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Marv Hubbard
Marv Hubbard
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Marvin Ronald Hubbard (May 7, 1946 – May 4, 2015) was an American professional football fullback who played seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL), primarily for the Oakland Raiders.

Key Information

He played college football for the Colgate Raiders and was selected in the 1968 common draft by the Oakland Raiders. Hubbard struggled to adjust in the American Football League (AFL), and was cut by both the Raiders and the Denver Broncos in preseason. He joined the Hartford Knights of the Atlantic Coast Football League (ACFL), where he led the league in rushing yards. He rejoined Oakland, and played in the AFL's final season, before it merged with the NFL. Injuries would eventually affect his career, and he missed parts of the 1975 season, as well as the entire 1976 season, in which the team won Super Bowl XI. He then played his final season in the NFL with the Detroit Lions. He was a three-time NFL All-Pro for the Raiders, and helped lead the team to four consecutive AFC Western Division titles from 1972 to 1975 and three consecutive AFC championship games from 1973 to 1975. Hubbard is ranked third in NFL history for highest yards per carry (4.82) for a fullback (behind only Hall of Fame fullbacks Jim Brown and Joe Perry), and is tied for 13th overall highest yards per carry in NFL history.

Early life

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Hubbard grew up in Red House, New York, the son of Marvin Hubbard Sr. and Susan Hubbard; residing in the hamlet of Bay State, Hubbard graduated high school shortly before the state forced most of the private property owners in the town to turn over their land, but he and his family were able to avoid losing their homes and he continued to own their family properties in the town until his death.[1] He attended Randolph High School in rural Randolph, New York, near Jamestown. Following high school, Hubbard attended prep school at the New Hampton School.[2][3]

College career

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Hubbard attended Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, where he was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. He lettered three years, leading the team in rushing in 1965 with 665 yards and 1966 with 893 yards, at the time the second-highest total in Colgate history. In 1966, he was 13th in the nation in rushing and scored 88 points, sixth-highest in the nation. He ended his career as the school's second-leading rusher with 1,887 yards and 22 touchdowns. He graduated in 1968.[4]

In 1995, Hubbard was inducted into the Colgate University Athletic Hall of Honor.[4]

Professional career

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Hubbard was selected in the eleventh round by the Oakland Raiders in the 1968 common draft, but was released in preseason cuts due to an initial inability to adjust to the professional game. He met the same fate with the Denver Broncos, before signing with the Hartford Knights of the Atlantic Coast Football League (ACFL). Despite not being the team's full-time running back, he still led the league in rushing yards, just ahead of his tandem partner, journeyman Mel Meeks. After Hubbard's success with the Knights, the Raiders exercised a reserve clause in his previous contract and signed him to their active roster.[3]

Hubbard was quick for his size, and powerfully built. Famous for his aggressive style, he was a fan favorite of the John Madden-led Raiders in the early to mid 1970s. In an interview with the Contra Costa Times, Madden stated: "Marv Hubbard was one of the toughest players we ever had. There are people that will have contact and people that won't have contact, but only a few that will have it and really enjoy it. Marv was one of those guys who truly enjoyed the collision. He would look for it."[5]

Hubbard averaged 4.82 yards per carry during his professional career, which ranks third all time for an NFL fullback (behind only Pro Football Hall of Fame fullbacks Jim Brown and Joe Perry) and is tied for 13th for all-time top yards per carry for any player in NFL history.[6] His career yards per carry average was higher than many of the games legendary running backs, including Walter Payton, O. J. Simpson, Eric Dickerson, Emmitt Smith and Marshall Faulk.

