Top 100 NFL Running Backs - #64: Ward Cuff

Ward Cuff

Teams

New York Giants (1937-1945)

Chicago Cardinals (1946)

Green Bay Packers (1947)

Playoffs

Appearances - 5 (1938,1939,1941,1943,1944)

Con Champ Games - 5 (1938,1939,1941,1943,1944)

Champ Games - 4 (1938,1939,1941,1944)

Championships - 1 (1938)

Awards and Honors

All-Pro Second Team - 1 (1943)

Pro Bowl - 3 (1938,1939,1941)

All-Time Ranks

League Leads

Rushing Yards (#4-1943, #7-1944)

Rushing Touchdowns (#6-1943, #7-1937)

Yards per Rush (#1-1943,1944)

Rushing Yards per Game (#4-1943, #7-1944)

Receptions (#9-1941)

Receiving Yards (#5-1941)

Receiving Touchdowns (#8-1941)

Receiving Yards per Game (#6-1941)

Total Touchdowns (#10-1937)

Scrimmage Yards (#6-1941,1943, #9-1944)

Yards per Touch (#4-1944, #6-1943)

After playing fullback at Marquette and playing in the first ever Cotton Bowl, Ward Cuff was drafted by the New York Giants in the 4th round of the 1937 NFL Draft.

In his first 4 seasons, Cuff was used mainly as a placekicker, leading the league in scoring during his second season, with the most extra points and field goals of any player. The Giants won the championship that season, with Cuff losing 12 yards on the ground, but scoring on a field goal and 2 extra points in the 23-17 victory over the Packers.

He was used more in the backfield over the next couple of seasons, but he really broke out in 1943, when he led the league with 6.5 yards per carry while finishing 4th in rushing yards. He led the league in yards per carry again in 1944, this time with 5.6 yards each time he got the ball. He led the Giants to the playoffs in both of those seasons, but fell short of a title each time, though he had 80 yards and a touchdown in the title game in 1944.

He played one more season with the Giants, then he was traded to the Chicago Cardinals before the 1946 season, where he was back to mostly playing kicker. He then moved on to the Green Bay Packers for one final season, where he led the league in field goals made for the 4th time in his career.

Cuff was a very good kicker throughout his NFL career, but when he was given the chance to start at running back, he did so at a high level, leading the league in average yards twice in a row. He contributed to a championship, though more as a kicker than a back, but also helped get the Giants to 3 other title games, and should be recognized as one of the best to play the game.