Earl Edwards

Earl Edwards (born March 17, 1946) is a former American and Canadian football player (defensive tackle, offensive tackle and defensive end). Edwards played both ways offensively and defensively in college]. He played College football at Wichita State University where Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells was his lineman coach until leaving for Canada. College was a short stop for "Big Earl" because he defended a team member (Melvin Cason), and his input was not appreciated, causing him to leave the team. In his two and a half years at Wichita State University he won Sophomore Lineman of the Year, All Conference 1st Team, All-Mid West 1st Team, and Honorable Mention All American. In 1967, he was drafted by the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League, only to be traded to the Edmonton Eskimos without playing a down, for an All-Star kicker. Edmonton's offensive line coach Joe Spencer helped him become a stand-out Offensive Tackle (honorable mention All-pro) for two seasons. In 1969 the San Francisco 49ers traded 11 players (6 the first year and 5 the second year) for his draft rights because he still had one year left on his contract with the Canadian team (the Edmonton Eskimos). The 49ers' general manager Jack White stated in an article in the San Francisco Examiner, "if Edwards had remained in college and gone through the regular NFL draft, he would have been the first lineman drafted". In 1969, his NFL rookie season, he won the 49ers' Rookie of the Year award and was runner-up to Hall of Fame member "Mean Joe Greene" of the Pittsburgh Steelers for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award. 1971, he was honorable mention All-pro at Defensive Tackle with the 49ers. In 1973, he was traded to the Buffalo Bills for two players and switched again to defensive end where he received honorable mention All-Pro honors for the Bills. He was also selected for the Kelso award which he shared with O.J. Simpson as the team's most valuable defensive and offensive players. In 197