The Player Who Got SUSPENDED in the MIDDLE OF A GAME | Joe Don Looney
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In the middle of a 1966 game between the Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons, Lions running back Joe Don Looney got into an altercation with head coach Harry Gilmer, and got suspended in the middle of the game. This is the crazy story behind that.
#nfl #lions #nflthrowback #detroitlions
Joe Don Looney was an American football running back in the National Football League for the New York Giants, Baltimore Colts, Detroit Lions, Washington Redskins, and the New Orleans Saints. He attended Admiral Farragut Academy in St. Petersburg, Florida and Paschal High School in Fort Worth, Texas.
In his first semester at the University of Texas, Looney received four Fs and one D. Looney responded by dropping out and enrolling at Texas Christian University. He was eventually kicked out of that school and transferred to Cameron Junior College, where he played for Leroy Montgomery. He set a punting record in the 1961 Junior Rose Bowl, as his team won the junior college national championship. He made All-American with the University of Oklahoma in 1962, leading them to the Big Eight Conference championship. He played in only three games in 1963. Head coach Bud Wilkinson kicked him off the team after Looney netted four yards in six carries in a game against Texas. Looney did not get along with Wilkinson, and it was also alleged he had punched assistant coach Johnny Tatum, though Tatum debunked that claim
Looney was drafted in the first round (twelfth overall) of the 1964 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. He was also selected in the sixth round of the 1964 AFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs, but chose to play in the NFL instead. He was with the Giants just 25 days before they traded him along with offensive lineman Lou Kirouac to the Baltimore Colts for wide receiver R.C. Owens and safety Andy Nelson during training camp on August 24, 1964. As a member of the Giants, Looney racked up a number of fines for violating team rules.
Looney had only 23 carries with Baltimore that season. In November, he got into an argument about politics with a couple, then later that night, broke into their apartment with a friend and attacked them. He received one year's probation and a fine.
The Colts traded Looney and an undisclosed draft pick to the Detroit Lions following on June 3, 1965 for linebacker Dennis Gaubatz. He put together one good season, racking up 114 carries for 356 yards and five touchdowns. While with Detroit, Looney was told by coach Harry Gilmer to carry in a play to the quarterback. Looney refused and told Gilmer, "If you want a messenger boy, call Western Union."
Detroit traded Looney to the Washington Redskins, where he had an uneventful tenure. He had 55 carries for 178 yards. The only highlight of his time with the Redskins came on a play in which he did not even have the ball. He was pass protecting for quarterback Sonny Jurgensen, and ended up leveling an onrushing pass rusher with a right hook to the jaw. When he tried to renegotiate his contract, he was let go.
In 1968, Looney was called up by the United States Army to go to Vietnam. He joined a lawsuit that claimed that a reserve unit could not be sent to fight in an undeclared war, but it was defeated.
When he returned to the United States, he signed on with the New Orleans Saints. He had three carries for -3 yards with the Saints that year, and retired after the season.
Looney was ranked as the most uncoachable player in NFL history by NFL Films president Steve Sabol. He would often intentionally run the wrong way on plays in practice in order to make things more challenging for himself. He once skipped several practices. When questioned about his absences, he responded by saying, "If practice makes perfect and perfection is impossible, why practice?"
Joe Don Looney played for the following teams:
1964 Giants
1964 Colts
1965 Lions
1966 Lions
1966 Redskins
1967 Redskins
1969 Saints
Players on the 1966 Lions:
Milt Plum
Karl Sweetan
Amos Marsh
Tom Nowatzke
Gail Cogdill
John Henderson
Bill Malinchak
Pat Studstill
Jim Gibbons
Ron Kramer
Ed Flanagan
John Gordy
Bob Kowalkowski
Daryl Sanders
Roger Shoals
J.D. Smith
Roger Brown
Larry Hand
Alex Karras
Darris McCord
Jerry Rush
Ernie Clark
Wally Hilgenberg
Mike Lucci
Wayne Walker
Dick LeBeau
Bruce Maher
Wayne Rasmussen
Bobby Thompson
Tom Vaughn
Garo Yepremian
Пікірлер: 75
The entire story of Joe Don Looney is probably worth an hour long video on it's own.
@pronkb000
3 жыл бұрын
Look up "nominative determinism." Joe Don Looney was a poster child.
@davanmani556
3 жыл бұрын
Roids
@patrickmorgan4006
Жыл бұрын
Only an hour? It could be a lot longer than that.
@patrickmorgan4006
Жыл бұрын
@@davanmani556 That was only a small part of his issues.
With a name like Joe Don Looney I don't think he had a choice but to act like this. His whole story sounds like a setup for a Will Ferrell or Danny McBride movie from the early 2000's.
