Cecil Isbell
Cecil Frank Isbell (July 11, 1915 – June 23, 1985) was an American football quarterback and coach. He played 5 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Green Bay Packers, leading them to the NFL Championship in 1939. He retired after the 1942 season to become an assistant coach at his alma mater, Purdue University, and the following year became its head coach for three seasons.
| No. 17 | |
circa 1937 | |
| Born: | July 11, 1915 Houston, Texas, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Died: | June 23, 1985 (aged 69) Hammond, Indiana, U.S. |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Tailback |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) |
| Weight | 190 lb (86 kg) |
| College | Purdue |
| NFL draft | 1938 / Round: 1 / Pick: 7 |
| Drafted by | Green Bay Packers |
| Career history | |
| As coach | |
| 1943 | Purdue (assistant) |
| 1944–1946 | Purdue |
| 1947–1949 | Baltimore Colts |
| 1950–1951 | Chicago Cardinals (OC/QB/RB) |
| 1952 | Dallas Texans (backfield) |
| 1953 | LSU (backfield) |
| As player | |
| 1938–1942 | Green Bay Packers |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Career stats | |
| Games played | 54 |
| TD–INT | 61–52 |
| Passing yards | 5,945 |
| Passer rating | 72.6 |
| Rushing attempts | 422 |
| Rushing yards | 1,522 |
| |
Isbell was the head coach of the Baltimore Colts of the All-America Football Conference from 1947 to 1949, resigning after four winless games. He then became an assistant under former head coach Curly Lambeau, now with the Chicago Cardinals. When Lambeau resigned late in the 1951 season, Isbell was the interim head coach for the final two games, which they split. Isbell's pro head coaching record was 10–23–1. He was hired as an assistant coach with the Dallas Texans of the NFL in 1952. Isbell was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1967.