{{Short description|American football player (born 1963)}} {{For|the American football coach|Rusty Russell (American football coach)}} {{Use American English|date=September 2024}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Rusty Russell | number = 79, 77<ref name="pfa"/> | position = Offensive tackle | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1963|8|16}} | birth_place = Orangeburg, South Carolina, U.S. | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 5 | weight_lb = 295 | high_school = Wilkinson (Orangeburg) | college = South Carolina | draftyear = 1984 | draftround = 3 | draftpick = 60 | pastteams = * Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|1984}}) * Los Angeles Raiders ({{NFL Year|1986}}) * Orlando Predators ({{AFL Year|1991}}–{{AFL Year|1995}}) * Charlotte Rage ({{AFL Year|1996}}) * Florida Bobcats ({{AFL Year|1997}}) | highlights = * Second-team All-Arena (1994) | statlabel1 = Games played | statvalue1 = 1 | pfr = R/RussRu20 | afl = Rusty_Russell-1393 }}
'''William''' "'''Rusty'''" '''Russell''' (born August 16, 1963) is an American former professional football player who was a tackle for one season with the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Eagles in the third round of the 1984 NFL draft after playing college football at the University of South Carolina. Russell also played in the Arena Football League (AFL).
==Early life and college== William Russell was born on August 16, 1963, in Orangeburg, South Carolina.<ref name="pfa">{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/r/russ03400.html | title=Rusty Russell | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=19 May 2025}}</ref> He attended Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School in Orangeburg.<ref name="pfa"/>
Russell was a member of the South Carolina Gamecocks of the University of South Carolina from 1980 to 1983.<ref name="pfa"/>
==Professional career== Russell was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round, with the 60th overall pick, of the 1984 NFL draft.<ref name="pfr">{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RussRu20.htm | title=Rusty Russell | publisher=Pro Football Reference | accessdate=19 May 2025}}</ref> He officially signed with the Eagles on June 19.<ref name="transactions">{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/transactions/r/russ03400.html | title=Rusty Russell Transactions | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=19 May 2025}}</ref> He was placed on injured reserve on August 28 and later activated on October 18, 1984.<ref name="transactions"/> Russell played in one game for the Eagles during the 1984 season.<ref name="pfr"/> He was released on August 20, 1985.<ref name="transactions"/>
Russell signed a futures contract with the Los Angeles Raiders on November 1, 1985.<ref name="transactions"/> He was placed on injured reserve on August 26, 1986, and missed the entire 1986 season.<ref name="transactions"/> He was released by the Rams on September 1, 1987.<ref name="transactions"/>
Russell played in 50 games for the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League (AFL) from 1991 to 1995.<ref name="pfa"/> He was an offensive lineman/defensive lineman during his time in the AFL as the league played under ironman rules.<ref name="af">{{cite web | url=https://www.arenafan.com/players/Rusty_Russell-1393/ | title=Rusty Russell | publisher=ArenaFan.com | accessdate=19 May 2025}}</ref> He was named second-team All-Arena in 1994.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.arenafan.com/players/?page=players&player=1393&pageview=bio | title=Rusty Russell - Awards | publisher=ArenaFan.com | accessdate=19 May 2025}}</ref>
Russell played in all 14 games for the Charlotte Rage of the AFL in 1996.<ref name="pfa"/> On May 2, 1997, before the start of the 1997 AFL season, it was reported that Russell had signed with the Florida Bobcats.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-day/172713008/ | title=Transactions | work=The Day | date=May 2, 1997 | accessdate=19 May 2025 | pages=C2}}</ref> He appeared in 12 games for the Bobcats in 1997.<ref name="pfa"/> He finished his AFL career with totals of 52 solo tackles, 13 assisted tackles, 7.5 sacks, one interception, 18 pass breakups, three fumble recoveries, and five blocked kicks in 77 games played. <ref name="af"/><ref name="pfa"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.justsportsstats.com/footballstatsindex.php?player_id=russerus001 Stats Crew profile]
{{Eagles1984DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Russell, Rusty}} Category:Living people Category:1963 births Category:Players of American football from Orangeburg, South Carolina Category:American football offensive tackles Category:American football defensive linemen Category:South Carolina Gamecocks football players Category:Philadelphia Eagles players Category:Los Angeles Raiders players Category:Orlando Predators players Category:Charlotte Rage players Category:Florida Bobcats players Category:Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School alumni Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen Category:20th-century American sportsmen