Paul Rickards

Paul Rickards
Pittsburgh Panthers
Position	Quarterback
Personal information
Born:	June 30, 1926; Wheeling, West Virginia, U.S.
Died:	July 26, 1999 (age 73)
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight	193 lb (88 kg)
Career history
College	University of Pittsburgh
High school	Wheeling High School
Career highlights and awards
	NCAA passing leader, 1944

Paul Edward Rickards (June 30, 1926 – July 26, 1999) was an American football player.

Rickards was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, in 1926, and attended Wheeling High School.^[1] He was selected as the quarterback on the All-West Virginia team and also received all-state honors in basketball and excelled in track and field as a hurdler.^[2]

He enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh in the fall of 1944 and, as an 18-year-old freshman, became the starting quarterback of the 1944 Pittsburgh Panthers football team.^[3] He led the NCAA in passing yardage in 1944 with 997 yards.^[4]

Less than a week after the 1944 season ended, Rickards was inducted into the Army Air Force.^[5]

Rickards was discharged in the fall of 1946.^[6] He announced in November 1946 that he would return to the University of Pittsburgh at the midterm break.^[7] After two years away from the game, Rickards returned to Pitt for the 1947 season. He had trouble adjusting to coach Mike Milligan's single-wing and saw little playing time in 1947.^[8]

In August 1948, after an unsuccessful tryout with the Cleveland Browns, Rickards signed with the Los Angeles Rams.^[9] As the Rams had Pro Football Hall of Famer Bob Waterfield as their starting quarterback, Rickards appeared in only three games as a backup with the Rams.^[10] He completed two of two pass attempt for four yards. He also had two carries for 21 rushing yards.^[1]

In July 1949, Rickards was the first player signed by the Richmond Rebels of the new American Football League.^[2] He competed with Ben Raimondi for the starting job at quarterback.^[11] During the 1949 and 1950 seasons, he appeared in 17 games for the Rebels, compiling a total of 1,928 passing yards and 28 touchdown passes.^[1]