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MARIETTA, Ga. (AP) -- Bill Paschal, who led the NFL in rushing in 1943 and 1944, died Sunday of congestive heart failure. He was 81.
Paschal was a football and track star at Atlanta's Tech High, then played at Georgia Tech briefly before injuring his knee. He left school and went to work, but later got a tryout with the New York Giants.
Paschal signed with New York in 1943 for $1,500 and played through the 1949 season. He became the first to win back-to-back rushing championships in the NFL, 572 yards in nine games his rookie year and 737 yards in 10 games his second year.
After being named rookie of the year, he got a $2,500 bonus, he told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 1987.
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Paschal was a football and track star at Atlanta's Tech High, then played at Georgia Tech briefly before injuring his knee. He left school and went to work, but later got a tryout with the New York Giants.
Paschal signed with New York in 1943 for $1,500 and played through the 1949 season. He became the first to win back-to-back rushing championships in the NFL, 572 yards in nine games his rookie year and 737 yards in 10 games his second year.
After being named rookie of the year, he got a $2,500 bonus, he told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 1987.
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