Claude Humphrey was born on June 29, 1944, in Memphis, Tennessee. He attended Lester High School in Memphis. He played football, basketball, ran hurdles, and set a Tennessee shot-put record. He enrolled at Tennessee State University and played varsity football from 1965 to 1967. He switched from offensive tackle to defensive tackle as a freshman. He helped TSU win two HBCU titles and the Grantland Rice Bowl in 1965 and 1966. He recorded 39 sacks, a school record at graduation. The Atlanta Falcons drafted him third overall in 1968. He started every game as a rookie, totaled 11.5 sacks, recovered three fumbles, and won Defensive Rookie of the Year. He posted double-digit sacks in five seasons with Atlanta. He earned six Pro Bowl selections and eight All-Pro honors over 13 seasons. He played for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1979 to 1981 and helped reach Super Bowl XV. He retired before sacks became official but left 130 unofficial career sacks. He coached the Falcons’ defensive line in the 1990s. He joined the Falcons Ring of Honor in 2008 and entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014. He died in Memphis on December 3, 2021, and remained connected to his hometown throughout his life.
Claude Humphrey was born on June 29, 1944, in Memphis, Tennessee. He attended Lester High School in Memphis. He played football, basketball, ran hurdles, and set a Tennessee shot-put record. He enrolled at Tennessee State University and played varsity football from 1965 to 1967. He switched from offensive tackle to defensive tackle as a freshman. He helped TSU win two HBCU titles and the Grantland Rice Bowl in 1965 and 1966. He recorded 39 sacks, a school record at graduation. The Atlanta Falcons drafted him third overall in 1968. He started every game as a rookie, totaled 11.5 sacks, recovered three fumbles, and won Defensive Rookie of the Year. He posted double-digit sacks in five seasons with Atlanta. He earned six Pro Bowl selections and eight All-Pro honors over 13 seasons. He played for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1979 to 1981 and helped reach Super Bowl XV. He retired before sacks became official but left 130 unofficial career sacks. He coached the Falcons’ defensive line in the 1990s. He joined the Falcons Ring of Honor in 2008 and entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014. He died in Memphis on December 3, 2021, and remained connected to his hometown throughout his life.
A native of Memphis, Tenn., Humphrey attended Lester High School, where he played football, basketball, and ran track.
Claude Humphrey recorded 122 career sacks, 2 safeties, and was selected to All-NFL teams 5 times throughout his Hall of Fame career as a defensive end.
