Nelson Munsey
No. 31
Position:Cornerback
Personal information
Born:(1948-07-02)July 2, 1948
Uniontown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died:July 8, 2009(2009-07-08) (aged 61)
San Diego, California, U.S.
Career information
College:Wyoming
Undrafted:1972
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Interceptions:7
INT yards:71
Touchdowns:2
Player stats at NFL.com

Nelson Emory Munsey (July 2, 1948 – July 8, 2009)[1] was an American football cornerback in the National Football League. He was signed by the Baltimore Colts as an undrafted free agent in 1972. He played college football at Wyoming.

He was the older brother of Chuck Muncie who also played in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints and San Diego Chargers.[2]

Early years

After he starred as a running back at Uniontown Area High School in his hometown, Munsey switched to defensive back when he played at the University of Wyoming.[2] Munsey's football career got a jump start when began to play for the Norfolk Neptunes in 1969. It was while playing for the Neptunes that he met Vivian Seaborne, the first black cheerleader for the Norfolk Neptunes.

Professional career

Munsey had two touchdowns, seven interceptions and five fumble recoveries in 72 games with the Colts, all at right cornerback.[3] His first touchdown was scored in his rookie year on a three-yard fumble recovery return in the first quarter of a 24–21 road loss to the San Francisco 49ers on November 12, 1972.[4] His other one came in the fourth quarter on December 21, 1975 when he intercepted a Steve Grogan pass and returned it thirty yards to clinch a regular-season-ending 34–21 home victory over the New England Patriots and the first of three consecutive American Football Conference (AFC) Eastern Division championships for the Colts.[5]

The 1975 season was the only one in his career in which Munsey started all the games played by the Colts.[3] His last start of that campaign was a 28–10 road loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC semifinals on December 27, 1975.[6] The last NFL contest Munsey played was another conference semifinal match two years later on December 24, 1977 when the Colts lost to the Oakland Raiders 37–31 in double overtime at Baltimore's Memorial Stadium.[7] On the game's deciding play, Dave Casper ran past Munsey to catch his third touchdown of the contest.[8]

Munsey spent the 1978 season with the Minnesota Vikings but never saw any action.[9]

Death

Munsey died of a heart disease on July 8, 2009, just six days after his 61st birthday.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Nelson Emory Munsey (obituary) – The Herald-Standard (Uniontown, PA), Wednesday, July 15, 2009.
  2. 1 2 Guth, Jonathan. "Former Red Raider Nelson Munsey dies," The Herald-Standard (Uniontown, PA), Tuesday, July 14, 2009.
  3. 1 2 Nelson Munsey (statistics) – Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  4. ↑ Baltimore Colts 21 at San Francisco 49ers 24, Sunday, November 12, 1972 (box score) – Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  5. ↑ New England Patriots 21 at Baltimore Colts 34, Sunday, December 21, 1975 (box score) – Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  6. ↑ Baltimore Colts 10 at Pittsburgh Steelers 28, Saturday, December 27, 1975 (box score) – Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  7. ↑ Oakland Raiders 37 at Baltimore Colts 31, Saturday, December 24, 1977 (box score) – Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  8. ↑ Reid, Ron. "The Ghost To The Post," Sports Illustrated, January 2, 1978.
  9. ↑ "Minnesota Vikings Alumni". Archived from the original on 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2009-07-17.
  10. ↑ "Former Colts defensive back Munsey dies at 61," The Baltimore Sun, Thursday, July 16, 2009.
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