Bobby Bethune
American football player (born 1938)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bobby Wayne Bethune (born December 10, 1938) is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the American Football League (AFL) for a single season with the San Diego Chargers. He also played three seasons in minor leagues. He played college football for the Mississippi State Maroons (now Bulldogs).
Leeds, Alabama, U.S.
| No. 43, 20 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Safety | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born | December 10, 1938 Leeds, Alabama, U.S. | ||||
| Listed height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||
| Listed weight | 190 lb (86 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school | Leeds | ||||
| College | Mississippi St. | ||||
| NFL draft | 1961: 9th round, 117th overall pick | ||||
| Career history | |||||
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* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||
| Career AFL statistics | |||||
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College football
Bethune played college football at Mississippi State University from 1957 to 1960.[1] He saw most action in his final two years,[2] playing as a halfback on offense and defensive back on defense.[3] With six interceptions in his senior year, Bethune tied for the most in the Southeastern Conference.[4]
Professional career
Bethune was selected in the 9th round of the 1961 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears, signing for them shortly afterwards.[5] The Chicago Tribune described him as one of a number of "rangy, fast, agile" defensive backs drafted by the Bears that year.[6] He played in the preseason for the Bears, getting ejected from one game for his role in a fist fight,[7] but was cut before the regular season began.[8] In 1962, he again featured for the Bears in exhibition play but missed the regular season squad.[9] However, Bethune signed with the AFL's Chargers to replace an injured Charlie McNeil in the defensive backfield,[10] and played the only games of his career in a major league, making ten appearances and intercepting three passes.[11]
Subsequently, Bethune appeared for three teams in the Southern Professional Football League[12][13] and one in the North American Football League.[14]