Joe Perry

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Lore & Background

Perry's speed was legendary. He ran the 100-yard dash in 9.5 seconds in 1947, just two-tenths of a second slower than Mel Patton's then-world record of 9.3 seconds. His nickname came during his first practices with the 49ers, when quarterback Frankie Albert exclaimed, "You're like a jet, Joe," after Perry had shot out of his stance so quickly that Albert could not hand him the ball in time. Y. A. Tittle, Albert's successor, echoed the sentiment, telling the San Francisco Chronicle, "He was the fastest player off the ball in the history of the world. You'd take the ball from center and turn, and he was already gone through the hole."

Perry faced racial abuse and discrimination throughout his career. "I can't remember a season when I didn't hear a racial slur," he said. When invited to the 1949 AAFC All-Star game in Houston, he and other black players were not allowed to stay in the same hotel as white players. Despite this, his 49ers teammates were accepting and provided strong support from the outset. Perry was the first player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons, doing so in 1953 and 1954. In 1954, he was part of the "Million Dollar Backfield" with Y. A. Tittle, Hugh McElhenny, and John Henry Johnson. That season, the United Press named him its Pro Player of the Year, the first black player so honored. He made three straight Pro Bowl appearances from 1952 to 1954.

In Their Own Story

Before a 1955 game against the Cleveland Browns at Kezar Stadium, the 49ers staged "Joe Perry Day." Fans honored him with gifts including a new car. "I was a favorite son," he said. "I just thought Joe Perry Day was one of the great honors in my life." In that game, he had 20 carries for 116 yards, out-gaining the entire Browns backfield. Cleveland coach Paul Brown remarked, "This was Joe Perry's day in more ways than one."

Perry's decision to join the 49ers was based on trust. The NFL's Los Angeles Rams had offered him a $9,500 salary, but he turned it down to sign with the 49ers of the AAFC for $4,500. He trusted 49ers owner Tony Morabito, who Perry described as like a father. He became the team's first African-American player. In 1958, Perry surpassed Steve Van Buren for first place on the NFL's all-time rushing yards list. After being traded to the Baltimore Colts, he led the team in rushing in 1961. Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas said, "Joe was the kind of guy you'd love to play your whole career with. He was older when we got him, but he did well for us. He was amazing on the screen pass, like McElhenny. And Joe clawed and scratched for every yard."

Reader's Guide

Joe Perry was a fullback who stood 6 ft 0 in tall and weighed 200 lb, small for a typical fullback even during his era. Unlike typical fullbacks, his forte was not to run with power; he was a straight-ahead runner who combined power and speed with deceptive elusiveness. His role was primarily as a ball carrier rather than a blocker, and he had a knack for finding holes in opposing defensive lines. "If you saw a hole, you take it," Perry described his running style to The Sacramento Bee. "If you didn't, you kept moving until you did. You run with instinct."

Perry played college football for Compton Junior College in 1944, scoring 22 touchdowns that season. After being rejected by UCLA, he enlisted in the Navy during World War II and played football for Naval Air Station Alameda. While playing there, he was scouted by the 49ers. Perry's jersey number 34 was retired by the 49ers in 1971. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1969. His career included leading the AAFC in rushing touchdowns in 1948 and 1949, and in rushing yards in 1949. He led the NFL in carries, rushing yards, rushing yards per game, and yards from scrimmage in both 1953 and 1954.

Did You Know?

• Perry earned the nickname "the Jet" during his first 49ers practice when quarterback Frankie Albert exclaimed, "You're like a jet, Joe," after Perry shot out of his stance too fast for Albert to hand him the ball.
• He was the first player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons, doing so in 1953 (1,018 yards) and 1954 (1,049 yards).
• Perry ran the 100-yard dash in 9.5 seconds in 1947, just two-tenths of a second slower than the world record at the time.
• He turned down a $9,500 offer from the NFL's Los Angeles Rams to sign with the San Francisco 49ers of the AAFC for $4,500 because he trusted 49ers owner Tony Morabito.
• In 1955, the 49ers held "Joe Perry Day" at Kezar Stadium, where fans honored him with gifts including a new car; he responded with 116 rushing yards, out-gaining the entire Cleveland Browns backfield.