Bob Ferguson (American football)

Robert E. "Bob" Ferguson (August 29, 1939 – December 30, 2004) was an American football running back and member of the College Football Hall of Fame. He is considered by many to be the greatest fullback in the history of the Ohio State University Buckeyes.

Ferguson attended Troy High School in Troy, Ohio.Ferguson's first year of eligibility at Ohio State was 1959. The starting fullback at the beginning of the season was the senior, and Heisman Trophy candidate, Bob White. Through the course of the season, however, Ferguson supplanted White as the starter and led the team in rushing that season, averaging 6.1 yards per carry.

Over the next two seasons, Ferguson continued to lead the Ohio State offensive attack. In both 1960 and 1961 Ferguson was a unanimous All American selection. In 1961 he won the UPI College Football Player of the Year, the Maxwell Award, and was the runner up to Ernie Davis for the Heisman Trophy. The 1961 Heisman vote was the second closest in the history of the award, with Davis edging Ferguson by 53 points.

Ferguson shared the Ohio State backfield in 1961 with halfbacks Paul Warfield and Matt Snell. Ferguson was a power runner and Warfield was supplied speed. The common description of the time said, "Warfield is the lightning, Ferguson is the thunder." The Buckeyes won the Big Ten Conference that year and were voted national champions by the Football Writers Association of America.

Ferguson finished his career at Ohio State with 2,162 rushing yards. This rushing total was at the time second in team history behind Howard "Hopalong" Cassady. Ferguson owns the distinction of never having been thrown for a loss during his college football career. Ferguson was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996, and into Ohio State's own Varsity O Hall of Fame in 1987. He was selected to the Ohio State Football All-Century Team in 2000.

Ferguson was a first-round draft pick by both the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League and the San Diego Chargers of the American Football League. Ferguson accepted the offer from the Steelers, but a head injury hampered his football career. After a mere two seasons, playing both for the Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings, he retired.

Ferguson returned to Ohio State and earned a master's degree in sociology. He worked as a youth counselor in Columbus, Ohio until he was forced to retire in 1990 due to health problems. Ferguson died in 2004 of complications due to diabetes.