Bob Ferguson (American football)
| Date of birth | August 29, 1939 |
|---|---|
| Place of birth | Columbus, Ohio |
| Date of death | December 30, 2004 (aged 65) |
| Place of death | Columbus, Ohio |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Fullback |
| College | Ohio State |
| NFL draft | 1962 / Round: 1 / Pick 5 |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1962 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 1963 | Minnesota Vikings |
| Awards |
Maxwell Award (1961) UPI Player of the Year (1961) |
| Career stats | |
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Robert Eugene "Bob" Ferguson (August 29, 1939 – December 30, 2004) was an American football fullback. He played college football at Ohio State University, where won the Maxwell Award in 1961. Ferguson then played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996.
Ferguson attended Troy High School in Troy, Ohio. Ferguson's first year of eligibility at Ohio State University was 1959. The starting fullback at the beginning of the season was the senior, and Heisman Trophy candidate, Bob White. Through the course of the season, however, Ferguson supplanted White as the starter and led the team in rushing that season, averaging 6.1 yards per carry.
Over the next two seasons, Ferguson continued to lead the Ohio State offensive attack. In both 1960 and 1961 Ferguson was a unanimous All-American selection. In 1961, he won the UPI College Football Player of the Year, the Maxwell Award, and was the runner up to Ernie Davis for the Heisman Trophy. The 1961 Heisman vote was the second closest in the history of the award, with Davis edging Ferguson by 53 points.
Ferguson shared the Ohio State backfield in 1961 with halfbacks Paul Warfield and Matt Snell. Ferguson was a power runner and Warfield was supplied speed. The common description of the time said, "Warfield is the lightning, Ferguson is the thunder." The Buckeyes won the Big Ten Conference that year and were voted national champions by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).
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