Personal information | |
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Born: | Bothell, Washington, U.S. | November 2, 1917
Died: | October 16, 2006 Seattle, Washington, U.S. | (aged 88)
Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
Weight: | 187 lb (85 kg) |
Career information | |
High school: | Burien (WA) Highline |
College: | Washington |
Position: | Running back |
NFL draft: | 1942 / round: 10 / pick: 81 (by the Pittsburgh Steelers)[1] |
Career history | |
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Career highlights and awards | |
Stats at Pro Football Reference |
Ernest Raymond Steele (November 2, 1917 – October 16, 2006) was an American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles, and the "Steagles", a team that resulted in the temporary merger of the Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers in 1943. A graduate of Highline High School in Burien, Washington[2] (which made him a charter member of its Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999),[3] he played college football at the University of Washington and was drafted in the tenth round of the 1942 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.[1]
He played in two NFL championship games for the Philadelphia Eagles.
After ending his football career, Steele opened a diner and sports bar in Seattle, named "Ernie Steele's." It became a landmark and operated under that name until he sold it in 1993.[4] After the sale it was known for eight years as Ileen's Sports Bar, but the back was called "The Ernie Room."[5] Since 2001, it has been a drag bar called Julia's.[6]
Steele died in Seattle, Washington, on October 16, 2006.
Steele's fleet feet took him from Highline High School, where he was a highly decorated athlete in football, basketball and track, ...