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Robert Bob Waterfield
Date of birth	July 26, 1920
Place of birth	Elmira, NY
Date of death	March 25, 1983 (age 62)
Position(s)	Quarterback, Defensive back Kicker, Punter
College	UCLA
NFL Draft	1944 / Round 5/ Pick 42
Career Highlights
Pro Bowls	2
Awards	1945 NFL MVP
Honors	NFL 1940s All-Decade Team
Retired #s	St. Louis Rams #7
Career Record	9-24-1
Stats
Playing Stats	Pro Football Reference
Playing Stats	DatabaseFootball
Coaching Stats	DatabaseFootball
Team(s) as a player
1945 1946-1952	Cleveland Rams Los Angeles Rams
Team(s) as a coach/administrator
1960-1962	Los Angeles Rams
Pro Football Hall of Fame, 1965

Robert Bob Waterfield (July 26, 1920 – March 25, 1983) was an American football player.

Waterfield attended Van Nuys High School, in Van Nuys, California and went on to play college football for UCLA. During his senior year at UCLA, he married actress Jane Russell, and led the Bruins to the Pacific Coast Conference football championship.

Waterfield then began his NFL career with the Cleveland Rams with their 5th pick in 1944 in the NFL Draft. He started immediately and was taken in quickly by fans, becoming the first ever rookie to win the league’s Most Valuable Player and unanimous All-NFL choice. Waterfield ended the season with the NFL Championship game in 1945 where he threw a 37 and 44 yard touchdown pass to beat the Washington Redskins 15-14.

In 1946, the Rams moved to Los Angeles where Waterfield split quarterback jobs with Norm Van Brocklin. The team was led to three straight title games, 1949-1951. The Rams won it all in 1951 with a 24-17 win over the Cleveland Browns in the title game.

In a 1948 regular season game, the Rams were behind the to-be-champion Philadelphia Eagles 28-0. Waterfield managed to rally the team for a tie on four very late touchdown passes.

In the 1950 divisional playoffs, he was unable to practice due to a severe flu he had endured. However, came off the bench anyway and threw three touchdown passes in a 24-14 win over the Chicago Bears.

In his first four seasons, he intercepted a career total of 20 passes. As a punter, he had a 42.4 yard average. As a place kicker, he had 315 successful PATs and 60 Field Goals.

Overall, Waterfield was known for his deep throw ability. He led the NFL in passing in the 1946 and 1951 season, ending with career totals of 814 completions, 11,849 yards and 97 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1965 as a Cleveland/LA Ram, and died in March 25, 1983 at the age of 62.

• Pro Football Hall of Fame: member biography

Preceded by Albie Reisz	Cleveland/Los Angeles Rams Starting Quarterbacks 1945-1951	Succeeded by Norm Van Brocklin
Preceded by Sid Gillman	Los Angeles Rams Head Coaches 1960–1962	Succeeded by Harland Svare
Preceded by Frank Sinkwich	NFL Most Valuable Player 1945 season	Succeeded by Bill Dudley

Saint Louis Rams Head Coaches
Bezdek • Lewis • Clark • Donelli • Walsh • Snyder • Shaughnessy • Stydahar • Pool • Gillman • Waterfield • Svare • Allen • Prothro • Knox • Malavasi • Robinson • Knox • Brooks • Vermeil • Martz • Vitt • Linehan

National Football League | NFL's 1940s All-Decade Team

Sammy Baugh | Sid Luckman | Bob Waterfield | Tony Canadeo | Bill Dudley | George McAfee | Charley Trippi | Steve Van Buren | Byron White | Pat Harder | Marion Motley | Bill Osmanski | Jim Benton | Jack Ferrante | Ken Kavanaugh | Dante Lavelli | Pete Pihos | Mac Speedie | Ed Sprinkle | Al Blozis | George Connor | Frank "Bucko" Kilroy | Buford "Baby" Ray | Vic Sears | Al Wistert | Bruno Banducci | Bill Edwards | Garrard "Buster" Ramsey | Bill Willis | Len Younce | Charley Brock | Clyde "Bulldog" Turner | Alex Wojciechowicz |