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Dave Leggett

1933 – 2013

American football player

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About Dave Leggett

Lived 1933 – 2013 (aged 79). Dave Leggett was an American american football player and basketball player.

William David Leggett (September 18, 1933 – March 26, 2013) was a National Football League (NFL) quarterback. He played collegiately at Ohio State University from 1952–1954. In 1954, he led Ohio State to an undefeated 10–0 season and a berth in the Rose Bowl, where Ohio State defeated USC and Leggett was named MVP. He was drafted by the Chicago Cardinals in the 7th round (74th overall) of the 1955 NFL draft.

Leggett was most famous for his play in the 1954 Michigan game. Ohio State's undefeated season was on the line, with the score tied 7–7 in the fourth quarter. Michigan was on the Ohio State one yard line with a fourth down and went for it. Michigan pitched the ball to the right and on defense Leggett was a great safety and it was only him and the Michigan ball carrier at the end zone and as the Michigan back leaped for the end zone Leggett went for his legs and flipped the Michigan man over to stop him short of the end zone. With the ball on Ohio State's own one-yard-line, Leggett led the Buckeyes on a drive for the eventual game-winning touchdown.

Leggett, besides being the most valuable player in that 1955 Rose Bowl win, lettered for coach Woody Hayes and the Buckeyes in 1952, 1953 and 1954.

After graduating from Ohio State in 1955 with a degree in business, Leggett played briefly for the Chicago Cardinals, as mentioned above, before getting called into the military (he was in ROTC at Ohio State). He spent two years in the Air Force and then played football in the Canadian Football League.

He then rejoined the Air Force for a time, and after a three-year military stint in Germany, returned to the United States and spent most of his professional life working in the investment and financial planning business.

Leggett died Tuesday, March 26, 2013 at his home in Colorado Springs, Colorado, after a long illness.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Education
Ohio State University
Also known as
William David Leggett

People in Dave Leggett's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Dave Leggett's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Dave Leggett?

American football player (1933-2013)

When was Dave Leggett born?

Dave Leggett was born on 18 September 1933 in New Philadelphia.

When did Dave Leggett die?

Dave Leggett died on 26 March 2013 in Colorado Springs.

What was Dave Leggett's occupation?

Dave Leggett was an american football player and basketball player.

What nationality was Dave Leggett?

Dave Leggett was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Dave Leggett

· Wikidata: Q5229172

· DBpedia: Dave Leggett

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Dave Leggett. https://biography.guide/dave-leggett/

MLA: "Dave Leggett." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/dave-leggett/.

Chicago: "Dave Leggett." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/dave-leggett/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

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