Hubbard was a standout for the Raiders from 1971 to 1974 and part of 1975, and gave Oakland's fearsome air attack a balanced running threat. He helped lead the Raiders team to four consecutive AFC Western Division titles from 1972 to 1975 and three consecutive AFC Conference Championship Finals from 1973 to 1975.[7] Hubbard led the Raiders in rushing four straight seasons from 1971 to 1974, and averaged over 1,000 total yards from scrimmage in each.[8] He gained 1,100 yards rushing during the 1972 season, becoming the Raiders then all-time single season rushing leader. He rushed for a total of 4,544 rushing yards, 3,755 of which came during his four full-time years from 1971 to 1974. Hubbard was named to the NFL's AFC Pro Bowl Team in 1971, 1972 and 1973.

Hubbard scored 24 touchdowns (23 rushing, 1 passing) during his career, six of which were against his favorite opponent, the formidable Kansas City Chiefs.[8] Hubbard was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated on December 17, 1973, after the Raiders won a pivotal game over the division rival Chiefs. Hubbard kept an enlarged graphic of that magazine cover in his office throughout his post-football career. He was also an effective pass receiver coming out of the backfield, and caught 85 passes for 624 total yards, averaged 7.4 yards per reception.[9] According to Madden, he also used Hubbard on kick-off and punt return teams where "Marv turned from a fullback into a linebacker".

Multiple shoulder injuries sidelined him for part of 1975, and Hubbard spent all of the 1976 season on injured reserve. He received a Super Bowl ring for being a team member of the 1976 Raiders, who won Super Bowl XI. In 1977, he signed with the Detroit Lions, where he saw reduced play, and then retired. Hubbard also sustained, in the words of his wife, "more concussions than you could count" during his playing career.[10]

NFL career statistics

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Legend
Won the Super Bowl
Bold Career high

Regular season

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Year Team Games Rushing Receiving
GP GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD
1969 OAK 14 0 21 119 5.7 18 0 2 30 15.0 20 0
1970 OAK 13 0 51 246 4.8 15 1
1971 OAK 14 11 181 867 4.8 20 5 22 167 7.6 31 1
1972 OAK 14 14 219 1,100 5.0 39 4 22 103 4.7 21 0
1973 OAK 14 14 193 903 4.7 50 6 15 116 7.7 25 0
1974 OAK 14 13 188 865 4.6 32 4 11 95 8.6 15 0
1975 OAK 7 6 60 294 4.9 53 2 7 81 11.6 16 0
1976 OAK Did not play due to injury
1977 DET 13 1 38 150 3.9 16 1 6 36 6.0 9 0
Career 103 59 951 4,544 4.8 53 23 85 628 7.4 31 1

Postseason

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Year Team Games Rushing Receiving
GP GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD
1969 OAK 2 0 6 19 3.2 5 1 1 33 33.0 33 0
1970 OAK 2 0 21 70 3.3 9 0 1 5 5.0 5 0
1972 OAK 1 1 14 44 3.1 10 0 1 2 2.0 2 0
1973 OAK 2 2 30 145 4.8 20 2 3 28 9.3 17 0
1974 OAK 2 2 21 61 2.9 7 0 1 9 9.0 9 0
1975 OAK 2 2 22 63 2.9 8 0
Career 11 7 114 402 3.5 20 3 7 77 11.0 33 0

Personal life

[edit]

Marv was a country musician and songwriter for a brief period after football, and released the single "Fullbacks Ain't Supposed to Cry" in 1978.[11] He co-wrote "(We've Got To) Win This One", a motivational song co-produced and released as single by Hoyt Axton in 1981, on Axton's own Jeremiah Records label. He also released the tracks "Legend in His Own Mind/Country Boogie" in 2009. Hubbard went on to become a computer programmer, working for some of the insurance companies in Hartford, Connecticut.[12]

Hubbard loved to golf and frequently donated his time and autographed memorabilia to charity celebrity tournaments.[12] In 1975, Hubbard and Sal Bando, a third baseman for the Oakland Athletics, won the American Airlines Golf Classic, which featured pro football and baseball stars as partners, in Palm Springs, California.[13]