Joe Don was amazing player with tons of talent that definitely lived up to his last name. He always wanted to see how much he could get away with. His book explained his thought process behind each incident, he was fed up with being treated like crap by the staff/coaches and when there was a chance to get out, he took it. He did a few interviews after he retired, to his home in the desert (really, there were no neighbors, surrounded by sand with nothing else in sight)
@dwightlove3704
2 жыл бұрын
The only RB of his era that had more talent than him was said to have been was Jim Brown.
looney marched to the beat of his own drum
Well at least the Colts had him on hand to get shut out in the championship game that year! Seriously; I knew of Looney, but I had no idea he was this volatile.
JG9 and comments from 2021- “OMG I can’t believe a player would just quit like that in the middle of a game!” Antonio Brown- “Hold my beer”
This has all the makings of a SERIOUS movie about Joe Don Looney, with either Josh Brolin or Nick Offerman as him.
"If you want a messenger boy, call Western Union". 😂
George Preston Marshall owned the Redskins in 1966. Daniel Snyder didn't buy the team until 1999.
@gregfrank4115
9 ай бұрын
Actually, Edward Bennett Williams had bought the majority interest from Marshall, after a stroke in 1963, basically he was no longer making decisions about the club. Whether it was Williams or whoever the GM was, Graham opposed picking up Looney. Looney thought little of Graham as well,, referring to him as Toto.
I read about this in Alex Karras's book "Even Big Guys Cry".
This channel is amazing and deserves a million+ subs. So appreciate the emphasis on classic NFL moments!
William Clay Ford (the longtime owner of the Lions) stated that players of the 60s and 70s made today’s players look like nuns. They were just able to get away with so much more. There are still stories in Detroit about player brawls, crime, drug use, you name it. Ford once gave every player on the team a car to use (a Ford I would imagine). The story was that within weeks the players had wrecked every single one of them except one. It lasted till around week 9 and it finally was crashed as well. He never did this again.
I read about Joe Don Looney (PERFECT last name) in one of those facts and records books (Where I also learned about Georgia Tech 222, Cumberland 0:-); his escapades were discussed, and I especially remember the "If you want a messenger boy, call Western Union" line. He was WAY too anti-establishment for the regimented game of football.
The NFL's version of Dennis Rodman.
@luisreyes1963
2 жыл бұрын
Actually, that would be Antonio Brown. 🏈
Getting suspended in the middle of a game--That's a first for me. Talk about antics during a game. Never heard that story before. Why Washington would ever pick him up right after is a mystery, as well. Great story...but definitely in our 24/7 sports news cycle, this would be the talk of the day, for sure.
@gregfrank4115
9 ай бұрын
The Redskins were the latest club to think Looney had so much ability, they could make it work.
This guy should have played for the Raiders
@luisreyes1963
2 жыл бұрын
A perfect fit for Al Davis, I reckon. 🤣
@dwightlove3704
2 жыл бұрын
@@luisreyes1963 Yes a perfect mentality for The Silver-N-Black
@henrybrowne7248
Жыл бұрын
You might have something there . . He[Looney]was just a little early . . And boy, if he blossomed on a good team, the Raiders would have the last laugh. The Raiders have an impressive history of converting talented misfits into great football players . .
Watch tape of this guy and tell Igor that he couldn't play. Joe Don Looney was a beast
Just read his book
When he had retired for years he was interviewed and he was 50lbs under his playing weight most guys gain weight after they retire and was a total recluse sad.
@marjorieanderson8626
Жыл бұрын
Looney wasn't a total recluse at all. His house was just outside of Alpine, Texas. He was active in civic affairs there and was the #1 fan of the Sul Ross women's basketball team. He even rode with them on their bus to some of their away games. Looney was well liked in Alpine and seemed at peace there for the first time in his life.
Well you got your wish with Antonio Brown. You called it.
Joe Don died from a motorcycle wreck in west Texas after missing a curve. The DPS trooper who investigated said the bike was going over 100 mph and that Joe Don never touched the brakes.
Knowing what we know now, I wonder if this guy suffered from CTE. He seemed to have trouble on and off the field.
@quinnh4313
2 жыл бұрын
Possible, but because helmets and pads weren’t as protective back then people did a lot less spearing and helmet to helmet tackles. Less likely that kind of football would give it to you
@henrybrowne7248
Жыл бұрын
I also doubt it. Evidently his antics started earlier.
@Bobby-fx8er
Жыл бұрын
He had trouble when he was 2...so no football didn't do that...he was naturally a hooligan without training...he raised sand everywhere he went ,I did too but I wasn't famous I don't think
Well this videos is a crazy as Looney. Didn’t even show him.!
Did you know 1 yard short had a sequel in 2001
@OfficialJaguarGator9
3 жыл бұрын
Yep. Can't find any footage from that game unfortunately
@williamsmith8127
3 жыл бұрын
@@OfficialJaguarGator9 kzread.info/dash/bejne/nIaDxK2mcbLAodo.html
What was that quote from or about Dan Snyder? It was obscured by a click card.
@luisreyes1963
2 жыл бұрын
Report: Haskins only started because the was Dan Snyder's "favorite".
