American Football Database
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Lionel Aldridge
No. 82     
Defensive end
Personal information
Date of birth: (1941-02-14)February 14, 1941
Place of birth: Evergreen, Louisiana
Date of death: February 12, 1998(1998-02-12) (aged 56)
Place of death: Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
Career information
College: Utah State
NFL Draft: 1962 / Round: 4 / Pick: 54
AFL Draft: 1963 / Round: 6 / Pick: 47
(By the Houston Oilers)
Debuted in 1962 for the [[{{{debutteam}}}]]
Last played in 1973 for the [[{{{finalteam}}}]]
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Games played     147
Games started     12
Fumble recoveries- for TDs     1 - 1
Stats at NFL.com

Lionel Aldridge (February 14, 1941 – February 12, 1998) was a United States professional football player.[1]

He was drafted in 1963 after a standout college career at Utah State. One of the few rookies to start for coach Vince Lombardi, Aldridge enjoyed an eleven-year NFL career.[2] As a Packer, he played a role in three straight NFL Championships (1965-66-67) and in Packer victories in Super Bowls I and II.[3] Traded to the San Diego Chargers, Aldridge played two seasons in San Diego before retiring from professional football in 1973.[1]

After retiring, Aldridge worked as sports analyst in Milwaukee and for Packers radio and NBC until manifesting paranoid schizophrenia in the late 1970s.[4] Homeless for a time in part due to misdiagnosis,[3][5] he eventually reached a form of equilibrium. He became an advocate for the homeless and the mentally ill until his death in 1998. His advocacy work included serving as a board member for the Mental Health Association of Milwaukee and working as a speaker for the National Alliance on Mental Illness.[6]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Total Football II: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League. New York: HarperCollins, 1999. 553.
  2. "Lionel Aldridge". NFL.com. http://www.nfl.com/player/lionelaldridge/2508303/profile. Retrieved 2012-08-10.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Clark, Steve. "Lost and found - Ex-Packer Aldridge winning life's battle". Beloit Daily News. http://www.schizophrenia.com/stories/aldridge.htm. Retrieved 2012-08-10.
  4. Eskenazi, Gerald (1998-02-14). "Lionel Aldridge, 56, Stalwart On Defense for Packer Teams". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/14/sports/lionel-aldridge-56-stalwart-on-defense-for-packer-teams.html. Retrieved 2012-08-10.
  5. Oates, Bob (1987-10-27). "LIONEL ALDRIDGE: A LONG JOURNEY AND HAPPY DAYS : Former Packer Is Back on His Feet". Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/1987-10-27/sports/sp-16847_1_lionel-aldridge. Retrieved 2012-08-10.
  6. "Celebrity Meltdown". Psychology Today 32 (6): 46–49, 70. December 1999.


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