Thank you for posting this. Ollie matson has been forgotten by this generation. He was 6'2 220 which was fullback size back then but he had sprinter speed. He was the most explosive kick returner of his time and shared the record for kick return touchdowns until this year when josh cribbs broke it. That's 43 years after he retired!
Uncle Ollie Matson I called him Uncle Ollie he was the first person to teach about physical conditioning at age 7. Prior to that the only training I had was when my dad Johnny Nixon threw me into Lake Michigan at Jean Klock beach in Benton Harbor, Michigan and taught me how to swim and fish at age 5 in the summer of 1956 at the home of my great Uncle Carson Rollins who worked with Robert Abbott when the Chicago Defender was first started and Aunt Martha Lambert who my father lived with after leaving New York in 1947 at the death of my grandmother before I was born, Lillian Evans. I was told she was a spectacular tennis player. Anyway Uncle Ollie taught me about calisthenics, push ups, chin-ups and running at a very early age and took me too many the old Chicago Cardinals football games.. Lionel B. Nixon Chicago, Illinois Watch This
I loved this man as a father figure, uncle. He was so gentle and a presence. He NEVER bragged. I asked him once, what it was like to play in the NFL, He said it once to me “Ito, those were good times”, he repeated it as a whisper to himself, “that was the good life”.... that’s it! All of you who had the privilege of knowing him know exactly what I mean, he was a soft-spoken, kind, nice, man that got your respect by his tremendous presence. RIP Coach, I miss you. By the way coach, don’t worry.... I didn’t marry that girl at the coliseum and the little girl eventually won a scholarship to UCLA and became a teacher! She was awed by you! Thank you so much.
Ollie Matson was my Los Angeles High School Coach. After graduating LA High 1972, I ran into Coach Matson in 1979 at the LA Coliseum (he was working there as an official, host) - he remembered me, (he remember the time I cut gym...only once! We laughed so. He was such a soft spoken and gentle man.... but you could feel the power!). I heard an ex-NFL player say that Ollie Matson was the only player that (when running past) you hear the wind go Whooooosh! Wow! Gives me chills even today, RIP Coach! You are loved and missed! Harvey_Ito
It should be noted that Ollie Matson played both ways in college and was named a college All-American as a defensive back! And in his rookie year he made All-Pro as a safety! We remember him as a spectacular running back, pass-receiver, and kick-returner-- but with his size, Olympic medalist speed, agility, and superb tackling technique, he was just as good on defense. The complete player and a true gentleman as well.
Probably the most underrated running back ever! He 6'2", 220 pounds, lightning fast, agile, strong, could block, could catch passes well, was tough as nails, and was one of the games best returners! Of course he fell off after his time in Chicago, but he could have been one of the best ever if he kept up his dominance. His first six years, he had 5,841 yards from scrimmage, 40 touchdowns, 4.38 yards per carry, 3 punt return TDs, 6 kick return TDs, 10.9 yards per punt return, and 28.5 yards per kick return. He made 6 Pro Bowls, 5 First-Team All-Pros (4 consensus), and played every game in that stretch (missed 1953 for service). Incredible player.
In 1953, Ollie Matson served in the U.S. Army at Fort Ord, California. He played football with the Fort Ord Warriors team who in that year won the Poinsettia Bowl, the military's east vs. west championship game. This was a huge deal back then, as military teams were chock-full of top notch college and professional talent drafted during the Korean Conflict.
While I attended Los Angeles High School many, many years ago, I was blessed to be introduced by then Principal - Norm Schachter (who was also at that time an NFL Official) to our new Coach - Mr. Matson. Mr. Matson's mentoring skills easily eclipse his great track and football exhibitions. Moreover, Mr. Matson, along with Dr. Schachter, exhibited the greatest plays of all time - guiding teens to adulthood. So, even though most may forget, or may never have heard of Mr. Matson, his achievements off the track and field were, and still are, epic in the lives of those who were lucky enough to have called him Coach.
