John David Crow - #108

John David Crow, Heisman Winner at Texas A&M, Dies at 79

He was number 108 on the list.

John David Crow, a bruising running back who won the 1957 Heisman Trophy with Texas A&M and was a four-time Pro Bowl selection in the National Football League, died on Wednesday. He was 79.

Texas A&M announced his death but did not give a location or a cause. He lived in College Station, Tex.

Crow was the first Heisman winner for the Aggies, coached at the time by Bear Bryant. During the 1957 season, Bryant famously said, “If John David Crow doesn’t win the Heisman Trophy, they ought to stop giving it.”

Crow had 129 carries for 562 yards and six touchdowns during his Heisman season. He also threw five touchdown passes and, when playing defense, had five interceptions. He ran for 1,465 yards and 14 touchdowns and caught four scoring passes in his three-year career at Texas A&M.

Crow was the second pick in the 1958 N.F.L. draft and played for the Chicago and St. Louis Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers. In 11 seasons, he had 4,963 yards rushing and 3,699 yards receiving and threw for 759 yards. He led the league in 1960 with 5.9 yards per carry.

After coaching with Bryant at Alabama, Crow, who was born in Marion, La., was the head coach at Northeast Louisiana University, now known as Louisiana-Monroe, from 1976 to 1980. His record there was 20-34-1.

Returning to Texas A&M, he worked in various positions in the athletic department until his retirement in 2001.