# Rusty Russell (tackle) > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Rusty_Russell_(tackle) > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Rusty_Russell_(tackle).md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rusty_Russell_(tackle) > Source revision: 1350144076 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{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 | position = [Offensive tackle](/source/Tackle_(American_football)) | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1963|8|16}} | birth_place = [Orangeburg, South Carolina](/source/Orangeburg%2C_South_Carolina), U.S. | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 5 | weight_lb = 295 | high_school = [Wilkinson](/source/Orangeburg-Wilkinson_High_School) (Orangeburg) | college = [South Carolina](/source/South_Carolina_Gamecocks_football) | draftyear = 1984 | draftround = 3 | draftpick = 60 | pastteams = * [Philadelphia Eagles](/source/Philadelphia_Eagles) ({{NFL Year|1984}}) * [Los Angeles Raiders](/source/Los_Angeles_Raiders) ({{NFL Year|1986}}) * [Orlando Predators](/source/Orlando_Predators) ({{AFL Year|1991}}–{{AFL Year|1995}}) * [Charlotte Rage](/source/Charlotte_Rage) ({{AFL Year|1996}}) * [Florida Bobcats](/source/Florida_Bobcats) ({{AFL Year|1997}}) | highlights = * Second-team [All-Arena](/source/All-Arena) ([1994](/source/1994_All-Arena_Team)) | 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](/source/American_football) player who was a [tackle](/source/Tackle_(American_football)) for one season with the [Philadelphia Eagles](/source/Philadelphia_Eagles) of the [National Football League](/source/National_Football_League) (NFL). He was selected by the Eagles in the third round of the [1984 NFL draft](/source/1984_NFL_draft) after playing [college football](/source/college_football) at the [University of South Carolina](/source/University_of_South_Carolina). Russell also played in the [Arena Football League](/source/Arena_Football_League) (AFL). ==Early life and college== William Russell was born on August 16, 1963, in [Orangeburg, South Carolina](/source/Orangeburg%2C_South_Carolina).{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/r/russ03400.html | title=Rusty Russell | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=19 May 2025}} He attended [Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School](/source/Orangeburg-Wilkinson_High_School) in Orangeburg. Russell was a member of the [South Carolina Gamecocks](/source/South_Carolina_Gamecocks_football) of the [University of South Carolina](/source/University_of_South_Carolina) from 1980 to 1983. ==Professional career== Russell was selected by the [Philadelphia Eagles](/source/Philadelphia_Eagles) in the third round, with the 60th overall pick, of the [1984 NFL draft](/source/1984_NFL_draft).{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RussRu20.htm | title=Rusty Russell | publisher=[Pro Football Reference](/source/Pro_Football_Reference) | accessdate=19 May 2025}} He officially signed with the Eagles on June 19.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/transactions/r/russ03400.html | title=Rusty Russell Transactions | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=19 May 2025}} He was placed on injured reserve on August 28 and later activated on October 18, 1984. Russell played in one game for the Eagles during the 1984 season. He was released on August 20, 1985. Russell signed a futures contract with the [Los Angeles Raiders](/source/Los_Angeles_Raiders) on November 1, 1985. He was placed on injured reserve on August 26, 1986, and missed the entire 1986 season. He was released by the Rams on September 1, 1987. Russell played in 50 games for the [Orlando Predators](/source/Orlando_Predators) of the [Arena Football League](/source/Arena_Football_League) (AFL) from 1991 to 1995. He was an [offensive lineman](/source/offensive_lineman)/defensive lineman during his time in the AFL as the league played under [ironman rules](/source/ironman_rules).{{cite web | url=https://www.arenafan.com/players/Rusty_Russell-1393/ | title=Rusty Russell | publisher=ArenaFan.com | accessdate=19 May 2025}} He was named second-team [All-Arena](/source/All-Arena) in 1994.{{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}} Russell played in all 14 games for the [Charlotte Rage](/source/Charlotte_Rage) of the AFL in 1996. On May 2, 1997, before the start of the 1997 AFL season, it was reported that Russell had signed with the [Florida Bobcats](/source/Florida_Bobcats).{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-day/172713008/ | title=Transactions | work=[The Day](/source/The_Day_(New_London)) | date=May 2, 1997 | accessdate=19 May 2025 | pages=C2}} He appeared in 12 games for the Bobcats in 1997. 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. ==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 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Rusty Russell (tackle)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rusty_Russell_(tackle)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rusty_Russell_(tackle)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.