes|1945|10|29}}
| birth_place   = [[Halifax, Virginia]]
| death_date    = {{death date and age|mf=yes|2006|10|26|1945|10|29}}
| death_place   = [[Albany, New York]]
| height_ft     = 5
| height_in     = 11
| weight_lbs    = 206
| undraftedyear = 1965
| high_school   = [[Albany High School (Albany, New York)|Albany (NY)]]
| college       =
| teams         =
* [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] ({{NFL Year|1965}})
* Pennsylvania Mustangs (1965)
* [[Orlando Panthers]] (1966)
* [[Philadelphia Bulldogs (American football)|Philadelphia Bulldogs]] (1966)
* [[Norfolk Neptunes]] (1967)
* [[Cleveland Browns]] ({{NFL Year|1968}})
* New Jersey Jays (1969)
* Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|1969}})
* [[San Francisco 49ers]] ({{NFL Year|1970}})
* [[Ottawa Rough Riders]] ({{CFL Year|1970}})
* [[Miami Dolphins]] ({{NFL Year|1971}}–{{NFL Year|1974}})
* [[Green Bay Packers]] ({{NFL Year|1974}})
| statlabel1    = Rushing yards
| statvalue1    = 372
| statlabel2    = Average
| statvalue2    = 5.2
| statlabel3    = [[touchdown]]s
| statvalue3    = 2
| statlabel4    = Return yards
| statvalue4    = 1,450
| highlights    =
*2× [[Super Bowl]] champion ([[Super Bowl VII|VII]], [[Super Bowl VIII|VIII]])
* [[Continental Football League|COFL]] champion (1966)
| pfr           = LeigCh00
}}
'''Charles Irving''' "'''Charlie'''" '''Leigh Sr.''' (October 29, 1945 – October 26, 2006) was a [[National Football League]] (NFL) [[running back]]. He was the first and only NFL player to be signed out of high school. He is best known for backing up [[Larry Csonka]] 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.<ref name=dbf>{{cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=LEIGHCHA01 |title=Charlie Leigh – databaseFootball.com |accessdate=2009-01-01 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100212142616/http://databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=LEIGHCHA01 |archivedate=2010-02-12 }}</ref>
==Early years==
Leigh attended [[Albany High School (Albany, New York)|Albany High School]] in [[Albany, New York|Albany]], where he was a standout athlete in football and basketball. As a senior, he led his football team to an undefeated season.
==Professional career==
In 1965, the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] signed Leigh as an [[undrafted free agent]], after then commissioner [[Pete Rozelle]] made a special ruling, allowing him to become the first and only NFL player to be signed directly out of high school. Charlie was only 19 years old when he signed with the Steelers. He was listed in the pre-season programs and even got as far as the 1965 media guide. Realizing Charlie needed development Pittsburgh moved him to the Pennsylvania Mustangs of the NAFL which was a minor league team. In Charlies first game with the Mustangs he returned a kickoff
for 95 yards and touchdown.
In 1966 Charlie went to the Continental Football League. He started the season with the Orlando Panthers where he rushed for 92 yards and returned punts. Half way through the season he was traded to the Philadelphia Bulldogs where he rushed for 192 yards, scored 2 touchdowns and returned kicks for 169 yards. Charlie also won his first Championship with the Bulldogs. In 1967 Charlie went to play for the Norfolk Neptunes where he rushed for 452 yards and 8 touchdowns. Charlie also led the team in kickoff and punt returns while leading them to the conference championship.
Leigh was a part of the [[taxi squad]] of the [[Cleveland Browns]] from 1966 to 1967, while also playing for the Panthers.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1957&dat=19900127&id=LXkhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iokFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4979,6317363&hl=es | title=Ex- Albany High Great Leigh Has Fond Memories Of Super Bowl | accessdate=June 19, 2016}}</ref> He made his NFL debut in [[1968 Cleveland Browns season|1968]], after making the team. As a running back, he [[rush (American football)|rushed]] 23 times for 144 yards, a 6.3 yards per carry average, and he scored two touchdowns. One touchdown, scored against the Baltimore Colts, was ranked 69th among the 100 greatest rushing touchdowns in NFL history. 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 (American football)|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cle/1968.htm|title=1968 Cleveland Browns|website=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com]] |accessdate=2009-01-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1968/returns.htm|title=1968 NFL Kick & Punt Returns|website=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com]] |accessdate=2009-01-01}}</ref> He was released on August 29, 1969.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1917&dat=19690830&id=_KVGAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Y-kMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4920,6336541&hl=es | title=Leigh Waived | accessdate=June 19, 2016}}</ref>
On September 1, 1969, he was claimed off waivers by the [[San Francisco 49ers]].<ref>{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2211&dat=19690913&id=IqAkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=G_4FAAAAIBAJ&pg=6936,1172529&hl=es | title=Charlie Leigh, cut by Browns now a 49er | accessdate=June 19, 2016}}</ref> He would later be cut and re-signed by the Browns, 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. He was cut before the start of the 1970 season.
