Kelly, Leroy
Football
b. May 20, 1942, Philadelphia, PA
A four-year starter as a halfback at Morgan State College, Kelly joined the NFL's Cleveland Browns as an eighth-round draft choice in 1964. He was used primarily as a kick returner during his first two seasons. Kelly led the league in punt returns in 1965, running back 17 kicks for 265 yards, a 16.5 average, and 2 touchdowns.
He became a starter at running back when Jim Brown retired after that season. The 6-foot, 205-pound Kelly had such a fast start that he was repeatedly penalized for illegal motion during his first several games, but the Browns sent films to the league office to prove that he wasn't moving too soon and officials stopped penalizing him improperly.
Kelly won the rushing "triple crown" in 1967, leading the NFL in yards with 1,205, average with 5.1 yards per carry, and rushing touchdowns with 11. Only seven other players have ever accomplished that. He won the Bert Bell Trophy as the league's player of the year in 1968, when he led the NFL once more with 1,269 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Slowed by a leg injury early in the 1969 season, Kelly was never quite the same. He retired after the 1973 season. A consensus All-Pro in 1967 and 1968, he played in six Pro Bowls.
Kelly rushed for 7,113 yards and 71 touchdowns on 1,737 attempts and caught 194 passes for 2,325 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also completed 3 of 16 passes for 93 yards and 2 touchdowns; returned 94 punts for 990 yards and 3 touchdowns; returned 100 kickoffs for 1760 yards; and punted 10 times for 407 yards.