| No. 11 | |
| Date of birth | June 26, 1923 |
|---|---|
| Place of birth | Ypsilanti, Michigan, U.S. |
| Date of death | August 12, 1995 (aged 72) |
| Place of death | Milford, Michigan, U.S. |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Defensive back, Halfback, Quarterback |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) |
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg) |
| US college | Michigan, Michigan State |
| NFL draft | 1947 / Round: 21 / Pick: 195 |
| Drafted by | Chicago Bears |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1941 | Michigan |
| 1945–1946 | Michigan State |
| 1947 | Chicago Bears |
| 1949 | Toronto Argonauts |
Russell "Big Daddy" Reader Jr. (June 26, 1923 – August 12, 1995) was an American gridiron football player. Reader was born in Ypsilanti, Michigan and graduated from Dearborn High School in Dearborn, Michigan. After graduating from Dearborn High School, Reader enrolled at the University of Michigan where he was a member of Fritz Crisler's 1941 Michigan Wolverines football team. [1] After World War II, Reader enrolled at Michigan State University and played at the halfback position for the Spartans football team in 1945 and 1946. Reader was considered a triple-threat player, as he handled rushing, passing and kicking duties for the Spartans. In November 1945, he led the Spartans to a 33–0 win over the Penn State Nittany Lions, as he threw two touchdown passes and also caught a touchdown pass. [2] He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 21st round (195th overall pick) in the 1947 NFL Draft. [3] Simkus played in two games for the Bears in the 1947 NFL season, [3] and began the 1948 season with the Bears as an understudy for Sid Luckman at the quarterback position. He was also a renowned swimmer and diver. [4] He started the 1949 season with the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League and finished the season playing for the Windsor Bulldogs in the Canadian American Football League. [5] [6] Reader died in 1995 at age 72 while living in Milford, Michigan. [7]
- ^ "1941 Roster". University of Michigan. Archived from the original on September 1, 2010.
- ^ "Spartans Trim Lions, 33 to 0". The Milwaukee Journal. November 18, 1945.
- ^ a b "Russ Reader profile". pro-football-reference.com.
- ^ "BOB ZUPPKE SAYS '48 BEARS LOOK BETTER THAN 1947 ELEVEN". Chicago Daily Tribune. August 6, 1948. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013.
- ^ "Krol, Reader May Not Play Saturday". Ottawa Citizen. September 14, 1949.
- ^ "Reader To Play For Windsor Team". Ottawa Citizen. October 3, 1949.
- ^ "Social Security Death Index". Roots Web.
- Career statistics and player information from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference
- 1923 births
- 1995 deaths
- Players of Canadian football from Michigan
- American football defensive backs
- American football halfbacks
- Chicago Bears players
- Lincoln Army Air Field Wings football players
- Michigan State Spartans football players
- Michigan Wolverines football players
- Toronto Argonauts players
- United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II
- Sportspeople from Dearborn, Michigan
- Players of American football from Wayne County, Michigan
- People from Milford, Michigan
- Players of American football from Oakland County, Michigan
- Sportspeople from Ypsilanti, Michigan
- Military personnel from Michigan