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Speedy Duncan
Leslie Herbert "Speedy" Duncan (August 10, 1942 – December 9, 2021) was an American professional football player who was a cornerback and return specialist in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Jackson State Tigers. Duncan played seven seasons with the San Diego Chargers, where he was a three-time AFL All-Star. He was also named to the Pro Bowl with the Washington Redskins. Duncan was inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame and was named to their 40th and 50th anniversary teams.
He was the first punt returner in AFL history to return two punts for touchdowns in a season. His punt returning was so feared in the AFL, that it altered the way in which teams punted. He led the AFL in punt return average twice and the NFL once. He was the first player in AFL history to return an interception 100 yards for a touchdown.
Duncan was born on August 10, 1942, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Duncan attended Druid High School in Tuscaloosa, where he starred on the football team. He was a halfback and kick returner. In a mid-October 1958 game against undefeated Howard High School of Chattanooga, Tennessee, the 156 lb (70.8 kg) junior Duncan scored five touchdowns, including rushing touchdowns of 40 and 70 yards, and a 50-yard touchdown reception. As a senior, he scored 26 touchdowns and led his team to an 11–0 record.
Duncan could not attend the University of Alabama when he graduated high school because of racial segregation. He attended Jackson State University, an HBCU school in Jackson, Mississippi. He played for the Tigers football team in the Southwest Athletic Conference (SWAC), and was a member of the track team. One of his football teammates was future NFL receiver Willie Richardson. Duncan was a halfback and kick returner on the football team. In an early December 1962 game against Tennessee A & I State University, he returned a punt 70 or 73 yards for a touchdown.
In both Duncan's sophomore and junior seasons (1961 and 1962), Jackson State was the Southwest Athletic Conference champion. Duncan averaged 43.2 rushing yards per game in 1962. As a sophomore, his coach had Duncan learn to tackle and play defense by having the team run at him. The Tigers defeated Florida A & M in the December 8, 1962 Orange Blossom Classic, making Jackson State that year's HBCU champion. Duncan figured prominently in the 22–6 Orange Blossom victory. He suffered a leg injury at the beginning of the 1963 season, but became one of the SWAC's top receivers as the season progressed, becoming a double threat running and receiving. Still, he missed seven games that season, hurting his chances to be drafted by a professional football team.
He was also a track star at Jackson State. He was the track team captain in 1962. Duncan acquired the nickname "Speedy" at Jackson State, after setting a record by running the 220-yard dash in 21 seconds.
Duncan was not drafted in 1964. He was signed as a free agent by Chargers scout Al LoCasale in April 1964, with the promise that he would only get a contract if he made the team. LoCasale was one of the AFL's original football executives. LoCasale had come to Jackson State's campus to scout other players, including Willie Richardson. In one version of events, Richardson recommended Duncan to LoCasale, who said Duncan was too small at 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m). Richardson said that was not the case, and Duncan was 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m). After LoCasale himself measured Duncan, he realized the rumors of Duncan's height were false, and signed Duncan for the Chargers.
In another version of the story, Duncan knew LoCasale was recruiting on campus and approached LoCasale, saying he wanted to become a professional player. LoCasale told Duncan that scouting reports said Duncan was too small, being only 5 ft 7 in (1.7 m). LoCasale measured Duncan himself, and found Duncan to be 5 ft 10.5 in (1.79 m), and signed him as a free agent. In either event, future Hall of Fame head coach Sid Gillman decided to keep Duncan on the team after seeing him run the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds, the fastest of any player in the Chargers' training camp; and intercepting two passes in a training camp scrimmage. Duncan later said there was a quota for the number of black players kept on a team, but he was determined to stand out and be among those selected.
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Speedy Duncan
Leslie Herbert "Speedy" Duncan (August 10, 1942 – December 9, 2021) was an American professional football player who was a cornerback and return specialist in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Jackson State Tigers. Duncan played seven seasons with the San Diego Chargers, where he was a three-time AFL All-Star. He was also named to the Pro Bowl with the Washington Redskins. Duncan was inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame and was named to their 40th and 50th anniversary teams.
He was the first punt returner in AFL history to return two punts for touchdowns in a season. His punt returning was so feared in the AFL, that it altered the way in which teams punted. He led the AFL in punt return average twice and the NFL once. He was the first player in AFL history to return an interception 100 yards for a touchdown.
Duncan was born on August 10, 1942, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Duncan attended Druid High School in Tuscaloosa, where he starred on the football team. He was a halfback and kick returner. In a mid-October 1958 game against undefeated Howard High School of Chattanooga, Tennessee, the 156 lb (70.8 kg) junior Duncan scored five touchdowns, including rushing touchdowns of 40 and 70 yards, and a 50-yard touchdown reception. As a senior, he scored 26 touchdowns and led his team to an 11–0 record.
Duncan could not attend the University of Alabama when he graduated high school because of racial segregation. He attended Jackson State University, an HBCU school in Jackson, Mississippi. He played for the Tigers football team in the Southwest Athletic Conference (SWAC), and was a member of the track team. One of his football teammates was future NFL receiver Willie Richardson. Duncan was a halfback and kick returner on the football team. In an early December 1962 game against Tennessee A & I State University, he returned a punt 70 or 73 yards for a touchdown.
In both Duncan's sophomore and junior seasons (1961 and 1962), Jackson State was the Southwest Athletic Conference champion. Duncan averaged 43.2 rushing yards per game in 1962. As a sophomore, his coach had Duncan learn to tackle and play defense by having the team run at him. The Tigers defeated Florida A & M in the December 8, 1962 Orange Blossom Classic, making Jackson State that year's HBCU champion. Duncan figured prominently in the 22–6 Orange Blossom victory. He suffered a leg injury at the beginning of the 1963 season, but became one of the SWAC's top receivers as the season progressed, becoming a double threat running and receiving. Still, he missed seven games that season, hurting his chances to be drafted by a professional football team.
He was also a track star at Jackson State. He was the track team captain in 1962. Duncan acquired the nickname "Speedy" at Jackson State, after setting a record by running the 220-yard dash in 21 seconds.
Duncan was not drafted in 1964. He was signed as a free agent by Chargers scout Al LoCasale in April 1964, with the promise that he would only get a contract if he made the team. LoCasale was one of the AFL's original football executives. LoCasale had come to Jackson State's campus to scout other players, including Willie Richardson. In one version of events, Richardson recommended Duncan to LoCasale, who said Duncan was too small at 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m). Richardson said that was not the case, and Duncan was 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m). After LoCasale himself measured Duncan, he realized the rumors of Duncan's height were false, and signed Duncan for the Chargers.
In another version of the story, Duncan knew LoCasale was recruiting on campus and approached LoCasale, saying he wanted to become a professional player. LoCasale told Duncan that scouting reports said Duncan was too small, being only 5 ft 7 in (1.7 m). LoCasale measured Duncan himself, and found Duncan to be 5 ft 10.5 in (1.79 m), and signed him as a free agent. In either event, future Hall of Fame head coach Sid Gillman decided to keep Duncan on the team after seeing him run the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds, the fastest of any player in the Chargers' training camp; and intercepting two passes in a training camp scrimmage. Duncan later said there was a quota for the number of black players kept on a team, but he was determined to stand out and be among those selected.