Mel Triplett

Triplett was selected by the New York Giants in the fifth round, 56th overall pick, of the 1955 NFL draft. He played at the fullback position for the Giants from 1955 to 1960.^[1] He scored the opening touchdown against the Chicago Bears in the 1956 NFL Championship Game, won by the Giants 47–7. He was named New York's outstanding offensive player in the game.^[4][5][6][7] In 1960, he ranked ninth in the NFL with 573 rushing yards.^[1]

On July 1, 1961, Triplett was traded by the Giants to the Minnesota Vikings as part of a seven-player deal.^[8] He played for the Vikings in 1961 and 1962.

In seven NFL seasons, Triplett totaled 2,857 yards and 14 touchdowns.^[1]

Triplett's younger brother Bill Triplett played 11 years in the NFL.^[3]

Among the fans of Mel Triplett during his days on the New York Giants was a young basketball player in New York named Lew Alcindor, later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Abdul-Jabbar says in his 1983 memoir Giant Steps that it was largely Triplett's wearing of uniform No. 33 that made Abdul-Jabbar adopt No. 33 as well, a number he made famous.^{[citation needed]}

Triplett became diabetic and spent the last few months of his life at a Toledo nursing home. He died in 2002 at age 71 in Toledo, Ohio.^[9]