On September 27, 2003, Hubbard was involved in a car accident in Castro Valley, California, in which the driver of the other car was killed. In 2004, Hubbard pleaded no contest to misdemeanor DUI. The driver who died had been making an illegal turn in a "blind spot" on an isolated section of road.[14][15][16]

Hubbard died on May 4, 2015, just three days shy of his 69th birthday, from complications of prostate cancer.[17] Hubbard had a wife of 49 years, two children, and five grandchildren. At the time of his death, he lived in Northern California and still owned the family properties in Red House.[1]

Hubbard was posthumously inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.[18]

See also

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References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Marvin Ronald Hubbard (May 7, 1946 – May 4, 2015) was an American professional football fullback who played primarily for the in the (NFL), earning three selections and ranking as one of the team's all-time leading rushers with 4,394 yards on 913 carries. Born in , and raised in nearby Red House, Hubbard attended Randolph High School before starring at , where he led the Raiders in rushing in 1965 and 1966, amassing 1,887 career yards and 22 touchdowns to rank second in program history at the time of his graduation in 1968. Selected by the in the 11th round of the , Hubbard initially played for the Hartford Knights of the Atlantic Coast Football League (ACFL), leading the league with 899 rushing yards and five touchdowns en route to a championship before joining the Raiders in 1969. During his seven seasons with Oakland (1969–1975), the 6-foot-1, 225-pound Hubbard emerged as a punishing, "battering ram" runner known for bone-jarring bursts between the tackles, wearing oversized shoulder pads and often breaking opponents' helmets; he led the team in rushing from 1971 to 1974, highlighted by a career-high 1,100 yards in 1972, and helped the Raiders reach six playoff appearances while wearing jersey numbers 39 and then 44. His overall career included a brief stint with the in 1977, where he added to his totals of 4,544 rushing yards, 24 touchdowns, and a 4.8 yards-per-carry average—ranking him fourth all-time among fullbacks for that metric—and 628 receiving yards on 85 catches across 103 games. Hubbard was selected to the in 1971, 1972, and 1973 for his contributions to Oakland's power-running attack under coach . After retiring from football, Hubbard pursued music as a country singer, releasing the single "Fullbacks Ain’t Supposed to Cry" in 1978, and later worked as a computer programmer and in the insurance industry. He was inducted into the Colgate Athletic Hall of Honor in 1995 and the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 2018. Hubbard died on May 4, 2015, in Walnut Creek, California, at age 68 from complications of prostate cancer.

Early life

Birth and family background

Marvin Ronald Hubbard was born on May 7, 1946, in , coinciding with his parents' first wedding anniversary. His parents, Susan A. Hubbard and Marvin T. Hubbard, operated a where Marv spent his early years. Hubbard was raised in Red House, a rural town in , known for its small, close-knit community amid agricultural surroundings. The family's farm life provided a stable, hardworking environment that instilled values of perseverance and physical labor from a young age, shaping his formative experiences. His parents managed the farm as their primary occupation, fostering a self-reliant household in this isolated, scenic area near the Allegheny Reservoir. The Hubbard family included two siblings: a , Sheila Hubbard-Foreman, and a brother, Michael Hubbard, both of whom shared in the rural upbringing. This family structure emphasized community ties and familial support, with no major relocations noted during his childhood; however, proximity to nearby towns like Randolph offered access to educational opportunities that would later influence his path. The socioeconomic context of farm life in Red House, while modest, contributed to a grounded early environment free from urban distractions.

High school career

Marv Hubbard attended Randolph High School in rural Randolph, New York, a small institution near Jamestown in the southwestern part of the state. At this tiny rural school with limited resources, he distinguished himself as an exceptional multi-sport athlete, demonstrating remarkable physical power and versatility that foreshadowed his future success in football. Hubbard's athletic prowess at Randolph caught the eye of local observers, highlighting his compact build and aggressive playing style, which were key to his emergence as a standout talent despite the school's obscurity. The lack of exposure from such a small program meant he was initially overlooked by major college recruiters from programs like Penn State, Pitt, and Syracuse. However, his skills did not go unnoticed entirely; a alumnus scouting the area discovered Hubbard's potential, paving the way for his recruitment to the college level. During his high school years, Hubbard's involvement in multiple sports helped hone his competitive drive and physical conditioning, contributing to his development as a powerful runner capable of breaking tackles—attributes that would define his later career. This foundation at Randolph laid the groundwork for his transition to higher competition, where his size and tenacity began to attract broader attention in the recruitment process.

