Beattie Feathers: A Forgotten Legend

August 28, 2010   ·   Ryan Frye   ·   Jump to comments

I wrote this article in December of 2008 on TriCitiesSports.com. I do not usually post the same thing on both websites, but many people have liked this.
Although few remember him now because he played in the NFL in the mid-1930's, the player's name was Beattie Feathers. Since he was my grandfather's cousin, I am proud to say that I am related to him. My dad remembers meeting him and playing catch with him as a boy. I wish I had been there, too.

In 1934, Beattie "Big Chief" Feathers was the star rookie halfback for the Chicago Bears (known then as the "Monsters of the Midway"). Because of his American Indian heritage, he was sometimes compared to Jim Thorpe. And speaking of Hall of Famers, Beattie played on the same teams as George Halas, Red Grange (the famed "Galloping Ghost"), Sid Luckman, and Bronko Nagurski. Yet in 1934, he was considered the star of the team.

No one before Beattie Feathers had ever gained 1,000 yards rushing in a season, and no one repeate...

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