Elvin Bethea

Elvin Lamont Bethea (born March 1, 1946) is an American former professional football player who spent his entire 16-year career as a defensive end with the Houston Oilers of the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North Carolina A&T Aggies and was the first player from the school to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, having been inducted in 2003.

Early life Bethea was born in Trenton, New Jersey, and played high school football and track at Trenton Central High School. He set the New Jersey state record in the shot put in 1964 at , which stood until 1997. Bethea won the shot put and discus competitions at the Golden West Invitational track meet in 1964.

Bethea also competed for the North Carolina A&T Aggies track and field team as a shot putter.

Professional career During his career in Houston, Bethea played in 210 games, including a stretch of 135 consecutive. He played at defensive end and guard in the 1968 season and did not miss a game until breaking his arm in a game against the Oakland Raiders in 1977. Bethea led the team in sacks six times, finishing his career with 105 unofficial sacks.

Bethea's career high was in 1973 with 16 sacks, which still ranks as the best in Oilers/Tennessee Titans history, a feat made more remarkable by the Oilers' 1–13 record. In 1976, he recorded sacks, but was not voted to the Pro Bowl. In a game against the San Diego Chargers that year, Bethea recorded four sacks (his career high) and a fumble recovery.

Bethea also had sacks in 1969. Other notable seasons in terms of sacks were: 1970 and 1971 with sacks in each, 1975 with 10 and 1978 with eight. He played in the AFC Championship Game in 1978 and 1979.

NFL career statistics Legend Led the league Bold Career high

Regular season Year Team Games Tackles Fumbles 1968 HOU 14 4 0.5 0 0 0 — 0 1969 HOU 14 14 14.5 1 0 0 — 0 1970 HOU 14 14 10.5 0 2 0 0.0 0 1971 HOU 14 14 10.5 0 0 0 — 0 1972 HOU 14 14 7.0 0 5 0 0.0 0 1973 HOU 14 14 16.0 0 1 0 0.0 0 1974 HOU 14 14 5.0 0 2 38 19.0 1 1975 HOU 14 14 10.0 1 0 0 — 0 1976 HOU 14 14 14.5 0 2 4 2.0 0 1977 HOU 9 9 2.0 0 1 0 0.0 0 1978 HOU 16 16 8.0 0 1 0 0.0 0 1979 HOU 14 14 1.5 0 1 0 0.0 0 1980 HOU 14 12 2.0 0 1 0 0.0 0 1981 HOU 15 14 2.0 0 0 0 — 0 1982 HOU 9 0 1.0 0 0 0 — 0 1983 HOU 7 0 0.0 0 0 0 — 0 Career 210 181 105.0 2 16 42 2.6 1

Postseason Year Team Games 1969 HOU 1 1 1.0 1978 HOU 3 3 2.0 1979 HOU 3 3 2.0 1980 HOU 1 1 2.0 Career 8 8 7.0

Awards and honors Bethea was Second-team All-Pro in 1969, 1973, 1978 and 1979 to go with his eight Pro Bowl selections.

Bethea was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003. He was officially inducted during the Enshrinement Ceremony on August 3, 2003, where his college coach and presenter, Hornsby Howell, unveiled the bust of Bethea, which was sculpted by Scott Myers.

In 2005, Bethea was inducted to the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame He was also inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.

Book Bethea is the author of Smash-Mouth: My Football Journey from Trenton to Canton.