Claude Humphrey

Claude B. Humphrey (June 29, 1944 – December 3, 2021) was an American professional football player who played as a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles. Humphrey was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014. He played college football for the Tennessee A&I Tigers.

Early life Humphrey was born on June 29, 1944, in Memphis, to Dosie and Millie (Mays) Humphrey. He grew up in a "shotgun house". He attended Lester High School in Memphis. Humphrey played football, basketball, ran the low hurdles and excelled in the shot put in high school.

Humphrey played in four college all star games: the Senior Bowl, the Blue-Gray Game, the Coaches All-American Game and the College All-Star game.

Professional career Humphrey was drafted out of Tennessee State University in the first round of the 1968 NFL draft with the third overall choice by the Falcons. He had been well prepared as a defensive lineman at TSU by coach Merritt and defensive coordinator Joe Gilliam Sr. In his Falcons' rookie year (1968), Humphrey started every game, had 11.5 sacks, recovered three fumbles, and was named the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Even after an excellent rookie season, Humphrey knew he had to expand his technique and skill set to continue his success in the NFL. He credited the Falcons' new 1969 defensive coordinator, Marion Campbell, with helping him branch out to obtain that knowledge, leading to his continued success. The 25th ranked offense was so poor, however, it scored only 179 points, and the team finished with a 7–7 record.

Humphrey temporarily retired after four games in 1978, because of the team's perpetual lack of success; going to work for WAOK radio station in Atlanta, where he had The Claude Humphrey Show.

Humphrey finished out his career with the Philadelphia Eagles from 1979 to 1981. During Super Bowl XV, when Humphrey was called for roughing the passer against Oakland Raiders quarterback Jim Plunkett, he picked up the penalty flag and fired it back at referee Ben Dreith.

He finished his career with an unofficial 122,

All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors Humphrey's stellar career included being named first-team All-Pro five times (1971/NEA, 1972/AP, 1973/AP, 1974/NEA,1977/NEA), second-team All-Pro four times (1969/AP, 1970/NEA, 1974/AP, 1977/AP), when Humphrey unofficially recorded a Falcons career-high or career-high 14½

Pro Football Hall of Fame Humphrey was a final 15 candidate for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003, 2005, and 2006. On August 27, 2008, he was named as one of two senior candidates for the 2009 Hall of Fame election. In August 2013, he was named as one of two senior candidates for the 2014 Hall of Fame election.

In February 2014, Claude Humphrey was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the senior ballot.

On August 2, 2014, Humphrey was officially inducted at the Enshrinement Ceremony where his bust, sculpted by Scott Myers, was unveiled.

Honors In addition to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, in 1988 Humphrey was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. In 2012, he was inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame. the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2004, the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame, and his high school's hall of fame. Both his TSU and high school jersey numbers have been retired.

The Professional Football Researchers Association named Humphrey to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2009.

Personal life During the off-seasons for Atlanta, he worked in Nashville for the Metro Board Parks and Recreation.

Death Humphrey died in Memphis on December 3, 2021, at the age of 77. His wife Sarah (Harrell) Humphrey, who had been his high school girlfriend, died in 2013. His 2014 Hall of Fame induction speech began with the story of his life with Sarah. He was survived by their three daughters.