Jack "Indian Jack" Jacobs

Jack "Indian Jack" Jacobs was born August 7, 1919, near Holdenville, Oklahoma. A full blood Creek Indian, Jacobs attended Central High School in Muskogee where he become an All-State fullback. He played on Oklahoma's first high school All-Star Team in 1938.

From 1939-1941, Jacobs played for the University of Oklahoma and he lettered three years as quarterback, defensive back, tailback and halfback. A triple threat quarterback, his passing was described as a quick swoop of the arm above the head, with powerful wrist action-like a baseball catcher's peg to first base when the runner has strayed off the bag.

He is best known his punting, holding the record for the punting average per season (47.8 yards) at OU. In 1940, he was selected to play in the Shrine game and was a College All-Star. Drafted in the second round by the Cleveland (now St. Louis) Rams, in 1942, Jacobs played for the Washington Redskins and Green Bay Packers in his early years.

From 1950-52, he played with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and was the Western Division All-Star quarterback. In '52, he was the MVP and received the Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy. He led Winnipeg to the Grey Cup Final three times and established a CFL punting record of 41.0 average yards.

In all, he played 22 years in school, college and pro-ball without missing a season. In 1963, he was enshrined in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and later in the American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame. He retired from football and became a recruiting scout for the Bombers.

Jacobs died on January 12, 1974 in Greensboro, N.C.