Jerry Fields

Jerry Fields
refer to caption
Fields with the Montreal Alouettes
No. 64, 15[1]
Position:Linebacker, quarterback
Personal information
Born:May 24, 1938
Ironton, Ohio, U.S.
Died:March 30, 2019(2019-03-30) (aged 80)
South Point, Ohio, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:222 lb (101 kg)
Career information
High school:Dawson-Bryant (Coal Grove, Ohio)
College:Ohio State
NFL draft:1961: 13th round, 179th pick
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
  • National champion (1957)
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Jerry Eugene Fields (May 24, 1938 – March 30, 2019) was an American professional football linebacker who played for the New York Titans of the American Football League (AFL) and the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Ohio State University as a quarterback.

Early life

Jerry Eugene Fields was born on May 24, 1938, in Ironton, Ohio.[2] He played high school football at Dawson-Bryant High School in Coal Grove, Ohio.[1][3] He earned all-county honors in 1953 and all-state honors in both 1954 and 1955.[3] Fields helped Dawson-Bryant win their first Ohio Valley Conference title in 1954.[4] He led the school on a 20-game winning streak as starting quarterback.[3] He graduated in 1956.[3]

College career

Fields accepted an athletic scholarship to play college football at Ohio State University.[3] He was moved to center/linebacker at Ohio State due to his defensive ability.[5] He was on the freshman team in 1956.[5] He missed most of the 1957 season due to injury, thus the NCAA did not count his participation that year.[5] Fields was a two-year letterman for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 1958 to 1959.[6] Fields was also the second-string quarterback and took over as starter for a few games his sophomore year in 1958 after Frank Kremblas suffered some injuries.[7][5][8] Fields completed nine of 18 passes (50.0%) for 171 yards, one touchdown, and one interception that year while also rushing for 30 yards and one touchdown.[9] Fields began the 1959 season as the starting quarterback but was later replaced by Tom Matte.[7][10] Fields returned as starter after Matte suffered an injury.[10] Overall in 1959, Fields completed 20 of 53 passes (37.7%) for 260 yards, one touchdown, and six interceptions while rushing for 156 yards.[9] He was ruled ineligible before the start of the 1960 season after he failed a fine arts class in summer school.[11]

Professional career

Fields played quarterback for the Dayton Triangles of the American Football Conference in 1960.[12] He was selected by the New York Giants in the 13th round, with the 179th overall pick, of the 1961 NFL draft as a linebacker.[2][13] He was released on August 20, 1961.[1]

Fields signed with the New York Titans of the American Football League on November 15, 1961.[1] He played in five games for the Titans during the 1961 season and returned one kick for 19 yards.[2] He appeared in all 14 games, starting seven, in 1962 and posted one sack.[2] Fields became a free agent after the 1962 season and signed with the newly-renamed New York Jets on June 12, 1963.[1] He was released on September 10, 1963.[1]

Fields was signed by the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League on October 30, 1963, after linebacker Jim Reynolds suffered torn knee ligaments.[14] Fields then played in the final regular season game for Montreal during the 1963 season.[1] He also played in the team's playoff loss to the Ottawa Rough Riders.[15] Fields played left corner linebacker, fullback, and second-string quarterback during the 1964 season.[16][17][18][19] He played in 13 games overall in 1964, totaling one incomplete pass, 18 rushing attempts for 78 yards, and three receptions for 28 yards and one touchdown.[1] The Alouettes finished the year with a 6–8 record and lost in the Eastern semifinal to the Rough Riders.[20] On July 5, 1965, it was reported that Fields had retired due to a new house and a new job.[16]

Personal life

Fields died on March 30, 2019, at his home in South Point, Ohio.[2][21]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Jerry Fields". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Jerry Fields". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e "JERRY EUGENE FIELDS" (PDF). Dawson-Bryant High School. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  4. ^ Walker, Jim (April 9, 2016). "Coal Grove H.S. to honor all-time great Jerry Fields". Ironton Tribune. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d Clowser, Jack (September 30, 1958). "Bucks Pin QB Hopes on Coal Grove (?) Soph". The Cleveland Press. pp. 2B. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  6. ^ "2023 Ohio State Football Media Guide" (PDF). Ohio State University. p. 137. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  7. ^ a b Johns, Walter L. (September 9, 1959). "O. S. To Field Big, Green Team". The Titusville Herald. p. 8. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  8. ^ "Fields To Start". The Morning Union. December 4, 1958. p. 56. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  9. ^ a b "Jerry Fields". Sports Reference. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  10. ^ a b "Jerry Fields to Start Saturday". Chillicothe Gazette. November 13, 1959. p. 14. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  11. ^ "Jerry Fields Lost To Bucks". The Lima News. August 30, 1960. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  12. ^ "Triangles Play At Troy Today". The Journal Herald. October 15, 1960. p. 16. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  13. ^ "Giants Release Two". The Holland Sentinel. United Press International. August 21, 1961. p. 9. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  14. ^ "Larks Snatch AFL Castoff". The Calgary Albertan. Canadian Press. October 31, 1963. p. 16. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  15. ^ "Trimble High On QB Jerry Fields". The Gazette. July 3, 1964. p. 21. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  16. ^ a b "Als Linebacker Fields Not On Hand For Start". The Gazette. July 5, 1965. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  17. ^ MacDonald, Ian (July 4, 1964). "Quarters, Ends Face Scrutiny During Als' Inter-Squad Action". The Montreal Star. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  18. ^ Koffman, Jack (November 7, 1964). "Als-Riders hopes wrapped up in game today". The Ottawa Citizen. p. 11. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  19. ^ MacDonald, Ian (July 31, 1964). "Larks' Coach Trimble Cuts 13 After Riders Roll Impressively". The Montreal Star. pp. 3B. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  20. ^ "1964 Montreal Alouettes (CFL)". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  21. ^ "Jerry Eugene Fields". Wallace Family Funeral Home. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
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