Benny Malone
No. 32, 25
Position:Running back
Personal information
Born:(1952-02-03)February 3, 1952
Tyler, Texas, U.S.
Died:March 19, 2020(2020-03-19) (aged 68)
Tempe, Arizona, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:193 lb (88 kg)
Career information
College:Arizona State
NFL draft:1974 / Round: 2 / Pick: 47
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Rushing attempts:706
Rushing yards:2,693
Rushing touchdowns:19
Player stats at NFL.com

Benjamin Malone Jr. (February 3, 1952 – March 19, 2020) was an American professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Arizona State Sun Devils and was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 1974 NFL draft. He also played for the Washington Redskins.

Early life

Malone grew up in Eloy, Arizona and attended Santa Cruz Valley Union High School.

College career

He played college football at Arizona State and was selected in the second round (47th overall) of the 1974 NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins.

At Arizona State in 1971 he ran for 857 yards and 4 TD while averaging 8.2 yards per carry. 1973 he ran for 1,129 yards and 15 TD while averaging 6.4 yards per carry.[1] He joined the Sun Devil Sports Hall of Fame in 1983.[2]

Professional career

Miami Dolphins

Malone was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the second round (47th overall selection) of the 1974 NFL draft. He played for the Dolphins from 1974 to 1977. In his Miami career, Malone carried the ball 503 times totaling 2,129 yards and 16 rushing touchdowns. His most significant contribution came in the 1974 Divisional Playoff game at the Oakland Raiders. Playing for the injured Mercury Morris, Malone ran for 83 yards on 14 carries, including a 23-yard touchdown run with 2:08 remaining that appeared to give Miami the win. But the Raiders scored with 26 seconds left. The TD play became known as "The Sea of Hands" catch.[3][4]

Washington Redskins

Six games into the 1978 season, Malone was traded to the Washington Redskins.[5] He played for the Washington Redskins for the 1978 and 1979 seasons.[6]

Personal life and death

Malone's brother Art Malone also played running back at Arizona State and in the NFL.[7]

He died on March 19, 2020, aged 68 from complications due to diabetes.[8]

References

  1. ^ "Benny Malone College Stats | College Football at Sports-Reference.com".
  2. ^ "asu-football-great-art-malone-dies-at-64". FOX Sports. Retrieved 2016-01-16.
  3. ^ "The Sea of Hands Game". www.raiders.com. Retrieved 2016-01-16.
  4. ^ "Miami Dolphins All Time Depth Chart – Running Back #4". The Phinsider. 9 June 2012. Retrieved 2016-01-16.
  5. ^ "Former NFL running back Art Malone dies at 64". August 2012. Retrieved 2016-01-16.
  6. ^ "Benny Malone". NFL.com. Retrieved 2016-01-16.
  7. ^ "Benny Malone Stats". Pro Football Reference.
  8. ^ Metcalfe, Jeff (March 20, 2020). "ASU Hall of Fame running back Ben Malone dies at age 68". azcentral. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
Categories