Wray Carlton

Linwood Wray Carlton (born June 18, 1937) is an American former professional football player who was a running back in both Canada and the United States. He played college football for the Duke Blue Devils.

Unable to come to terms with the Philadelphia Eagles, who had selected him in the 1959 NFL draft, Carlton traveled to Toronto and the Canadian Football League (CFL) to play for the Argonauts. His Canadian career lasted only four games before he declined a trade to Vancouver, British Columbia, and went home. But another league and another opportunity was in his future.

In his early years with the Buffalo Bills of the American Football League (AFL), Carlton formed a virtually unstoppable backfield tandem, first with Elbert "Golden Wheels" Dubenion, then with Carlton Chester "Cookie" Gilchrist.

On September 18, 1960, in Buffalo's home opener, a 27–21 loss to the Denver Broncos, Carlton made history in the second quarter when he scored the team's first touchdown on a one-yard run. Carlton gained 1,010 yards from scrimmage (533 rushing and 477 receiving) and 11 touchdowns in the Bills first season.

Carlton briefly retired following the 1963 season, but re-signed with the Bills in July 1964.

Later he helped the Bills win back-to-back league championships in 1964 and 1965. Perennially among the AFL's top rushers, he led the league in rushing touchdowns in 1965 and was voted to the American Football League Eastern Division All-Star team in 1965 and 1966. Carlton was the Bills' all-time leading rusher during their AFL years, with a 4.1 yards per carry average. He was cut from the team in the 1968 preseason; he, along with Dubenion (who finished the 1968 season then retired), were the last players from the Bills' inaugural season still on the roster.

AFL career statistics Legend Won the AFL championship Led the league Bold Career high

Regular season Year Team Games Rushing Receiving GP GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD 1960 BUF 14 14 137 533 3.9 54 7 29 477 16.4 70 4 1961 BUF 14 8 101 311 3.1 27 4 17 193 11.4 22 0 1962 BUF 11 11 94 530 5.6 51 2 7 54 7.7 25 0 1963 BUF 4 3 29 125 4.3 19 0 1 9 9.0 9 0 1964 BUF 4 3 39 114 2.9 11 1 2 23 11.5 17 0 1965 BUF 14 14 156 592 3.8 80 6 24 196 8.2 23 1 1966 BUF 14 13 156 696 4.5 23 6 21 280 13.3 55 0 1967 BUF 12 11 107 467 4.4 21 3 9 97 10.8 24 0 87 77 819 3,368 4.1 80 29 110 1,329 12.1 70 5

Playoffs Year Team Games Rushing Receiving GP GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD 1964 BUF 1 1 18 70 3.9 13 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 1965 BUF 1 1 16 63 3.9 8 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 1966 BUF 1 1 9 31 3.4 10 0 1 5 5.0 5 0 3 3 43 164 3.8 13 1 1 5 5.0 5 0

Awards Carlton was inducted into The Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame in 2008 The North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.