Robert Dean Boyd (December 3, 1937 – August 28, 2017)
Played for: Baltimore Colts (1960–1968)
Coached: Baltimore Colts (1969–1972; DB), Baltimore Colts (1981, assistant)
57 Interceptions, 994 Interception yards, 5 defensive touchdowns
First-team All-Pro (1964, 1965, 1968)
Second-team All-Pro (1966)
NFL championship (1968)
Pro Bowl selection (1964, 1968)
Boyd was born in Dallas, Texas but raised in Garland that saw him show a clear interest in sports from a young age, where he excelled at basketball, baseball, and football. He actually was a star halfback and defensive back that saw him attract offers from SMU and Oklahoma, with Boyd deciding to pick the latter at the last second. In college (1957-1959), he played both ways to a certain extent, playing halfback (first year) and quarterback to go alongside his work as defensive back and punt returner. In 1960, he was drafted by the AFL (second round, Los Angeles) and the NFL's Baltimore Colts in the 10th round. He went with the Colts, where he would play cornerback (with a few goes as a returner in 1961-62, 1964).
Did I mention he only played nine seasons? Boyd has the most interceptions for all players who played less than ten seasons [as evidenced here], which includes Hall of Famers such as Jack Butler and Bobby Dillon (52). And yes, Boyd even leads for all players who played 10 or 11 seasons*. A noted student of game film for the habits that quarterbacks would do, Boyd intercepted seven passes for the 1960 rookie season (6th most in the league) as the Colts were in transition from having won the last two NFL titles. Boyd recorded his lowest INT total in 1961 with just two. It was not until 1964, the year the Colts reached the NFL Championship Game, that Boyd received Pro Bowl/All Pro attention, and that year he intercepted nine passes (3rd most in the league). Boyd's only meaningful play in the championship versus Cleveland was being tackled as the holder for a failed FG snap in the 27-0 loss. Boyd continued his prowess in 1965, leading the NFL with nine interceptions for his only league-leading season. In the next three seasons, he was top 8 for interceptions and in total finished in the top ten for interceptions seven times. His 57 interceptions are tied for 13th most in NFL history and no player had more INTs than Boyd did from his career span of 1960 to 1968.
Boyd closed out his career at 31 years old in 1968 and at least went out with some fun. He had eight interceptions as the Colts reached the playoffs for the first time in three years. In the Divisional Round versus Minnesota, Boyd recorded his second and final career playoff interception in a 24-14 victory. In the 1969 NFL Championship Game for the right to go to Super Bowl III, Boyd didn't record a statistic, but it didn't matter as the Colts defeated the Browns 34-0 to win the penultimate NFL championship. In Super Bowl III, Boyd and the heavily favored Colts lost to the New York Jets, with Boyd recording two tackles. He decided to retire in order to become the defensive backs coach of the Colts, and he stayed on long enough to see the Colts achieve a form of redemption with their Super Bowl V victory in 1971. He retired the following year to become a businessman (involving restaurants and an air freight service). He died in 2017 at the age of 79 in Garland.
Has He Been Voted On? Boyd has never been a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame (as evidenced here), not even for the Seniors vote. You could pick any player from that list such as say, Charley Conerly (*seven* votes) and wonder how Boyd was ignored for even one yearly vote (consider [this article from 2025]. The Ravens, who try to co-op the history of football in Baltimore with a Ring of Honor that honored Colts such as Johnny Unitas, somehow forgot to induct Boyd (meanwhile, the Colts only have a Ring of Honor for Indianapolis players).
Boyd was one of the three cornerbacks named to the NFL 1960s All-Decade Team alongside Lem Barney (who finished with 56 INT) and Herb Adderley (who had 48 INT), who unlike Boyd are in the Hall. Given how the Pro Football Hall of Fame just ignored L.C. Greenwood on the seniors ballot, I'm not shocked at Boyd being left out. But he deserves better.
On behalf of the Unsung Hall of Fame, it is my privilege to welcome Bobby Boyd as the next member of the hall.
Notes
For players with 12 seasons, Ed Reed leads the way: https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/tiny/qQaKw
Photo courtesy of Baltimore Colts promotional photo, c. 1967
No comments:
Post a Comment