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Dick Riffle

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Dick Riffle
refer to caption
Riffle, circa 1941
No. 45, 12
Position:Back
Personal information
Born:(1915-02-02)February 2, 1915
Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died:April 29, 1981(1981-04-29) (aged 66)
Corning, New York, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school:Northside
(Corning, New York)
College:Albright
NFL draft:1938 / round: 2 / pick: 12
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards:1,381
Rushing touchdowns:10
Receptions:19
Receiving yards:189
Receiving touchdowns:2
Passing yards:332
Passing touchdowns:3
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Fred Richard Riffle (February 2, 1915 – April 29, 1981) was an American professional football player who played as a back for five seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Albright College.

Professional career

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Riffle was selected in the second round of the 1938 NFL draft.[1] Riffle played for the Philadelphia Eagles for three seasons, from 1938–1940. In his rookie season, Riffle appeared in eleven games, starting four, and finished the season with 227 yards on 65 rushing attempts and one touchdown, which he scored against the Pittsburgh Steelers (then known as the Pittsburgh Pirates) in Philadelphia's 27–7 week two win.[2] Riffle would not see the end zone at all in 1939. In that season, Riffle only carried the ball 18 times for 61 yards, as Joe Bukant had the bulk of the teams carries. In 1940, Riffle scored the only touchdown in a 7–0 win over Pittsburgh in week 13.[3] The Eagles continued to be one the league's worse teams, next to the Steelers. Following a series of ownership transactions known as the "Pennsylvania Polka, Riffle found himself playing for the Eagles inter-state rival. Against the Washington Redskins in 1941, Riffle caught a touchdown pass from quarterback Al Donelli to tie the game at 7. Washington would go on to win 24–20.[4] Even as the Steelers went through three coaches en route to a 1–9 season, Riffle was selected to his first and only pro bowl. Playing in just ten games, Riffle rushed for 388 yards on 109 carries with one touchdown. In 1942, Riffle started 11 games for Pittsburgh, rushing for 467 yards on 115 carries for four touchdowns. The Steelers went 7–4, a winning record under head coach Walt Kiesling. This, however, would be Riffle's last season of pro football.[5]

NFL career statistics

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Legend
Bold Career high
Year Team Games Rushing Receiving
GP GS Att Yds Avg TD Rec Yds Avg TD
1938 PHI 11 4 65 227 3.5 1 0 0 0.0 0
1939 PHI 10 3 18 61 3.4 0 6 57 9.5 0
1940 PHI 11 6 81 238 2.9 4 8 58 7.3 1
1941 PIT 10 7 109 388 3.6 1 2 24 12.0 1
1942 PIT 11 11 115 467 4.1 4 3 50 16.7 0
53 31 388 1,381 3.6 10 19 189 9.9 2

Death

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Riffle died on April 29, 1981, in Corning, NY. He was 66 years old.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "1938 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  2. ^ "Philadelphia Eagles at Pittsburgh Pirates - September 16th, 1938".
  3. ^ "Pittsburgh Steelers at Philadelphia Eagles - November 28th, 1940".
  4. ^ "Washington Redskins at Pittsburgh Steelers - October 12th, 1941".
  5. ^ "Dick Riffle Stats".
  6. ^ "Dick Riffle Stats".