College career

Time at Colgate University

Marv Hubbard enrolled at in , following his graduation from Randolph Central School in 1964, and he played for the team for three seasons from 1965 to 1967. As a , Hubbard contributed to a program competing as an NCAA University Division independent, facing challenging schedules against established Eastern opponents such as Penn State, Pitt, and Syracuse. Under head coach Hal Lahar, who led the Raiders from 1962 to 1967, Hubbard earned three varsity letters and adapted to the demands of during his early years. In his first two seasons, he adjusted to the team's limited offensive schemes, which emphasized straightforward plays and required physical toughness from a player hailing from a small high school background. By his second year, Hubbard emerged as a key contributor, leading the team in rushing and helping drive the Raiders' ground game in an era when Colgate focused on balanced, run-heavy attacks. Hubbard's junior year in 1966 solidified his role as a standout, again leading the team in rushing while emerging as a professional prospect alongside teammates like captain Ray Ilg. As a senior in 1967, under Lahar's final season, he assumed greater leadership responsibilities on a squad navigating a tougher schedule, continuing to anchor the rushing attack despite the team's challenges. His consistent performance as the team's leading rusher over multiple seasons helped elevate Colgate's reputation in independent play, where the Raiders competed without formal conference affiliation but within the competitive Eastern football landscape. Hubbard graduated in 1968, as the team transitioned to new Neil Wheelwright.

College statistical accomplishments

During his three seasons at from 1965 to 1967, Marv Hubbard established himself as one of the program's most productive running backs, accumulating 1,887 rushing yards and 22 rushing touchdowns, figures that ranked him second all-time in Colgate history at the time of his graduation. These totals reflected his role as a workhorse back, demonstrating consistent efficiency in gaining tough yards against and independent opponents. Hubbard's standout seasons came in 1965 and 1966, when he led the team in rushing both years. In 1965, he rushed for 665 yards, providing a steady ground attack for the Raiders amid a rebuilding phase. The following year, 1966, marked his peak performance with 893 yards—then the second-highest single-season total in school history—highlighting his vision and burst as Colgate's primary ball carrier. His 1967 campaign added 329 yards, rounding out a balanced collegiate output despite a lighter workload in his senior year. Beyond rushing, Hubbard contributed as a receiver out of the backfield, recording 16 receptions for 248 yards and one over three lettered seasons (1965–1967), which boosted his to 2,135 scrimmage yards and 23 total . This versatility underscored his value in Colgate's offensive scheme, where he accounted for a significant portion of the team's production. Hubbard's statistical excellence earned him posthumous recognition through his 1995 induction into the Colgate Athletic Hall of Honor, where his career rushing totals and leadership in team yardage were cited as key factors in elevating the program's rushing tradition during the mid-1960s.

