FORMER RATTLER PUNTER COLEMAN, FIRST NFL AFRICAN-AMERICAN PUNTER,
HAS KICKED HIS WAY INTO 2021 BLACK COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS BY [ Brian J. HOWARD ]
Florida A&M University (FAMU) former punter GREG COLEMAN was among six inductees named in November to the 12th class of the Black College Football Hall of Fame. Coleman, who played for the Rattlers from 1972 to 1975, will be enshrined with Coy Bacon (Jackson State), Jimmie Giles (Alcorn State), Winston Hill (Texas Southern), Roynell Young (Alcorn State), and coach Willard Bailey (Virginia Union, Norfolk State, St. Paul’s, and Virginia-Lynchburg) as members of the 2021 Black College Football Hall of Fame class. “On behalf of the board of trustees, congratulations to the Class of 2021,” said Doug Williams, Black College Football Hall of Fame co-founder and 2011 inductee. “It is a significant achievement to be considered one of the best to ever play or coach football at a Historically Black College and University.” Coleman, who earned the nickname “coffin corner,” was the first African-American punter in NFL history. He was selected in the 14th round
of the 1976 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals and had a career that spanned 12 years. Coleman spent the 1977 season with the Cleveland Browns and played for the Minnesota Vikings from 1978-1987, before ending his career with the Washington Football Team (formerly the Washington Redskins) in 1988. He was selected by the fans to the Vikings 40th Anniversary Team. Votes were tallied from the 11-member selection committee, comprising prominent journalists, commentators, and historians; former NFL general managers and executives; and members of the Black College Football Hall of Fame to determine the inductees. The Class of 2021 will be honored at the 2021 Black College Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony and Juneteenth Celebration, presented by the Atlanta Falcons on June 19, 2021. The induction ceremony will take place at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
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