Howie Ferguson

Howie Ferguson (August 5, 1930 in New Iberia, Louisiana – December 18, 2005) was a professional American football player who played running back for six seasons for the National Football League's Green Bay Packers and one season (1960 AFL season) for the American Football League's Los Angeles Chargers.

Howie Ferguson grew up in Louisiana where he competed in football, basketball, baseball, and boxing at New Iberia High School. During the off-season he worked as an oil field worker in New Iberia. Although he never played at the college level, he was discovered while playing football for the Navy in California by a scout for the NFL's Los Angeles Rams. The Rams signed him but he was released prior to the 1952 season and then signed by the Green Bay Packers as a free agent in 1953. The 6’2”, 210-pound Ferguson gained 2,120 yards rushing and 1,079 yards receiving with the Packers between 1953 and ’58.

In 1955 Ferguson had over 1000 yards combined rushing and receiving for the Packers, earning him a spot on the Pro Bowl roster as fullback alongside Heisman Trophy winner and NFL Rookie of the Year Alan Ameche from the Baltimore Colts. He retired in 1959 after multiple injuries, but attempted a brief comeback in 1960 during the inaugural season of the Los Angeles Chargers of the American Football League. In 1974 Howard Ferguson was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.