Alex Webster obit

Giants great Webster dead at 80

 

He was not on the list.

Alex Webster, called “Big Red’’ by many and a fixture with the Giants during their halcyon days as a player and later as a head coach, died Saturday morning in Port St. Lucie, Florida He was 80.

 

A popular and productive player, Webster — a native of Kearny, New Jersey  — played his entire 10-year NFL career with the Giants, and 47 years after his retirement he is fifth on the Giants career list for rushing yards (4,638) and fourth in rushing attempts (1,196).

Webster played for the Giants from 1955-64 and was named to the Pro Bowl in 1958 and 1961. He scored two touchdowns in the 1956 NFL Championship as the Giants defeated the Bears. This past season, Webster was inducted into the Giants’ Ring of Honor.

After serving as an assistant coach under Allie Sherman, Webster took over as head coach in 1969 and in 1970 was named the NFL Coach of the Year by UPI after guiding the Giants to a 9-5 record. He remained as head coach through the 1973 season and finished with an overall record of 29-40-1. His wife of 58 years, Louise, died in 2009.

 

As a senior at Kearny High School in 1948, Alex Webster was offered a full-ride scholarship from NFL legend Beattie Feathers to play college football at North Carolina State University. While playing for the Wolfpack, Alex "Big Red" Webster led the Southern Conference in scoring in 1951 with 78 points and remained a standout in 1952 before being drafted into the NFL.

Webster was drafted in the 11th round of the 1953 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins, but chose to play professional Canadian football for the Montreal Alouettes from 1953 to 1954. While in Canada, he was named a Big Four all-star in 1954 and played in that year's Grey Cup.

 

In 1955, Webster returned to the United States and played for the New York Giants from 1955 to 1964. In his first year with the Giants, Webster led the team in rushing with 634 yards. While with the Giants, he rushed for 4,638 yards, caught 240 passes for 2,679 yards, and scored 56 touchdowns (39 rushing and 17 receiving). He was named to the Pro Bowl twice, in 1958 and 1961. With 336 points, Webster is 10th on the Giants' career scoring list.

 

In 1956, Webster played in the NFL championship game against the Chicago Bears featuring Hall of Fame players and coaches. Webster scored two touchdowns in the second half and contributed with 103 all-purpose yards. The game came to be known as the second "Sneakers Game" because the Giants chose to play in high-top Chuck Taylors due to icy field conditions. The Giants won the game 47-7.

 

As a player with the New York Giants, Webster played in six NFL Championship games: 1956, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1963.

 

Sportscaster Marty Glickman coined the phrase "a couple or three yards" when describing Webster's running style.

 

Webster was considered one of the "all-time great Giants" and in 2011, was inducted into the New York Giants' "Ring of Honor". Alex Webster, LB Brad Van Pelt and Carl Banks, TE Mark Bavaro and P Dave Jennings headlined as the second class of the Giants' Ring of Honor inductees. Webster stated that this honor was among the proudest moments of his life. Webster made his last public speech addressing 80,000 fans in attendance accompanied by his grandsons.

 

Webster is further honored in the New York Giants' Legacy Club where his vintage #29 game jersey, as well as many historic photographs are displayed.

 

Webster eventually became an assistant Giant coach under Allie Sherman, and was promoted to head coach in September 1969. He was named UPI NFL Coach of the Year in 1970, as the Giants finished second in the NFC East at 9–5–0, but a 2–11–1 record in 1973 forced him to resign after five seasons. His overall Giant coaching record was 29 wins, 40 losses, and one tie. His successors, Bill Arnsbarger and John McVay, had similar outcomes as the team struggled through the 1970s.

 

Career information

College:            NC State

NFL Draft:            1953 / Round: 11 / Pick: 123

Career history

As a player:

Montreal Alouettes (1953–1954)

New York Giants (1955–1964)

As a coach:

New York Giants (1969–1973)

Career highlights and awards

NFL Champion (1956)

2× Second-team All-Pro (1955, 1956)

2× Pro Bowl (1958, 1961)

UPI NFL Coach of the year (1970)

New York Giants Ring of Honor

Career NFL statistics

Rushing yards:            4,638

Average:            3.9

Touchdowns:            56