American · Wausau, Wisconsin, USA · Born 17 June 1923Rams Hall of Fame receiver nicknamed 'Crazylegs' for his unique running style, who set an NFL single-season receiving record in 1951 while helping Los Angeles win the NFL title.
Born on 17 June 1923 in Wausau, Wisconsin, Elroy Hirsch earned his famous nickname 'Crazylegs' from a sportswriter who described his legs as 'gyrating in six different directions' during a touchdown run. He played halfback for the Chicago Rockets of the All-America Football Conference from 1946 to 1948 before joining the Los Angeles Rams. After a year mostly on the bench in 1949, Hirsch was shifted to end, a position unfamiliar to him, and initially struggled before hard work turned him into one of the most feared deep threats in the league. In a memorable midseason game against Chicago in 1951, trailing 14-0, Hirsch caught a Bob Waterfield pass in stride and raced 91 yards for a touchdown, part of a season in which he set a new NFL record with 1,495 receiving yards — a mark that stood for years. Hirsch's spectacular long-distance touchdowns became known as 'Elroy Hirsch specials', and he was part of the Rams' high-scoring offense alongside Hall of Fame quarterbacks Bob Waterfield and Norm Van Brocklin that carried Los Angeles to the 1951 NFL Championship. He retired in 1957 with 343 receptions, 6,299 receiving yards and 53 touchdowns. Hirsch's fame extended beyond football: in 1953, he starred as himself in the biographical film Crazylegs, and later served as the Rams' general manager and as athletic director of the University of Wisconsin. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968.
Setting an NFL single-season receiving record in 1951 and his spectacular long touchdown catches
How They Played
Explosive deep threat with a distinctive, unpredictable running style
Lasting Impact
One of the most electrifying deep threats of the NFL's early passing era
American Athletes