Bob Pickens

Bob Pickens
Pickens in 2008
No. 70, 67
PositionOffensive tackle
Personal information
Born(1943-02-02)February 2, 1943
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedApril 12, 2018(2018-04-12) (aged 75)[1]
Sandy Springs, Georgia, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight258 lb (117 kg)
Career information
High schoolEvanston (IL) Township
College
NFL draft1966: 3rd round, 44th overall pick
AFL draft1966: Red Shirt 2nd round, 15th overall pick
Career history
Awards and highlights
Career NFL statistics
Games played20
Games started5
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Bob Pickens (February 2, 1943 – April 12, 2018) was a player in the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted in the third round of the 1966 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears and played three seasons with the team.[2][3]

Pickens was also an Olympic Greco-Roman wrestler, competing in Tokyo, Japan, in the heavyweight division at the 1964 Summer Olympics, where he finished sixth. Pickens was the first African-American to compete for the United States in wrestling at the Olympics.[4] He played collegiate football at Nebraska, transferring there after originally attending Wisconsin. Pickens did not wrestle for either university, although he still continued his wrestling at various club organizations.[5] After his pro football career, Pickens became a referee, officiating in the Big Ten Conference and a number of postseason games, including the Rose Bowl. He also served on the Chicago Park District Board for several years.

References

  1. ↑ "Bob Pickens, former Bear who was among first black Olympic wrestlers, dead at 75". Archived from the original on April 22, 2018. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Bob Pickens Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
  3. ↑ "1966 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. December 16, 2024. Retrieved August 3, 2026.
  4. ↑ Shalin, Dan. (April 23, 2018). Breaking the U.S. Olympic wrestling color barrier was just one of Bob Pickens' many achievements. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  5. ↑ Bob Pickens - Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
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