Ernie Steele

Not to be confused with Ernie Steele, a character from the Backyard Sports video game series.

Ernest Raymond Steele (November 2, 1917 – October 16, 2006) was an American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles, and the "Steagles", a team that resulted in the temporary merger of the Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers in 1943. A graduate of Highline High School in Burien, Washington^[2] (which made him a charter member of its Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999),^[3] he played college football at the University of Washington and was drafted in the tenth round of the 1942 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.^[1]

Ernie Steele

Steele on a 1948 Bowman football card
No. 37
Position:	Running back
Personal information
Born:	(1917-11-02)November 2, 1917 Bothell, Washington, U.S.
Died:	October 16, 2006(2006-10-16) (aged 88) Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:	187 lb (85 kg)
Career information
High school:	Burien (WA) Highline
College:	Washington
NFL draft:	1942: 10th round, 81 (by the Pittsburgh Steelers)[1]th pick
Career history
Philadelphia Eagles (1942) "Steagles" (1943) Philadelphia Eagles (1944–1948)
Career highlights and awards
NFL champion (1948)
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards: 1,337 Rushing average: 5.2 Receptions: 31 Receiving yards: 520 Total touchdowns: 18 Stats at Pro Football Reference

He played in two NFL championship games for the Philadelphia Eagles.

After ending his football career, Steele opened a diner and sports bar in Seattle, named "Ernie Steele's." It became a landmark and operated under that name until he sold it in 1993.^[4] After the sale it was known for eight years as Ileen's Sports Bar, but the back was called "The Ernie Room."^[5] Since 2001, it has been a drag bar called Julia's.^[6]

Steele died in Seattle, Washington, on October 16, 2006.

NFL career statistics

Legend
	Won the NFL Championship
Bold	Career high

Year	Team	Games		Rushing					Receiving
		GP	GS	Att	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
1942	PHI	10	1	24	124	5.2	55	0	7	114	16.3	36	1
1943	PHI-PITT	10	1	85	409	4.8	47	4	9	168	18.7	60	2
1944	PHI	9	2	59	247	4.2	56	5	1	22	22.0	22	0
1945	PHI	7	1	20	212	10.6	46	1	3	42	14.0	31	0
1946	PHI	9	4	31	108	3.5	43	1	5	69	13.8	24	0
1947	PHI	12	5	26	138	5.3	49	1	4	62	15.5	44	0
1948	PHI	12	2	13	99	7.6	56	1	2	43	21.5	32	1
		69	16	258	1,337	5.2	56	13	31	520	16.8	60	4