Ron Acks
Personal information
Born:(1944-10-03)October 3, 1944
Herrin, Illinois, U.S.
Died:November 21, 2023(2023-11-21) (aged 79)
Cornelius, North Carolina, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:214 lb (97 kg)
Career information
High school:Carbondale Community
College:Illinois (1964–1966)
Position:LB
NFL draft:1966 / Round: 4 / Pick: 57
AFL draft:1966 / Round: 16 / Pick: 141
Career history
Career highlights and awards
  • First-team All-Big-10 (1966)
Career NFL statistics
Fumble recoveries:1
Interceptions:4
Touchdowns:1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Ronald William "Ron" Acks (October 3, 1944 – November 21, 2023) was a professional American football player who played linebacker for nine seasons for the Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots, and Green Bay Packers.

Biography

Early years

Ron Acks was born October 3, 1944 in Herrin, Illinois. He grew up in neighboring Carbondale, where he attended Carbondale Community High School, where his football coach was Frank Bleyer.

Collegiate career

In college, under head coach Pete Elliott he played running back on the 1963 and 1964 University of Illinois Fighting Illini, and switched to safety his senior year in 1965. He was a part of the University of Illinois Fighting Illini football team that beat the Washington Huskies at the January 1st 1964 Rose Bowl.[1]

Professional career

Acks was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the 4th round of the 1966 NFL Draft (57th pick overall). He was unable to land a position on the roster, however, and spent the 1966 and part of the 1967 season playing for the Des Moines franchise of the Professional Football League of America (PFLA).[2]

Acks played linebacker for nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots, and Green Bay Packers.[3]

Life after football, death, and legacy

Acks died at his home in Cornelius, North Carolina, on November 21, 2023, at the age of 79.[4]

Acks was "inducted into the Carbondale Sports Hall of Fame" in 2012.[5][6]

References

  1. ^ "Ron Acks College Stats". College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  2. ^ John Duxbury and Larry Shainman (eds.), Football Register, 1968. St. Louis: The Sporting News, 1968; p. 4.
  3. ^ "Ron Acks," pro-football-reference.com
  4. ^ "Ronald William Acks: October 3, 1944 – November 21, 2023". Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home & Cremation Services. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  5. ^ Smith, Isaac (April 25, 2019). "'He's an icon.' Friends and family remember former Carbondale football coach Frank Bleyer". The Southern Illinoisan. Carbondale, Illinois: Lee Enterprises. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  6. ^ "Athletic Hall of Fame". Athletics. Carbondale Community High School. Hall of Fame Inductees 2012. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
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