{{Short description|American football player (1910–1981)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Sam Knox | image = Sam Knox.png | caption = Knox with the Detroit Lions | number = 21 | position = Guard | birth_date = March 29, 1910 | birth_place = Bow, New Hampshire, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|1981|5|17|1910|3|29}} | death_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 0 | weight_lbs = 213 | high_school = Clark {{nowrap|(Hanover, New Hampshire)}} | college = Illinois | pastteams = * Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|1934}}–{{NFL Year|1936}}) | highlights = * NFL champion (1935) | pfr = K/KnoxSa20 }} '''Frank Samuel Knox''' (March 29, 1910 – May 17, 1981) was an American professional football guard who played three seasons with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of New Hampshire and the University of Illinois.
==Early life and college== Frank Samuel Knox was born on March 29, 1910, in Bow, New Hampshire.<ref name="pfr">{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KnoxSa20.htm | title=Sam Knox | publisher=Pro Football Reference | accessdate=30 June 2025}}</ref> He initially attended Concord High School in Concord, New Hampshire before transferring to Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire and lastly Clark Preparatory School in Hanover, New Hampshire.<ref name="pfa">{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/k/knox01000.html | title=Sam Knox | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=30 June 2025}}</ref><ref name="A"/>
Knox was a member of the New Hampshire Wildcats of the University of New Hampshire from 1930 to 1932.<ref name="pfa"/> He was a letterman in 1931.<ref name="pfa"/> He then played for the Illinois Fighting Illini of the University of Illinois in 1933 as part of the school's freshman team.<ref name="pfa"/> While at Illinois, he was noted for the premature white streak in his hair.<ref name="A"/> In May 1934, heading into his "sophomore" year, the University of Illinois discovered that Knox had lied about being a freshman, ending his college career.<ref name="A"/> Knox later stated "I was relieved when I got caught. I knew I would never get by with it."<ref name="A"/>
==Professional career== Knox played in 11 games, starting two, for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) during the 1934 season as both a guard and tackle.<ref name="pfr"/><ref name="pfa"/> He appeared in nine games, starting a career-high eight, at guard in 1935.<ref name="pfr"/><ref name="pfa"/> He also played in the 1935 NFL Championship Game, a 26–7 victory over the New York Giants.<ref name="pfr"/> Knox played in 11 games, starting seven, as a guard during his final NFL season in 1936.<ref name="pfr"/><ref name="pfa"/> In 1973, Knox said that he bet on exhibition games during his time with the Lions, stating "There was a rule against betting, but everyone knew they didn't enforce the rules except in league games."<ref name="B">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-post/175621301/ | title=Sam Knox remembers the game, the men | work=The Cincinnati Post | date=October 24, 1973 | accessdate=30 June 2025 | author=Harmon, Pat | pages=25}}</ref> He said that Lions owner George A. Richards also bet on exhibition games.<ref name="B"/>
==Personal life== Knox became a sales manager for insect repellants after his NFL career.<ref name="A"/> He later retired as the president of Drackett Products.<ref name="A">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-post/175620208/ | title=[Untitled] | work=The Cincinnati Post | date=August 3, 1973 | accessdate=30 June 2025 | author=Harmon, Pat | pages=41}}</ref> He was also a part-owner and director of the Cincinnati Bengals.<ref name="A"/> Knox's brother Carl Knox also played football at the University of Illinois.<ref name="A"/>
Knox died on May 17, 1981, in Chicago, Illinois.<ref name="pfa"/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{1935 Detroit Lions}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Knox, Sam}} Category:1910 births Category:1981 deaths Category:Players of American football from New Hampshire Category:American football guards Category:American football tackles Category:Phillips Exeter Academy alumni Category:New Hampshire Wildcats football players Category:Illinois Fighting Illini football players Category:Detroit Lions players Category:People from Bow, New Hampshire Category:20th-century American sportsmen