Professional Football Player. For nine seasons (1940 to 1941 and 1945 to 1950), he played at the quarterback position in the National Football League with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles. Born Lurtis Pryor Thompson, he was raised in Fort Worth, Texas, where he attended R.L. Paschal High School. He overcame an eye injury in order to participate in athletics and went onto play collegiate football at Tulsa University. Signed as a non-drafted player by the Steelers, he compiled 99 career regular season games. After one season with Pittsburgh, he moved onto Philadelphia and earned Pro-Bowl honors in 1942. He lost a few of his prime years due to his service with the United States Military during World War II and following his return home, he resumed his career. He quarterbacked the Eagles during their most successful era in the franchise's history to date, as Philadelphia experienced three consecutive appearances in the NFL Title Game (1947, 1948 and 1949) for which included two consecutive NFL Championships (1948 and 1949). In 1948, he led the NFL with 25 touchdown passes and produced a career-high 1,965 passing yards. His accomplishments placed him in a class with such contemporary quarterbacks as Sid Luckman (Chicago Bears) and Otto Graham (Cleveland Browns). After retiring as a player, he remained in to sport to serve as a coach in the Canadian Football League and with the Chicago Cardinals.
Professional Football Player. For nine seasons (1940 to 1941 and 1945 to 1950), he played at the quarterback position in the National Football League with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles. Born Lurtis Pryor Thompson, he was raised in Fort Worth, Texas, where he attended R.L. Paschal High School. He overcame an eye injury in order to participate in athletics and went onto play collegiate football at Tulsa University. Signed as a non-drafted player by the Steelers, he compiled 99 career regular season games. After one season with Pittsburgh, he moved onto Philadelphia and earned Pro-Bowl honors in 1942. He lost a few of his prime years due to his service with the United States Military during World War II and following his return home, he resumed his career. He quarterbacked the Eagles during their most successful era in the franchise's history to date, as Philadelphia experienced three consecutive appearances in the NFL Title Game (1947, 1948 and 1949) for which included two consecutive NFL Championships (1948 and 1949). In 1948, he led the NFL with 25 touchdown passes and produced a career-high 1,965 passing yards. His accomplishments placed him in a class with such contemporary quarterbacks as Sid Luckman (Chicago Bears) and Otto Graham (Cleveland Browns). After retiring as a player, he remained in to sport to serve as a coach in the Canadian Football League and with the Chicago Cardinals.
Bio by: C.S.
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