Today, Looney would not pass a psychological evaluation. This happens from time to time. A college player has mental health issues that don't appear until Junior year.
Cleveland (and later Cincinnati) under Paul Brown used a "messenger guard" system to bring in play calls and the Cowboys did that with their tight ends (Pettis Norman and Mike Ditka) to bring in Tom Landry's play calls.
@andrewpadaetz5549
Жыл бұрын
PS Falcons were in their first season in 1966-I don't think they had any illusions of grandeur at the start of their existence. They actually finished 7th in the East, one spot ahead of the Giants 1-12-1 season (this was the 501 point defense).
@gregfrank4115
9 ай бұрын
Try telling Paul Brown or Tom Landry back in the day to call Western Union. Likely your last move as an NFL player.
He also served a stint in Vietnam no wonder he was so wacked out of his mind.
@Bobby-fx8er
Жыл бұрын
He was a wild man and I don't think Vietnam had effect on this hooligan...he was " Born to be wild"
@gregfrank4115
9 ай бұрын
He was whacked out of his mind long before Vietnam. In the days long before the transfer portal was anything like today, he went to college at Texas, TCU, Cameron Junior College and Oklahoma. Chose Texas to bug his dad, a TCU graduate, but promised he would not play football at Texas, only track. He didn't last long there, went to TCU, but found out by transferring within the SWC, he would have to sit out two football seasons. So off to Cameron Junior College, where he adored coach Leroy Montgomery, and wished Cameron was a four year school. He did well enough to have many choices for a college, but chose Oklahoma because, he wanted to hear his name in the Cotton Bowl playing Texas. Coach Montgomery warned him, he would be an outsider at Oklahoma, as Bud Wilkinson had never had a JUCO player. But the lure was too great.
Dan Snyder did not own the Washington Redskins in 1967. George Preston Marshall did.
Looney would have fit in with the John Madden Raiders of the latter 1970s.
And went on to serve in Vietnam, came back a vegetarian (saw much carnage there) he and his mom became a devotee of swami muktananda in India, realized he played football for everyone else but himself, found true happiness with muktananda, came home lived alone in west Texas in home he built, died riding a motorcycle my senior year in high school (I’m from Oklahoma). He lived life on his terms. Much respect. I wished I could have met him. His story should be told. He was much more than football.
Held the NCAA punting record per yard before he got kicked off OU. I spoke at great lengths with his uncle one time. He said the family had a history of incest, and that's why both he and Joe Don were a little off in the head, as he put it. Joe Don once went to the library with a girl he was dating. While she was doing work, he went and found some information on himself and showed her. She didn't even know he had played football. According to the Book, he told her the only good about playing football at OU was the peach ice cream they'd give the team on Fridays.
With a name like Looney, what could go wrong?
@Davepool-hs7vr
2 жыл бұрын
Lol 😆
He would be right at home at a Biden ralley sitting all by himself in a circle with nobody around him.
1st red flag he was looney from birth
@henrybrowne7248
Жыл бұрын
😂 I've been using that line too.
Interesting this video comes up now in the wake of Antonio Brown's sidelines meltdown with the Bucs!
Antonio Brown video 20??
What’s in a name like Looney. Well he was a lunatic. Looney Tunes.
I was born in 66 and I'm from Detroit sad irony.
Joe Don ran 100 yards in 9.6, certified. He went about 230 and benched 400 back when this was unheard of for a back. Dude was probably roided out which would not have helped things. The team sport of football just not for everyone regardless of their talent. Joe Don probably would have done better at professional bodybuilding.
@madmize48
Жыл бұрын
Sounds like duprees speed and strength
@gregfrank4115
9 ай бұрын
Actually the sport Looney liked the best was track. He was good at it, if he could have made a living from it, he may have been OK. A close friend of Looney once said he played football to please his dad more than anything. Once he made it at each level(HS, college, pro)he got bored with it. Came back from Vietnam to join the Saints in 1969. Was on the active list for 3 games, which would give him enough playing time overall to qualify for a pension. After the 3 games, he claimed he was hurt, long enough for the Saints to cut him.
Supposedly Looney once attacked a towel hamper in his locker room because the sign above it ordered him to put his dirty towels there. A quote from another NFL player: "Never was a man more aptly named."...lol.
55 Years Ago
Why is he shown wearing the number 30? According to records no Lions player in 1965 or 1966 wore 30. And Looney wore 32 his entire career.
@johnbertrand7185
2 жыл бұрын
My bad, he wore 32 with Baltimore and Detroit and 35 with Washington and 26 with New Orleans
No offense, but the lions coach wasn’t going to suspend a player not on the Lions…
Joe Don Looney would feel right at home at a Trimp rally
@user-jp9bm8wc9g
Жыл бұрын
Kyle. Don't forget to watch President Trumps next rally it's going to be Sweet
@SeanP7195
Ай бұрын
“Trimp” was not even in office nor doing any rallies three years ago. Man, the MSM has you people’s minds under lock and key. That would awful to be so malleable.