Saw him play numerous times. In my opinion Ollie was superior to James Brown who i also respect as a great back. Brown played on the best of the best teams and was more of a bulldozing back. Ollie glided and cut direction at full speed again and again and once even, he was really leaven in a big way. Ollie would have also been a great wide out receiver with those soft hands. Unfortunately for obvious reasons, he was given short shrift in the chronology of great backs. He transcended the times.
Continued; few if any players from that era could have become competitive in today's super human market. Ollie i believe would have made the grade as a receiver or speciality screen back. Unlike the obnoxious display of arrogant celebration found today , Ollie remained a gentleman's gentleman right up until the end. An odd mix of football superiority and a reserved humility at a time when America deserved niether. A true gift to see for those so privilaged to be there.
That is really hard to say. If many of the atheletes then had access and knowledge to the training regimes, diets, supplements that exist today they themselves would have be bigger, quicker and stronger then they were in the era they played. Not to mention steriods used by some in the NFL today. All things even to the regard I believe many might be successful today as well.
yea he was beast, but of those 9 players the cardinals got from the rams in exchange for ollie matson, one of them was mr DICK NIGHT TRAIN LANE. LOL so ima say the cardinals got the better deal
I hope people stop apologising for the past. There is a 'boatload' of injustice right now to rectify. Nietzche might have had it right 'what doesn't kill me, only makes me stronger'
Thank you for posting this. Ollie matson has been forgotten by this generation. He was 6'2 220 which was fullback size back then but he had sprinter speed.
He was the most explosive kick returner of his time and shared the record for kick return touchdowns until this year when josh cribbs broke it. That's 43 years after he retired!
The fluid ability to maintain speed after the first hit in and out.
I already knew about Matson, and that hilarious trade, but I always love watching old footage. You can still find greatness there.
Uncle Ollie Matson
I called him Uncle Ollie he was the first person to teach about physical conditioning at age 7.
Prior to that the only training I had was when my dad Johnny Nixon threw me into Lake Michigan at Jean Klock beach in Benton Harbor, Michigan and taught me how to swim and fish at age 5 in the summer of 1956 at the home of my great Uncle Carson Rollins who worked with Robert Abbott when the Chicago Defender was first started and Aunt Martha Lambert who my father lived with after leaving New York in 1947 at the death of my grandmother before I was born, Lillian Evans. I was told she was a spectacular tennis player.
Anyway Uncle Ollie taught me about calisthenics, push ups, chin-ups and running at a very early age and took me too many the old Chicago Cardinals football games..
Lionel B. Nixon
Chicago, Illinois
Watch This
I loved this man as a father figure, uncle. He was so gentle and a presence. He NEVER bragged. I asked him once, what it was like to play in the NFL, He said it once to me “Ito, those were good times”, he repeated it as a whisper to himself, “that was the good life”.... that’s it! All of you who had the privilege of knowing him know exactly what I mean, he was a soft-spoken, kind, nice, man that got your respect by his tremendous presence. RIP Coach, I miss you. By the way coach, don’t worry.... I didn’t marry that girl at the coliseum and the little girl eventually won a scholarship to UCLA and became a teacher! She was awed by you! Thank you so much.
Ollie Matson was my Los Angeles High School Coach. After graduating LA High 1972, I ran into Coach Matson in 1979 at the LA Coliseum (he was working there as an official, host) - he remembered me, (he remember the time I cut gym...only once! We laughed so. He was such a soft spoken and gentle man.... but you could feel the power!). I heard an ex-NFL player say that Ollie Matson was the only player that (when running past) you hear the wind go Whooooosh! Wow! Gives me chills even today, RIP Coach! You are loved and missed! Harvey_Ito
It should be noted that Ollie Matson played both ways in college and was named a college All-American as a defensive back! And in his rookie year he made All-Pro as a safety! We remember him as a spectacular running back, pass-receiver, and kick-returner-- but with his size, Olympic medalist speed, agility, and superb tackling technique, he was just as good on defense. The complete player and a true gentleman as well.
