William Craft, 89; NFL player shares the interceptions record

Associated Press / January 17, 2009

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PHILADELPHIA - William Russell "Russ" Craft, a member of the Philadelphia Eagles' 1948 and 1949 championship teams who shares the NFL record of four interceptions in a game, died Tuesday.

He was 89.

Mr. Craft, a 10-year NFL veteran who was also a player and defensive coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers, died in Wellsburg, W.Va., the Eagles said in a statement Thursday.

No cause of death was immediately given.

Mr. Craft was a defensive back and halfback who played with the Eagles from 1946 to 1953 and with the Steelers from 1953 to 1955. The two-time Pro Bowl selection had 22 career interceptions, including four in a game against the Chicago Cardinals in September 1950. He shares that NFL record with 17 players.

Selected in the 15th round of the 1943 draft out of Alabama, Mr. Craft played in 100 career NFL games. He scored seven regular-season touchdowns and one TD in the Eagles' 28-21 loss to the Cardinals in the 1947 title game.

He ran the Craft Service Station in Weirton, W.Va., from 1951 to 1985, and served two terms as the Brooke County sheriff (1960-72).