Charley Trippi, legendary UGA quarterback and running back, celebrates 100th birthday

ATHENS, Ga. — Legendary University of Georgia football player Charley Trippi celebrated his 100th birthday on Tuesday.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Trippi, who was born in 1921, played for the Bulldogs between 1942-1946, except for 1944 when he played on the Third Air Force Gremlins football team during World War II. He helped lead the Bulldogs to a national championship and a Rose Bowl victory in 1943, and in 1946 he led Georgia to its first undefeated season.

He played as a quarterback and running back, passing for 1870 yards and 14 touchdowns and rushing for 1908 yards and 24 TDs in his career. He won the Maxwell award and was the SEC Player of the Year, a unanimous All-American and two-time first-team All-SEC. His No. 62 jersey has been retired by UGA.

Trippi was a drafted No. 1 by the Chicago Cardinals in 1945 as a future pick but was allowed to return to play at Georgia. He helped the Cardinals to the NFL Championship in 1947. As a pro, Trippi collected numerous honors, including being named a first-team All-Pro and made two trips to the Pro Bowl. He was named to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1959 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS:

5 killed, including 2 children, in DeKalb County house fire

©2021 Cox Media Group