James Calvin Bird was an American football halfback who played college football for the Kentucky Wildcats and spent an off-season in the American Football League with the New York Jets as a wide receiver.
12 Facts About Calvin Bird
1.
2.
Calvin Bird was one of four brothers, all of whom played sports at Corbin and later in college.
3.
Calvin Bird set the state scoring record his junior year and the national scoring record his senior year, the latter in which he scored 264 points.
4.
Calvin Bird attended the University of Kentucky and played football for head coach Blanton Collier.
5.
Calvin Bird played five positions for the Wildcats, including halfback, kick returner, wide receiver, and defensive back.
6.
Calvin Bird was chosen as Southeastern Conference Sophomore of the Year in 1958 after leading the conference in receptions and receiving yards.
7.
Calvin Bird was a second-team All-SEC selection in 1959 and a first-team All-SEC selection as a senior in 1960.
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Blanton Collier 8.
Calvin Bird led Kentucky in receiving and all-purpose yards in each of his three seasons playing for the team.
9.
Calvin Bird played in three all-star games following his senior season and was the most valuable player of the All-American All-Star Game.
10.
Calvin Bird was drafted in 1961 by the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League and the San Diego Chargers of the American Football League, though he did not play for either team.
11.
Calvin Bird joined the New York Jets in the summer of 1963 as a wide receiver, but was cut by the team before the season and did not see any playing time.
12.
Calvin Bird married while a senior at Kentucky to Okeh Jean in 1960, and they remained together until his death 53 years later on June 19,2013.