Alphonse Emil "Tuffy" Leemans was an American professional football player. He played for the New York Giants from 1936 until 1943.
Background
Alphonse Emil Leemans was born in Eloise, Wisconsin, one of four children of Joseph and Hortense Leemans, immigrant Belgian miners. Leemans spent most of his childhood in Superior, Wisconsin, where he earned the nickname "Tuffy" by playing with, and sometimes physically dominating, older boys in pickup football games.
Education
He graduated from high school in 1931. In 1932, Leemans enrolled in the University of Oregon, but he later transferred to George Washington University in the District of Columbia.
Career
During the 1930's, George Washington was a major collegiate football power, and Leemans was its star. Between 1933 and 1935, Leemans gained 2, 382 yards on 490 rushing attempts. He was also among the team's leaders in passing and receiving, and he played defense as well. Following his senior season Leemans was chosen to appear in the 1936 College All-Star Game against the National Football League (NFL) champion Detroit Lions. Leemans's selection owed a great deal to a local Washington sportswriter who mailed in ballots for Leemans wrapped around bits of straw, suggesting he had more votes than he really did.
In addition to playing, Leemans was also supposed to report on the College All-Star Game as a correspondent for the Washington Herald. His modesty, expressed as an inability to write about himself even though he was the star of the pregame scrimmages, brought a quick end to his journalistic career.
Leemans was selected as the collegians' most valuable player after their 7-7 tie with Detroit. After the College All-Star Game, Leemans reported to the New York Giants, who had chosen him as the second overall pick of the inaugural NFL draft. As a rookie Leemans became the first Giant to lead the league in rushing, gaining 830 yards on 206 carries. Leemans was the only first-year player named to the official all-league team. Leemans played the right halfback position in Giants coach Steve Owens's unique A formation offense. The right halfback's responsibilities were similar to those of the tailback in the more conventional single-wing offense. Only six feet tall and weighing 180 pounds, Leemans called the plays and was used variously as a runner, receiver, or passer. Coach Owens ran the A formation as a two-platoon system. Leemans and the other starters would begin the game and play both offense and defense. Then, at some point, the second platoon would replace them and also play offense and defense. This lack of specialization prevented Leemans and other players of his era from accumulating statistics equal to those of today's football players. In his time, however, Leemans was considered to be a workhorse.
Leemans played for the New York Giants from 1936 until 1943, spending his last season as a player-coach. During that time the Giants had a combined regular season record of 53 wins, 27 losses, and 8 ties. They played in the NFL championship game in 1938, 1939, and 1941. In the 1938 championship game Leemans scored on a six-yard touchdown run to help the Giants beat the Green Bay Packers 23-17. In 1941 his thirty-one-yard pass to George Franck accounted for the Giants' only touchdown in a 37-9 loss to the Chicago Bears.
Throughout his career Leemans was known less as a player blessed with speed and physical talent than as one who achieved success through determination and competitive desire. He played his best when the game was on the line. Unlike other players, Leemans's career was not disrupted by military service during World War II. A head injury suffered in a 1942 game against the Chicago Bears left him deaf in one ear. Leemans ended his NFL career with 3, 142 yards and 17 touchdowns rushing, 2, 324 yards and 25 touchdowns passing, and 422 yards and 3 touchdowns on 28 pass receptions. He was an all-pro selection in 1936 and 1939, and the Giants retired his jersey.
Following his football retirement, Leemans moved to Silver Spring, Msryland, where he became a successful businessman. He owned a minibowling lane and had a number of other investments; he also coached at Bishop Carroll High School in Washington, D. C. Leemans remained interested in football up until the time of his death in Hillsboro Beach, Florida. He had gone to Florida with his wife and another couple to see the Super Bowl.
Achievements
Connections
Leemans married Theodora Rinaldi in 1938. The couple had two children.