George McAfee

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Lore & Background

George McAfee was born in Corbin, Kentucky, the 10th of 12 children. His family moved to Ironton, Ohio, where he attended Ironton High School. He earned a scholarship to Duke University in 1937. During his three years at Duke, the team compiled a record of 24–4–1 and won Southern Conference championships in 1938 and 1939. The 1938 team was unscored upon and unbeaten until the Rose Bowl, losing 7–3 to USC. In his senior season, McAfee led the team in rushing, receiving, scoring, kickoff returns, punt returns, interceptions, and punting, earning All-America honors. He also batted .353 as a center fielder for the Duke baseball team and won a Southern Conference 100-meter championship. McAfee was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles with the second overall pick of the 1940 NFL draft, then traded to the Chicago Bears on February 15, 1940. Nicknamed 'One-Play McAfee,' he ran a 100-yard dash in 9.7 seconds. In his first professional game, he returned a punt for a 75-yard touchdown. In the 1940 NFL championship game, he returned an interception for a 34-yard touchdown in the Bears' 73–0 victory. In 1941, he led the league with a 7.3 rushing yards per carry and a league-high 12 touchdowns, including six rushing, three receiving, one punt return, one kickoff return, and one interception return. His 31.6 yards per punt return that season set a franchise record that still stands. McAfee served in the Navy from 1942 to 1945. He returned to the Bears in 1945, carrying five times for 105 yards and three touchdowns in his first game back. He played through 1950, leading the NFL in punt returns in 1948 and 1950. In his final game, a division-round loss to the Los Angeles Rams, he set seven Bears playoff franchise records. McAfee scored 234 points, gained 5,313 combined net yards, intercepted 25 passes, and held the NFL career punt return average record of 12.78 yards. His jersey #5 was retired by Chicago in 1955. He entered the College Football Hall of Fame in 1961, the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1966, the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 1967, and the Duke Sports Hall of Fame in 1975. He was named to the NFL's 1940s All-Decade Team and the All-Time Two Way Team. After retirement, McAfee worked as an NFL referee and co-founded the McAfee Oil Company with his brother Wes, who also played football for Duke and one NFL season before serving in WWII. McAfee rarely spoke of

In Their Own Story

In his very first professional game, McAfee announced himself to the NFL with a moment of sheer brilliance. Returning a punt for a 75-yard touchdown with just 30 seconds remaining, he secured a victory over the Brooklyn Dodgers. Later that rookie season, he ran back a kickoff for 93 yards and threw a touchdown pass to help the Bears defeat their rivals, the Green Bay Packers. The defining moment of his early career came in the final game of 1940: the NFL Championship Game against the Washington Redskins. In the historic 73–0 victory, McAfee returned an interception for a 34-yard touchdown, cementing one of the most lopsided scores in history. His impact was immediate and lasting; John F. Kieran of The New York Times wrote in 1940 that the debate in Chicago centered on whether McAfee was 'just as good as Jim Thorpe ever was, or better.' Bears owner George Halas added his own assessment: 'the highest compliment you can pay any ball carrier is just compare him with McAfee.'

Reader's Guide

George McAfee was a versatile Hall of Fame player for the Chicago Bears, known for explosive speed and record-setting punt returns. He played halfback, defensive back, and return specialist, contributing to Bears NFL championships in 1940, 1941, and 1946. His career punt return average of 12.78 yards remains an NFL record.

Did You Know?

• McAfee was nicknamed 'One-Play McAfee' for his explosive speed.
• He ran a 100-yard dash in 9.7 seconds.
• In his first professional game, he returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown with 30 seconds left to beat the Brooklyn Dodgers.
• His 31.6 yards per punt return in 1941 is still a Bears franchise record.
• McAfee scored 12 touchdowns in 1941, including six rushing, three receiving, one punt return, one kickoff return, and one interception return.