| Coffey is a former
professional football player. He played for Dimmitt High School
Bobcats, University of Washington Huskies, the Green Bay Packers, Atlanta Falcons, and New
York Giants.
Junior
Lee Coffey was born March 21, 1942 in Kyle Texas and Played football and
basketball for the Dimmitt High School Bobcats. Coffey became an
all-state performer for the Bobcats in football and basketball in
the 1960-61 school year. In the 1959-60 season, he became the first
black athlete ever to play in a Texas UIL state basketball
tournament.
As a junior during the 1959 football season, he led the Dimmitt
Bobcat offense with 1294 rushing yards on 165 carries and also led
the defense with 185 tackles at linebacker.
The Southwest Conference did not integrate until 1967, so Coffey had
to leave the state to play major college football. He attended the
University of Washington in Seattle and played under head coach Jim
Owens. With the Huskies, Coffey was a three-time all-conference
selection and was tabbed Honorable Mention All-American all three
seasons. He finished his college career as the second-leading ground
gainer in school history.
Coffey was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 1965 NFL draft,
and he played on the Packers' championship team of 1965. After that
season, he was selected in the expansion draft for the Atlanta
Falcons in 1966, and played in Atlanta for 2½ seasons, where he
averaged 4.0 yards per carry. He missed the entire 1968 season with
a knee injury and was traded to the New York Giants midway through
the 1969 season, and finished his career there in 1971, compiling
career totals of 2,037 rushing yards on 500 carries, 487 receiving
yards on 64 receptions and 15 touchdowns.
After the NFL, Coffey eventually became a Thoroughbred racehorse
trainer. His colt, Raise the Bluff, was the favorite going into the
2007 Longacres Mile Handicap at Emerald Downs in Auburn, Washington,
but placed second.
Coffey died in Auburn, Washington on August 30, 2021, at the age of
79. |
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