_(cropped).jpg) Pickens in 2008 | |||
| No. 70 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Offensive tackle | ||
| Personal information | |||
| Born: | February 2, 1943 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | ||
| Died: | April 12, 2018 (aged 75)[1] Sandy Springs, Georgia, U.S. | ||
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||
| Weight: | 258 lb (117 kg) | ||
| Career information | |||
| High school: | Evanston (IL) Township | ||
| College: | Nebraska | ||
| NFL Draft: | 1966 / Round: 3 / Pick: 44 | ||
| AFL Draft: | 1966 / Round: Red Shirt 2 / Pick: 15 (by the Kansas City Chiefs)[2] | ||
| Career history | |||
| Career NFL statistics | |||
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| Player stats at NFL.com · PFR | |||
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.[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.