My cousin was a great man and Football player..He was a Hall of Famer in both to me...RIP Cousin Ollie
this is my uncle by blood. i got to hang out with him last year in l.a. man i hope i can see him again
Probably the most underrated running back ever! He 6'2", 220 pounds, lightning fast, agile, strong, could block, could catch passes well, was tough as nails, and was one of the games best returners! Of course he fell off after his time in Chicago, but he could have been one of the best ever if he kept up his dominance. His first six years, he had 5,841 yards from scrimmage, 40 touchdowns, 4.38 yards per carry, 3 punt return TDs, 6 kick return TDs, 10.9 yards per punt return, and 28.5 yards per kick return. He made 6 Pro Bowls, 5 First-Team All-Pros (4 consensus), and played every game in that stretch (missed 1953 for service). Incredible player.
He didn’t have a side-kick player. It was him against the world after Charley Trippi retired in 1954.
In 1953, Ollie Matson served in the U.S. Army at Fort Ord, California. He played football with the Fort Ord Warriors team who in that year won the Poinsettia Bowl, the military's east vs. west championship game. This was a huge deal back then, as military teams were chock-full of top notch college and professional talent drafted during the Korean Conflict.
While I attended Los Angeles High School many, many years ago, I was blessed to be introduced by then Principal - Norm Schachter (who was also at that time an NFL Official) to our new Coach - Mr. Matson. Mr. Matson's mentoring skills easily eclipse his great track and football exhibitions. Moreover, Mr. Matson, along with Dr. Schachter, exhibited the greatest plays of all time - guiding teens to adulthood. So, even though most may forget, or may never have heard of Mr. Matson, his achievements off the track and field were, and still are, epic in the lives of those who were lucky enough to have called him Coach.
Hey Terry Price! Hello, from Harvey Ito...you were quiet strong, and cool! Be well, Terry!
Rest in Peace. Sweet Nupe. (May 1, 1930 - February 19, 2011)
damn he was fast
Eddie George reminded me of him, minus the top-end track speed (400m Silver - Helsinki).
Percy Harvin speed and elusiveness blended with Adrian Peterson size, he would be as lethal in today's game as he was in the 1950s.
I saw Ollie Matson play with the Chicago Cardinals. He was as good as any back that I have ever seen.
I remember hearing his name as a kid I think from Chris Berman on TV
My first football icon!! Cardinals fan in Bears country!
trippi and matson were the old chicago cardinals..... matson one of the great open field runners of all time....
RIP to one of footballs greats.
Saw him play numerous times. In my opinion Ollie was superior to James Brown who i also respect as a great back. Brown played on the best of the best teams and was more of a bulldozing back. Ollie glided and cut direction at full speed again and again and once even, he was really leaven in a big way. Ollie would have also been a great wide out receiver with those soft hands. Unfortunately for obvious reasons, he was given short shrift in the chronology of great backs. He transcended the times.
He played defense too. He could throw a bit as well.
Continued; few if any players from that era could have become competitive in today's super human market. Ollie i believe would have made the grade as a receiver or speciality screen back. Unlike the obnoxious display of arrogant celebration found today , Ollie remained a gentleman's gentleman right up until the end. An odd mix of football superiority and a reserved humility at a time when America deserved niether. A true gift to see for those so privilaged to be there.
A University of San Francisco Don....
Wow!
That is really hard to say. If many of the atheletes then had access and knowledge to the training regimes, diets, supplements that exist today they themselves would have be bigger, quicker and stronger then they were in the era they played. Not to mention steriods used by some in the NFL today. All things even to the regard I believe many might be successful today as well.
yea he was beast, but of those 9 players the cardinals got from the rams in exchange for ollie matson, one of them was mr DICK NIGHT TRAIN LANE. LOL so ima say the cardinals got the better deal
that is my gym teachers dad my gym teacher goes to cms and his name is ollie matson
@jono415 And he is my gym teachers father
@Iron1540 andrew??
I hope people stop apologising for the past.
There is a 'boatload' of injustice right now to
rectify.
Nietzche might have had it right 'what doesn't
kill me, only makes me stronger'
fntime he didn’t talk about sexual assault.