Professional career

Oakland Raiders years

Marv Hubbard was selected by the in the 11th round (277th overall) of the out of . After spending the 1968 season with the Hartford Knights of the Atlantic Coast Football League, where he led the league in rushing with 899 yards, Hubbard signed with the Raiders in 1969. He wore jersey number 39 during his rookie year before switching to number 44 for the remainder of his tenure. Standing at 6 feet 1 inch and weighing 225 pounds, Hubbard emerged as a bruising fullback in the Raiders' power-running offense, complementing and embodying the team's gritty style with his bone-jarring runs that often scattered defenders. After limited action in his first two seasons, he became a starter in 1971 and earned consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 1971 to 1973, highlighting his peak performance during that period. His standout 1972 season, where he rushed for 1,100 yards and ranked fifth in the NFL, underscored his role as the team's lead rusher for four straight years from 1971 to 1974. Hubbard's contributions were integral to the Raiders' sustained success, as the team captured four consecutive division titles from 1972 to 1975 and advanced to three AFC Championship Games during his tenure. In 1973, following a pivotal victory over the [Kansas City Chiefs](/page/Kansas_City_ Chiefs), he graced the cover of , symbolizing his prominence in the Raiders' dynamic offense. Despite battling shoulder injuries that limited him in 1975 and placed him on injured reserve for the entire 1976 season, Hubbard remained part of the roster and received a ring for the Raiders' victory that year. His departure from Oakland came after the 1976 season, marking the end of a seven-year run that defined his professional prime.

Detroit Lions stint

After sitting out the entire 1976 season due to shoulder surgery, veteran fullback Marv Hubbard was traded from the to the on August 11, 1977, in a cash deal, marking his move to a rebuilding NFC Central team at age 31. The Lions, under coach Tommy Hudspeth, signed Hubbard to a multiyear contract, positioning him as a key fullback option while starter Lawrence Gaines recovered from knee surgery, with the team viewing him as a reliable power runner to bolster their struggling offense that ranked near the bottom in scoring with just 183 points for the season. Hubbard appeared in 13 games for the Lions, starting only once against the Chicago Bears in Week 11, reflecting his limited role amid the team's 6-8 finish and third-place divisional standing. His rushing output totaled 150 yards on 38 carries with one —a 1-yard score in a 10-7 win over the in Week 8—highlighted by a season-high 38 yards on seven attempts during a Week 6 loss to the . He also contributed modestly in the passing game with six receptions for 36 yards, primarily serving as a blocker in an offense hampered by injuries and inconsistency. The stint represented a stark contrast to Hubbard's peak years with the powerhouse Raiders, as the Lions' middling performance and his age curtailed his production in what became the twilight of his career. Following the 1977 season, Hubbard retired from professional football, having played sparingly in his final year.

Career statistics

Regular season performance

Marv Hubbard's career spanned nine seasons from 1969 to 1977, during which he appeared in 103 games and made 59 starts as a fullback. Over that time, he amassed 951 rushing attempts for 4,544 yards, averaging 4.8 yards per carry, with 23 rushing ; his receiving contributions included 85 catches for 628 yards and 1 . These totals reflect his role as a power runner in the Raiders' ground-oriented offense, where he often shared carries but established himself as a reliable short-yardage and inside runner. Hubbard's performance peaked during his Oakland Raiders tenure in the early 1970s, highlighted by his 1972 season when he rushed for 1,100 yards on 219 attempts, earning a selection and ranking fifth in the in rushing yards. His production was consistent from 1971 to 1974, with over 800 yards each year except his rookie season, though a shoulder injury sidelined him for all of 1976. A decline followed his trade to the , where in 1977 he managed just 150 yards on 38 carries across 13 games, averaging a career-low 3.9 yards per attempt. The following table summarizes Hubbard's year-by-year rushing and receiving statistics:
YearTeamGGSRush AttRush YdsRush AvgRush TDLngRecRec YdsRec AvgRec TDFmb
1969140211195.701823015.001
1970130512464.8115000.002
197114111818674.8520221677.614
197214142191,1005.0439221034.705
197314141939034.7650151167.706
197414131888654.643211958.606
197576602944.925378111.600
1977DET131381503.91166366.001
Career-103599514,5444.82353856287.4125
Hubbard's career efficiency stands out among fullbacks, with his 4.8 yards per carry. He recorded 25 fumbles over his career, often in high-volume seasons like 1973 and 1974, and his longest rush was a 53-yard gain in 1975. While advanced metrics like success rate were not widely tracked during his era, his consistent output in an era of strong defensive fronts underscores his impact as a durable, between-the-tackles runner.

