McAfee, George A.
Football
b. March 13, 1918, Ironton, OH
Nicknamed "One Play" because he was a threat to score any time he touched the ball, McAfee was an All-American halfback at Duke University in 1939. During his three years as a starter, the team won 24 of 28 games.
Though he was celebrated for his breakaway running, Coach Wallace Wade said of McAfee, "He was really a one-man offense and practically unstoppable. He was a great kicker, great runner, great passer, and one of the best receivers I've ever seen."
There were doubts about whether the slender, 6-foot, 177-pounder could make it with the Chicago Bears when he joined the team in 1940, but McAfee erased those doubts by returning a punt 75 yards for a touchdown in his first exhibition game and running back a kickoff 93 yards in his first regular season game.
The Bears had a bunch of outstanding backs in 1940 and 1941, so McAfee was used as a spot player, but he scored 12 touchdowns in 1941 to tie Don Hutson's record. After serving in the Navy for nearly four years, McAfee played part of the 1945 season. A heel injury limited his playing time in 1946, but he came back strong in 1947 and spent three more seasons with the Bears before retiring.
McAfee was particularly dangerous as a punt returner. He led the NFL in punt return yardage in 1948 with 417 yards, and his career average of 12.8 yards per return was a league record for many years.
During 8 seasons with the Bears, McAfee gained 1,685 yards on 341 attempts, a 4.9 average, scoring 22 touchdowns; caught 85 passes for 1,357 yards, a 16.0 average, and 10 touchdowns; and returned 112 punts for 1,431 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also had 25 interceptions, returning them for 350 yards and 2 touchdown.