{{distinguish|text=Craig Colton, a contestant on the eighth season of ''The X Factor (UK)''}} {{Short description|American football player (1947–2013)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}} {{Infobox gridiron football biography | name = Craig Cotton | number = 87, 80, 88, 81<ref name="pfa"/> | position = Tight end | birth_date = {{birth date|1947|7|7}} | birth_place = Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2013|12|21|1947|7|7}} | death_place = Fresno, California, U.S. | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 5 | weight_lb = 216 | high_school = Elizabeth Forward (PA) | college = Youngstown State (1965–1968) | draftyear = 1969 | draftround = 8 | draftpick = 200 | pastteams = * San Diego Chargers (1969)* * Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|1969|1972}}) * Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|1973}}) * New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|1974}})* * Portland Storm (1974) * San Diego Chargers ({{NFL Year|1975}}) | statlabel1 = Receptions | statvalue1 = 28 | statlabel2 = Receiving yards | statvalue2 = 409 | statlabel3 = Touchdowns | statvalue3 = 1 | pfr = C/CottCr00 }}
'''Craig Lee Cotton''' (July 7, 1947{{snd}}December 21, 2013) was an American professional football tight end who played six seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears and San Diego Chargers. He was selected by the Chargers in the eighth round of the 1969 NFL/AFL draft after playing college football at Youngstown State University. Cotton also played for the Portland Storm of the World Football League (WFL).
==Early life and college== Craig Lee Cotton was born on July 7, 1947, in Elizabeth, Pennsylvania.<ref name="pfa">{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/c/cott00400.html | title=Craig Cotton | publisher=profootballarchives.com | accessdate=6 December 2024}}</ref> He attended Elizabeth Forward High School in Elizabeth.<ref name="pfa"/>
He lettered for the Youngstown State Penguins from 1965 to 1968.<ref name="pfa"/>
==Professional career== Cotton was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the eighth round, with the 200th overall pick, of the 1969 NFL draft, but was later released.<ref name="pfr">{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CottCr00.htm | title=Craig Cotton | publisher=pro-football-reference.com | accessdate=6 December 2024}}</ref><ref name="transactions">{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/transactions/c/cott00400.html | title=Craig Cotton NFL Transactions | publisher=profootballarchives.com | accessdate=6 December 2024}}</ref>
He signed with the Detroit Lions in 1969 and played in 13 games for the team during his rookie year without catching any passes.<ref name="pfr"/> He played in all 14 games for the Lions in 1970, catching one pass for six yards.<ref name="pfr"/> Cotton also appeared in one playoff game during the 1970 season.<ref name="pfr"/> He played in all 14 games again, starting two, during the 1971 season, recording six receptions for 88 yards.<ref name="pfr"/> He played in all 14 games for the third consecutive season, starting six, in 1972, totaling eight catches for 129 yards and one touchdown.<ref name="pfr"/>
On January 30, 1973, the Lions traded Cotton and a 1973 first-round draft pick to the Chicago Bears for a 1973 first-round and a 1973 third-round draft pick.<ref name="transactions"/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://prosportstransactions.com/football/Search/SearchResults.php?Player=Craig+Cotton&Team=&BeginDate=&EndDate=&PlayerMovementChkBx=yes&submit=Search | title=Search Results | publisher=prosportstransactions.com | accessdate=6 December 2024}}</ref> He appeared in 13 games, all starts, for the Bears in 1973, catching 13 passes for 186 yards.<ref name="pfr"/> He was waived in 1974.<ref name="transactions"/>
Cotton was claimed off waivers by the New England Patriots on September 2, 1974.<ref name="transactions"/> He was released on September 11, 1974.<ref name="transactions"/>
Cotton later played for the Portland Storm of the World Football League (WFL) during the 1974 WFL season, totaling eight receptions for 94 yards.<ref name="pfa"/>
He signed with the San Diego Chargers on March 17, 1975.<ref name="transactions"/> He played in nine games during the 1975 season but did not record a reception.<ref name="pfr"/> He was released by the Chargers on November 27, 1975.<ref name="transactions"/>
==Personal and later life== Cotton's brother, Lance Cotton, played football at Central State University and spent time in the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams, Chicago Bears, and Denver Broncos, although he did not appear in an NFL game.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/c/cott00950.html | title=LANCE COTTON | publisher=profootballarchives.com | accessdate=6 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/transactions/c/cott00950.html | title=Lance Cotton NFL Transactions | publisher=profootballarchives.com | accessdate=6 December 2024}}</ref>
Cotton died on December 21, 2013, in Fresno, California.<ref name="pfr"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.justsportsstats.com/footballstatsindex.php?player_id=cottocra001&recsort=2 Stats Crew profile] {{San Diego Chargers 1969 draft navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cotton, Craig}} Category:1947 births Category:2013 deaths Category:People from Elizabeth, Pennsylvania Category:Players of American football from Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Category:American football tight ends Category:Youngstown State Penguins football players Category:San Diego Chargers players Category:Detroit Lions players Category:Chicago Bears players Category:New England Patriots players Category:Portland Storm players Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen Category:20th-century American sportsmen