Marion Motley
Marion Motley was a significant figure in the early history of professional football, known for his pioneering role as one of the first African American players in the sport. Born on June 5, 1920, in Leesburg, Georgia, and raised in Canton, Ohio, he showcased his athletic talent through various sports, ultimately excelling in football during high school. After a successful collegiate career at the University of Nevada, he served in the Navy, where he played on a team that famously defeated Notre Dame in 1945. Following his discharge, he joined the Cleveland Browns, where he became a crucial player under coach Paul Brown.
Motley's impact extended beyond his performance; he helped establish the fullback position as a critical component of the game. Known for his powerful running style and ability to catch passes, he contributed to innovative plays that shaped the team's offensive strategies. Despite facing racial discrimination during his career, his resilience paved the way for greater acceptance of African American players in professional football. Motley's legacy as a trailblazer remains influential, marking a significant chapter in the evolution of the sport and the breaking down of racial barriers in athletics.
Marion Motley
Football Player
- Born: June 5, 1920
- Birthplace: Leesburg, Georgia
- Died: June 27, 1999
- Place of death: Cleveland, Ohio
Sport: Football
Early Life
Marion Motley was born on June 5, 1920, in Leesburg, Georgia. When Marion was three years old, his family moved to Canton, Ohio, where his father worked as a laborer in a local foundry. One of four children of Blanche and Shakeful Motley, Marion grew up only a few miles from the present site of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Marion’s first exposure to organized sport came as a member of his grade school’s basketball team. However, Marion learned to play baseball and football in pickup games played in vacant lots and playgrounds in his poor and predominantly African American neighborhood.
The Road to Excellence
While a student at Canton’s McKinley High School, Marion began to truly develop as an athlete. Although he played baseball, basketball, and football, he excelled at football. By his senior year, Marion was considered one of the finest running backs in the state. His Bulldogs teams lost only three games during his three varsity seasons. These were all to Massillon High School, which was coached by Paul Brown, who later played an important role in Marion’s life.
After graduating from high school, Marion enrolled at South Carolina State University, but, in 1940, he decided to rejoin his high school coach, Jimmy Aiken, who was then head football coach at the University of Nevada. At Nevada, Marion set several small-college records and earned honorable mention all-American ranking. This was something of a rarity for a small-college player in those days.
After suffering a knee injury during his senior year, Marion returned to Canton and went to work in a steel mill. Then, on Christmas Day, 1944, he enlisted in the Navy. Marion was stationed at Great Lakes Naval Base, Illinois, and became a member of the Great Lakes Navy football team that in 1945 defeated a heavily favored Notre Dame team 39-7. The Great Lakes team was coached by former Masillon High School coach Paul Brown.
The Emerging Champion
Upon discharge from the Navy, Marion again returned to Canton. Meanwhile, Paul Brown was hired as the first-ever coach of the Cleveland Browns of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC). Hoping for an opportunity to play professional football, Marion wrote to his Navy coach and asked for a tryout. Although he was first told that the team had enough running backs, Marion was later invited to the Browns’ training camp. As it turned out, the Browns were actually more interested in Marion as a roommate for an African American player named Bill Willis than as a running back.
During the early years of professional football, there were few African American players. In fact, for thirteen years, beginning in 1933, there were no African American players in professional football. Then, in 1946, the Los Angeles Rams signed two African American players, and a few weeks later, the Browns signed Willis. The Browns’ desire for another African American player to room with Willis gave Marion the opportunity he needed.
Although he began practicing with the second team, within days Marion worked his way into the Browns’ starting lineup. During that first season, things were rough for Marion. Players often made insulting racial remarks and some deliberately attempted to injure him. Finally, in 1947, in a game in Buffalo against the Bills, an official named Tommy Hughitt penalized a player for unsportsmanlike conduct after he deliberately stepped on Marion’s hands after a play had ended. Hughitt informed the player that such behavior would no longer be tolerated. Marion contends that, thanks to Hughitt’s stand, there were few such racially motivated incidents after that day.
Although many baseball fans recognize Jackie Robinson as the man who broke baseball’s “color barrier,” most do not realize the tremendous contributions made by Marion to professional football.
Continuing the Story
Just as his role as an African American pioneer was overshadowed by Jackie Robinson, Marion’s professional football career was somewhat overshadowed by his teammate, quarterback Otto Graham, whose accurate passing was the most popular element of the Cleveland Browns’ successful first decade (1946-1956). Together, however, Marion and Graham popularized the draw and trap plays for which the Browns were famous. Together, the two stars also established the fullback as an effective pass receiver.
When Graham had trouble finding an open receiver, he knew his fullback, Marion, would be nearby to catch a short pass and turn it into a big gain. With his speed and size, Marion would run straight ahead and, if necessary, over opponents who stood in his way.
The draw play, which called for Graham to fake the pass, then hand off to Marion, became one of the Browns’ most successful plays. According to Coach Brown, it was discovered by accident. Once, when Graham got a fierce pass rush from the defense, in desperation, he handed the ball to Marion. In their haste to get to the quarterback, the defense ran right past Marion, who then swept through them for a big gain. In a short time, the draw play became Marion’s most dangerous weapon.
Stopping Marion was always a concern for opposing defenses. If an opponent decided to drop back to stop the pass, Marion would take advantage and run up the middle. If they decided to stay up close and try to stop Marion from running the draw play, Graham would simply throw the ball over them.
Summary
As effective as Marion Motley was as a runner, he did not carry the ball with the frequency that the average running back does today. There really is no way to tell how many yards he might have gained if he carried the ball as often. There is little doubt, however, that his hard-charging style, combined with his pass-catching ability, revolutionized the fullback position. Also, and perhaps more important, his role as an African American pioneer forever changed professional football for the better.
Bibliography
Grossi, Tony. Tales from the Browns Sideline. Champaign, Ill.: Sports, 2004.
Levy, Alan Howard. Tackling Jim Crow: Racial Segregation in Professional Football. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland, 2003.
MacCambridge, Michael. America’s Game: The Epic Story of How Pro Football Captured a Nation. New York: Random House, 2004.
Ross, Charles Kenyatta. Outside the Lines: African Americans and the Integration of the National Football League. New York: New York University Press, 1999.