Leon Gray was an American professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League for the New England Patriots, Houston Oilers, and the New Orleans Saints.
22 Facts About Leon Gray
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Leon Gray graduated from East Side High School in Olive Branch and earned academic and music scholarships to Jackson State University.
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Leon Gray was named to the All-American teams of both Playboy and Ebony Magazines, as well as the Pittsburgh Courier.
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Leon Gray was selected in the third round of the 1973 NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins.
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Leon Gray was cut before the start of the 1973 NFL season and claimed on waivers by the New England Patriots.
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Leon Gray was recommended to Chuck Fairbanks, who had just taken over as head coach of the Patriots, by an Eastern Airlines pilot named Bruce Kostamo who had played for Fairbanks in high school.
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Leon Gray played in the final nine games of the '73 season, starting eight at left tackle.
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Leon Gray continued to develop during the 1974 and 1975 seasons and by 1976 he was viewed as one of the best left tackles in the game.
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Leon Gray was not only strong at run-blocking, but in pass-protection, as well.
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Leon Gray was a major factor in quarterback Steve Grogan being sacked only 14 times in 1977.
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Leon Gray was rewarded for his role in this by being named to the All-Pro First-teams' of the AP, Pro Football Weekly and the PFWA and was selected to play in the Pro Bowl for the second time.
12.
Shortly before the start of the 1979 NFL season, Leon Gray was traded to the Oilers for first and sixth-round draft picks.
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Leon Gray stated that Gray was at least in the top three of offensive linemen that he had to face during his career.
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Leon Gray was voted as the Seagram's Seven Crowns of Sports Offensive Lineman of the Year for 1979.
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Leon Gray continued to excel during his time with the team, being named 1st Team All-Pro in both 1979 and 1980.
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Leon Gray was instrumental in helping Oilers' star running back Earl Campbell rush for NFL-leading totals of 1,679 yards in 1979 and 1,934 yards in 1980.
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Leon Gray played two seasons with the Saints before retiring from the NFL after the 1983 season.
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Leon Gray is still considered arguably the best offensive tackle to play for the New England Patriots.
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Leon Gray was named to the Patriots All-1970s Team, but was notably absent from their 35th Anniversary Team.
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Leon Gray worked in construction in the Boston area after his retirement from football.
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On November 11,2001, Leon Gray was found dead at age 49 in his modest apartment in the Roxbury section of Boston.
22.
Leon Gray died of natural causes and was survived by a son, Leon Jr.