Postseason contributions

Marv Hubbard appeared in 11 postseason games during his tenure with the from 1969 to 1975, accumulating 114 rushing attempts for 402 yards and three touchdowns, alongside seven receptions for 77 yards. His playoff rushing average of 3.5 yards per carry marked a noticeable dip from his regular-season career mark of 4.8, reflecting the heightened defensive intensity of postseason matchups that challenged his power-running style reliant on consistent blocking and short-yardage gains. Hubbard's most impactful playoff performance came in the 1973 Divisional round against the , where he rushed 20 times for 91 yards and two touchdowns, helping the Raiders secure a 33-14 victory en route to the AFC Championship. In AFC Championship games, he featured prominently across three appearances: 14 attempts for 44 yards in the 1972 loss to (7-13); 10 attempts for 54 yards in the 1973 defeat to (10-27); and 10 attempts for 30 yards in the 1975 loss to (10-16). These efforts underscored his role in the Raiders' deep playoff runs from 1972 to 1975, though fumbles in two of those contests (1972 and 1973) highlighted occasional ball-security issues under pressure. Despite the Raiders' success in reaching three consecutive AFC title games from 1972 to 1974 and another in 1975, Hubbard did not play in a Super Bowl, as the team fell short each time. His limited output in the 1974 AFC Championship—seven carries for just six yards against Pittsburgh—may have stemmed from matchup difficulties or tactical shifts, contributing to the 13-24 loss. Overall, Hubbard's postseason contributions provided steady, if not explosive, support in high-stakes scenarios, leveraging his regular-season durability to sustain drives amid the Raiders' quest for an elusive championship.
YearGamesRush AttRush YdsRush TDKey Notes
196926191AFL Divisional win vs. (19 yds, 1 TD)
1970221700Divisional win vs. (58 yds)
1972114440AFC Championship loss vs.
19732301452Divisional win vs. (91 yds, 2 TD); AFC Championship loss vs.
1974221610Divisional win vs. ; AFC Championship loss vs. (6 yds)
1975222630Divisional win vs. ; AFC Championship loss vs.

Later life and legacy

Post-retirement pursuits

Following his retirement from professional football after the 1977 season, Hubbard transitioned into a career in , working for several insurance companies in . Later, he became a and owned his own business. Hubbard pursued an interest in country music as a musician and songwriter after leaving the NFL. He released the single "Fullbacks Ain't Supposed to Cry" b/w "Country Boogie" in 1978, a track reflecting on his football experiences, and "Legend in His Own Mind" in 1979. He enjoyed playing guitar, , and composing music throughout his post-career life. Hubbard was married to his wife, Virginia "Ginny" Lee Lindquist, for 49 years. The couple had two children: daughter Allyson Morris and her husband Rob, and son and his wife Chrissy. They were also grandparents to five grandchildren: Anna, Addy, Avery, Jake, and Nick. Hubbard cherished family time, storytelling, and relaxing at the family's country home. In his leisure time, Hubbard engaged in a variety of hobbies, including —where he participated in celebrity tournaments—snow , , hunting, fishing, bowling, and playing cards. He frequently donated autographed memorabilia to charity events. In his later years, Hubbard faced significant health challenges.

Death and honors

Marv Hubbard died on May 4, 2015, at age 68 in , from complications of . During his professional career, Hubbard earned three selections from 1971 to 1973 for his performance as a fullback with the . He also received a , recognizing his contributions to the team's success despite being sidelined by injury during the 1976 season. Following his death, Hubbard was posthumously inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame on , 2018. The issued a describing him as a relentless force who embodied the team's toughness in the , while honored his memory as one of their most iconic football alumni. Hubbard's legacy endures through his impact on the fullback position, where his bruising, hard-nosed running style set a standard for power and durability in the . He ranks sixth in Raiders franchise history with 4,394 rushing yards on 913 carries, underscoring his lasting contributions to the organization.

References

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