Hirsch, Crazylegs

▪ 2005

Elroy Leon Hirsch 

      American athlete and sports administrator (b. June 17, 1923, Wausau, Wis.—d. Jan. 28, 2004, Madison, Wis.), became one of professional football's leading receivers, known for his big-play receptions, as a member of the Los Angeles Rams (1949–57) of the National Football League (NFL). In 1942 Hirsch played halfback on the University of Wisconsin's football team and earned the nickname “Crazylegs” for an unorthodox running style that made him difficult to tackle. The following year he enlisted in the Marines and began officer training at the University of Michigan. There he became the school's only athlete to letter in four sports in the same year (football, basketball, baseball, and track). After World War II, Hirsch began playing professional football with the Chicago Rockets (1946–48) of the All-America Football Conference and endured several injury-plagued seasons before joining the Rams in 1949. Moved to the split end position, he became an integral part of the team's formidable offense, which relied heavily on the forward pass. In the 1951 season he led the league in catches (66) and touchdown receptions (17) and set an NFL record for receiving yards (1,495). His play helped the Rams win a national championship that year. Hirsch's immense popularity led to appearances in several movies, including the autobiographical Crazylegs (1953). In 1957 he retired from professional football with 387 career receptions, 7,029 receiving yards, and 60 touchdowns. He later served as athletic director (1969–87) at the University of Wisconsin and helped turn around the school's struggling sports program. Hirsch was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968.

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