# Sam Knox

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{{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](/source/Detroit_Lions)
| number      = 21
| position    = [Guard](/source/Guard_(American_football))
| birth_date  = March 29, 1910
| birth_place = [Bow, New Hampshire](/source/Bow%2C_New_Hampshire), U.S.
| death_date  = {{death date and age|1981|5|17|1910|3|29}}
| death_place = [Chicago, Illinois](/source/Chicago%2C_Illinois), U.S.
| height_ft   = 6
| height_in   = 0
| weight_lbs  = 213
| high_school = [Clark](/source/Clark_Preparatory_School) {{nowrap|([Hanover, New Hampshire](/source/Hanover%2C_New_Hampshire))}}
| college     = [Illinois](/source/Illinois_Fighting_Illini_football)
| pastteams   =
* [Detroit Lions](/source/Detroit_Lions) ({{NFL Year|1934}}–{{NFL Year|1936}})
| highlights  =
* [NFL champion](/source/History_of_National_Football_League_Championship) ([1935](/source/1935_NFL_Championship_Game))
| pfr         = K/KnoxSa20 
}}
'''Frank Samuel Knox''' (March 29, 1910 – May 17, 1981) was an American professional [football](/source/American_football) [guard](/source/Guard_(American_football)) who played three seasons with the [Detroit Lions](/source/Detroit_Lions) of the [National Football League](/source/National_Football_League) (NFL). He played [college football](/source/college_football) at the [University of New Hampshire](/source/University_of_New_Hampshire) and the [University of Illinois](/source/University_of_Illinois).

==Early life and college==
Frank Samuel Knox was born on March 29, 1910, in [Bow, New Hampshire](/source/Bow%2C_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](/source/Pro_Football_Reference) | accessdate=30 June 2025}}</ref> He initially attended [Concord High School](/source/Concord_High_School_(New_Hampshire)) in [Concord, New Hampshire](/source/Concord%2C_New_Hampshire) before transferring to [Phillips Exeter Academy](/source/Phillips_Exeter_Academy) in [Exeter, New Hampshire](/source/Exeter%2C_New_Hampshire) and lastly [Clark Preparatory School](/source/Clark_Preparatory_School) in [Hanover, New Hampshire](/source/Hanover%2C_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](/source/New_Hampshire_Wildcats_football) of the [University of New Hampshire](/source/University_of_New_Hampshire) from 1930 to 1932.<ref name="pfa"/> He was a [letterman](/source/letterman_(sports)) in 1931.<ref name="pfa"/> He then  played for the [Illinois Fighting Illini](/source/Illinois_Fighting_Illini_football) of the [University of Illinois](/source/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](/source/Detroit_Lions) of the [National Football League](/source/National_Football_League) (NFL) during the 1934 season as both a [guard](/source/Guard_(American_football)) and [tackle](/source/Tackle_(American_football_position)).<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](/source/1935_NFL_Championship_Game), a 26–7 victory over the [New York Giants](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Chicago%2C_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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sam Knox](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Knox) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Knox?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.