Bob Waterfield
A dazzling multi-threat quarterback who led the Rams to their first championship and married Hollywood star Jane Russell.
1920–1983 (age 63)·American football player and coach·Birthday: July 26·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Bob Waterfield wasn't just a quarterback; he was the entire special teams unit and a defensive back packed into one graceful athlete. At UCLA, he was a star, but his professional arrival with the Cleveland Rams in 1945 was a revelation. As a rookie, he didn't just play—he dominated, winning the NFL's MVP award and piloting the Rams to a championship. When the franchise moved to Los Angeles the next year, his golden-boy looks and versatile prowess made him a perfect fit for the glamour of the coast. Waterfield could throw a deep spiral, boot punts that pinned opponents, kick field goals, and even play safety. His career was a showcase of total football intelligence. Off the field, his life was equally cinematic; his marriage to bombshell actress Jane Russell made them a powerhouse celebrity couple. After retiring, he briefly coached the Rams and ventured into film production. Waterfield’s legacy is that of the ultimate football weapon, a player whose all-around genius helped define the early post-war era of the sport.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Bob was born in 1920, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bob Was Born
The biggest hits of 1920
#1 Movie
Way Down East
Bob's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1920Born
Women gain the right to vote in the US
Home: $3,395President: Woodrow Wilson"Swanee" — Al Jolson
1925Started school
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1933Became a teenager
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1936Could drive
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1938Could vote
Kristallnacht and the escalation toward WWII
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $2,850Min wage: $0.25/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Begin the Beguine" — Artie ShawBest Picture: You Can't Take It with You
1941Turned 21
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1950Turned 30
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1960Turned 40
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1970Turned 50
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1980Turned 60
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1983Died at 63
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
Key Achievements
- Won the NFL Most Valuable Player award as a rookie in 1945 while leading the Cleveland Rams to the league championship.
- Was a key figure in the transition of the Rams franchise from Cleveland to Los Angeles, helping establish pro football on the West Coast.
- Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1965.
- Had his jersey number (7) retired by the Rams organization in 1952.
Did You Know?
He served in the Army Air Forces during World War II before beginning his NFL career.
He was married to film actress and pin-up icon Jane Russell from 1943 to 1968.
He led the NFL in passing yards in 1946 and in punting average in 1950 and 1951.
After football, he worked as a producer on several films, including ones starring his wife.
“I'll punt it, kick the extra point, and then throw the touchdown.”
