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WR
"What the zone (defense) has done is take away all the artistry out of pass receiving. It’s like taking brushes from an artist.”
(Ohio State)...6'0'', 188...Paul Dryden Warfield. . .Drafted by both Browns, Bills, 1964. . . Cleveland fixture before 1970 trade to Miami. . .Key element in Dolphins offenses. . . Mere presence on field forced defensive adjustments. . . Fast, super-smooth, precise pattern runner, sure-handed, excellent blocker. . .Caught 427 passes for 8,565 yards, 85 touchdowns. . .Had sensational 20.1-yard per catch average. . .All-NFL six years. . Named to eight Pro Bowls. . . Born November 28, 1942, in Warren, Ohio.
Paul Warfield is recognized as one of the premier wide receivers ever to have played in the National Football League. While his career totals for numbers of catches may not seem in line with those accumulated by other great receivers, as any student of the game understands, the truth isn’t always in the numbers.
A first-round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns in 1964, Paul played in Cleveland six seasons before going to the Miami Dolphins in a blockbuster trade in 1970. He returned to Cleveland in 1976 after five seasons with the Dolphins and one season with the Memphis Grizzlies of the failed World Football League.
Even though he played on ball-control teams through most of his career, he managed to haul in 427 passes for 8,565 yards and 85 touchdowns. His 20.1 yards-per-catch mark ranks among the best in the history of the game. And he did it with a trademark smooth, graceful style that left observers and victimized defenders awestruck.
As a rookie, Warfield caught a career-high 52 passes. His outside speed was the perfect compliment to the power running of Jim Brown. During his first six years with the Browns, the team played in five conference championships, as well as the 1964 championship game. Because of his blazing speed, elusive moves, and great leaping ability, defenses often found it necessary to double cover him.
Warfield, a six-time All-NFL choice who was elected to eight Pro Bowls, was a long ball threat who intimidated the opposition. His mere presence on the field proved to be almost as beneficial to the running game. The best example of this may have been in 1972 when the Dolphins went undefeated. That year Miami ran the ball 613 times while passing on just 259 occasions. The Dolphins’ philosophy was to use the forward pass as a threat to make the ground game more effective. The Dolphins rushed for a then-NFL record 2,960 yards.
Championship Games
1964 NFL – Cleveland Browns 27, Baltimore Colts 0 Warfield started at left end. He caught 1 pass for 13 yards. Also had 1 rush for (minus)-3 yards
1965 NFL – Green Bay Packers 23, Cleveland Browns 12 Warfield started at left end. He caught 1 pass for 30 yards.
1968 NFL – Baltimore Colts 34, Cleveland Browns 0 Warfield started at wide receiver. He caught 2 passes for 30 yards.
1969 NFL – Minnesota Vikings 27, Cleveland Browns 7 Warfield started at wide receiver. He caught 4 passes for 47 yards.
1971 AFC – Miami Dolphins 21, Baltimore Colts 0 Warfield started at wide receiver. He caught 2 passes for 125 yards and 1 touchdown. The touchdown was the first of the game and scored from 75 yards.
1972 AFC – Miami Dolphins 21, Pittsburgh Steelers17 Warfield started at wide receiver. He caught 2 passes for 63 yards.
1973 AFC – Miami Dolphins 27, Oakland Raiders 10 Warfield started at wide receiver. He caught 1 pass for 27 yards.
Super Bowls
Super Bowl VI – Dallas Cowboys 24, Miami Dolphins 3 Warfield started at wide receiver. He caught 4 passes for 39 yards.
Super Bowl VII – Miami Dolphins 14, Washington Redskins 7 Warfield started at wide receiver. He caught 3 passes for 36 yards.
Super Bowl VIII – Miami Dolphins 24, Minnesota Vikings 7 Warfield started at wide receiver. He caught 2 passes for 33 yards
All-League Teams
All-Pro: 1969 (HOF, NEA)
All-Pro Second Team: 1969 (PFWA)
All-NFL: 1964 (NEA) • 1968 (UPI, NEA, PW) • 1969 (NEA, PW) • 1971 (AP, NEA, PFWA, PW) 1972 (NEA) • 1973 (AP)
All-NFL Second Team: 1968 (AP) • 1969 (NY) • 1970 (NEA) • 1972 (AP) • 1973 (PFWA, NEA)
All-Conference/AFC: 1964 (SN) • 1970 (SN) • 1971 (AP, UPI, SN, PW) • 1972 (AP, SN) • 1973 (AP, UPI, SN, PW) • 1974 (PW)
All-AFC Second Team: 1972 (UPI) • 1974 (UPI)
Pro Bowls
(8) – 1965, 1969. 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973*, 1974*, 1975,
*Did not play
In the NFL Record Book
(at time of his retirement following 1977 season)
• [Tied for 3rd] Most Touchdown Receptions, Career – 85
Team Records
Browns' records held by Warfield (At the time of his retirement following the 1977 season)
• [1st] Most Yards Receiving, Season – 1,067 (1968) • [2nd] Most Touchdown Receptions, Career – 52 • [2nd] Highest Average Gain Per Reception, Career – 19.2 • [2nd] Most Consecutive Games With Touchdown Reception – 6 (1968) • [Tied for 2nd] Most Touchdown Receptions, Season – 12 (1968)
Dolphins' records held by Warfield (Records through the 1974 season, Warfield's last with Miami)
• [1st] Most Points Scored, Game – 24 (vs. Detroit, Dec. 15, 1973) • [1st] Most Touchdowns Scored, Game – 4 (vs. Detroit, Dec. 15, 1973) • [1st] Most Yards Receiving, Career – 3,355 • [1st] Most Yards Receiving, Season – 996 • [1st] Most Games, 100 or More Yards Receiving, Career – 10 • [1st] Most Games, 100 or More Yards Receiving, Season – 4 (1971) • [1st] Longest Reception – 86 (vs. Pittsburgh, Nov. 14, 1971) • [1st] Highest Average Gain Per Reception, Career – 21.5 • [1st] Highest Average Gain Per Reception, Season – 25.1 (1970) • [1st] Most Touchdowns Receiving, Career – 33 • [1st] Most Touchdowns Receiving, Game – 4 (vs. Detroit, Dec. 15, 1973) • [1st] Most Consecutive Games With Touchdown Reception – 6 (1921) • [Tied for 1st] Most Touchdowns Receiving, Season – 11 (1971, 1973) • [2nd] Most Touchdowns Scored, Career – 33
Full Name: Paul Dryden Warfield Birthdate: November 28, 1942 Birthplace: Warren, Ohio High School: Warren G. Harding (Warren, Ohio) Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame: January 29, 1983 Enshrined into Pro Football Hall of Fame: July 30, 1983 Presenter: Gene Slaughter, Warfield's coach at Harding High School Other Members of Class of 1983: Bobby Bell, Sid Gillman, Sonny Jurgensen, Bobby Mitchell Pro Career: 13 seasons, 157 games Drafted: 1st round (11th player overall) in 1964 by Cleveland Browns Uniform Number: 42