Eugene Allen Lipscomb (August 9, 1931 – May 10, 1963) was an American professional football defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for ten seasons and a professional wrestler. He was known by the nickname "Big Daddy".
Early life
Born in Uniontown, Alabama, Lipscomb never knew his father and moved to Detroit, Michigan at age three with his mother. When he was 11, his mother was murdered and he then lived with his maternal grandparents.
Professional career
After graduating from Miller High School, Lipscomb did not attend college and instead served in the United States Marine Corps, where he was stationed at Camp Pendleton and played on the camp's football team.
Lipscomb was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Los Angeles Rams in 1953. He was waived in September 1956 and claimed by the Baltimore Colts. In 1958 and 1959, he was named to the Pro Bowl and was instrumental in the Colts' two consecutive NFL championships.
In July 1961, Lipscomb was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers with center Buzz Nutter for receiver Jimmy Orr, defensive tackle Joe Lewis and linebacker Dick Campbell. Lipscomb's final NFL game was the Pro Bowl in January 1963, in which he was voted lineman of the game. During the 1959–60 and 1960–61 off-seasons, he was a professional wrestler.
The Professional Football Researchers Association named Lipscomb to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2006.
In 2019, Lipscomb was selected as a finalist for the NFL's 100th Anniversary Team.
Death
On May 10, 1963, Lipscomb died of an overdose of heroin in Baltimore, Maryland. His funeral was held in Detroit and he was buried at Lincoln Park Memorial Cemetery.
Further reading
Davis, Kelcie "Gene Lipscomb 1931-1963", Blackpast Sports Bio, November 18, 2019