In [[1970 Ottawa Rough Riders season|1970]], he played 8 games for the Ottawa Rough Riders of the [[Canadian Football League]], before being released.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2194&dat=19701001&id=kccyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=h-wFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3499,124162&hl=es | title=Change for Bombers | accessdate=June 19, 2016}}</ref>
In [[1971 Miami Dolphins season|1971]], he was signed by the [[Miami Dolphins]] after a tryout. That season, he rushed five times for 15 yards and returned just four kickoffs for 99 yards, although he appeared in all 14 games. He couldn't play in [[Super Bowl VI]] against the [[Dallas Cowboys]], because of a separated right shoulder he suffered in the AFC championship game against the [[Baltimore Colts]].<ref>{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=19720106&id=2I0hAAAAIBAJ&sjid=85kFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6027,4000775&hl=es | title=Leigh to Miss Super Bowl | accessdate=June 19, 2016}}</ref>
Leigh became the primary punt returner for the famous [[1972 Miami Dolphins season|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.<ref name=csonka>{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-08-18|newspaper=Pensacola News Journal|title=Miami's Csonka: Plays Big Role|date=January 12, 1973|page=D-1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107843100/pensacola-news-journal/}}</ref> 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.<ref name=csonka/> Leigh got to play in Miami's 14–7 Super Bowl victory over the [[1972 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]], but did not have any carries or returns.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Super Bowl: Celebratinbg a Quarter-Century of America's Greatest Game|author=Didinger, R., Herskowitz, M., Lamb, K., McGrane, B., Musick, P. & Strother, S.|publisher=National Football League Properties|year=1990|page=124|isbn=0-671-72798-2}}</ref>
Leigh had one of his most productive seasons in 1973 for the [[1973 Miami Dolphins season|Dolphins]], another [[Super Bowl VIII|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/mia/1973.htm|title=1973 Miami Dolphins|website=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com]] |accessdate=2009-01-01}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1973/returns.htm|title=1973 NFL Kick & Punt Returns|website=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com]] |accessdate=2009-01-01}}</ref> He also had nine punt returns for 64 yards, for a 7.1 average.
In [[1974 Miami Dolphins season|1974]], he played one game for the Dolphins before being released. On September 26, [[1974 Green Bay Packers season|1974]], he was claimed off waivers by the [[Green Bay Packers]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19740927&id=QW9QAAAAIBAJ&sjid=thEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3333,2554684&hl=es | title=Packers Get Ex-dolphin | accessdate=June 19, 2016 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He appeared in 10 games, returned 9 kickoffs, for 201 yards and a 22.3-yard average. He also carried the ball one time for the Packers but did not gain any yards. He wasn't re-signed after the season.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19750501&id=ncUVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zREEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4815,123578&hl=es | title=3 Packers Are Free Agents | accessdate=June 19, 2016 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
==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 [[Pro Football Hall of Fame|Hall of Famer]] [[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).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KellLe00.htm|title=Leroy Kelly – Pro Football Reference|website=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com]] |accessdate=2009-01-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CsonLa00.htm|title=Larry Csonka – Pro Football Reference|website=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com]] |accessdate=2009-01-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MorrMe00.htm|title=Mercury Morris – Pro Football Reference|website=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com]] |accessdate=2009-01-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KiicJi00.htm|title=Jim Kiick – Pro Football Reference|website=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com]] |accessdate=2009-01-01}}</ref> 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.
==Personal life==
Leigh died of lung cancer on October 26, 2006.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=20061028&id=fAQzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kQgGAAAAIBAJ&pg=5551,8353372&hl=es | title=Leigh, From 72 Dolphins, Dies At 60 | accessdate=June 19, 2016}}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
==External links==
*{{Find a Grave|16347355}}
{{Super Bowl VII}}
{{Super Bowl VIII}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leigh, Charles}}
[[Category:1945 births]]
[[Category:2006 deaths]]
[[Category:American football running backs]]
[[Category:American football return specialists]]
[[Category:Continental Football League players]]
[[Category:Cleveland Browns players]]
[[Category:San Francisco 49ers players]]
[[Category:Ottawa Rough Riders players]]
[[Category:Miami Dolphins players]]
[[Category:Green Bay Packers players]]
[[Category:Deaths from lung cancer in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Albany Great Danes football players]]
[[Category:People from Halifax, Virginia]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Albany, New York]]
[[Category:Players of Canadian football from New York (state)]]