21 Facts About Claude Humphrey

Claude B Humphrey was an American professional football player who played as a defensive end in the National Football League for the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles.

Claude Humphrey was born on June 29,1944, in Memphis, to Dosie and Millie Claude Humphrey.

Claude Humphrey played football, basketball, ran the low hurdles and excelled in the shot put in high school.

Claude Humphrey held the Tennessee high school record in the shot put for almost four decades.

Claude Humphrey attended Tennessee State University, an Historically Black College and University in Nashville.

Claude Humphrey played in four college all star games: the Senior Bowl, the Blue-Gray Game, the Coaches All-American Game and the College All-Star game.

Claude Humphrey was drafted out of Tennessee State University in the first round of the 1968 NFL draft with the third overall choice by the Falcons.

Claude Humphrey had been well prepared as a defensive lineman at TSU by coach Merritt and defensive coordinator Joe Gilliam Sr.

Claude Humphrey credited the Falcons' new 1969 defensive coordinator, Marion Campbell, with helping him branch out to obtain that knowledge, leading to his continued success.

Quarterback sacks did not become an official NFL statistic until 1982, after Claude Humphrey retired, but retrospective film study of his games gave him 130 unofficial sacks in his career.

Claude Humphrey would have double digit sacks in three of the next five full seasons he played for the Falcons, not including the 9.5 sacks he had in his final full year with Atlanta.

Claude Humphrey missed the 1975 season with a knee injury.

Claude Humphrey later decided to return to football, and in 1979, the Falcons traded him to the Eagles for two fourth-round draft picks.

Claude Humphrey finished out his career with the Philadelphia Eagles from 1979 to 1981.

Claude Humphrey retired in 1981, the season before sacks were recorded as an official NFL statistic.

Claude Humphrey served as a defensive line coach for the Falcons in the 1990s.

Claude Humphrey was a final 15 candidate in 2003,2005, and 2006.

In February 2014, Claude Humphrey was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the senior ballot.

Claude Humphrey has been inducted into the Tennessee State University Hall of Fame in 1983, the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2004, the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame, and his high school's hall of fame.

Claude Humphrey had a guest appearance on The Dukes of Hazzard episode "Repo Men" in which he portrayed Big John, a counterfeiter.

Claude Humphrey died in Memphis on December 3,2021, at the age of 77.