George McAfee

One-Play McAfee: Hall of Fame Bears halfback and NFL career punt return record holder.

George Anderson McAfee (March 13, 1918 – March 4, 2009) was an American professional football halfback, defensive back and return specialist who played for the Chicago Bears from 1940 to 1941 and 1945 to 1950 in the National Football League (NFL). As an undergraduate at Duke University, McAfee starred in baseball and track and field as well as college football. McAfee was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He still holds the NFL record for punt return average in a career.

Quick Facts

Position

Halfback
defensive back
return specialist

Born

13 March 1918

Birthplace

Corbin, Kentucky, U.S.

Died

4 March 2009

Place of death

Durham, North Carolina, U.S.

High school

Ironton (Ironton, Ohio)

College

Duke (1937–1939)

Draft year

1940

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.

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.