Don Fleming (American football)

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For the musician see Don Fleming (musician)

Don Fleming
Date of birth:	June 11, 1937(1937-06-11)
Place of birth:	Bellaire, Ohio
Date of death:	June 4, 1963 (age 25)
Career information
Position(s):	Safety
College:	Florida
NFL Draft:	1959 / Round: 28/ Pick 327
Organizations
As player:
1960-1962	Cleveland Browns
Career highlights and Awards
Retired #s:	Cleveland Browns #46
Stats at DatabaseFootball.com

Donald Denver Fleming (June 11, 1937 - June 4, 1963) was an American football defensive back who played for the University of Florida and the Cleveland Browns.

The Florida Gators' captain in 1958, Fleming was selected by the Chicago Cardinals in the 28th round of the 1959 NFL draft. He did not see any action that year and successfully urged Chicago to trade him to the Browns before the 1960 season. Over the following three seasons, Fleming played regularly at safety and intercepted 10 passes. He made The Sporting News' all-NFL team in 1962.

At the time, many NFL players had to take off-season jobs to supplement their income from football. Fleming and a coworker were working on a construction job in Winter Park, Florida when they were electrocuted. His death came only a few weeks after that of Ernie Davis, the overall No. 1 NFL draft pick in 1962 whom the Browns had acquired in a trade. The Browns retired both Davis' uniform number 45 and Fleming's 46 in memory of the players.

Fleming Field at Shadyside High School, his alma mater, is named in his memory. When the Browns practiced at Case Western Reserve University, the field they used also carried Fleming's name.

Fleming's brother, Ty, is the head football coach at Shadyside High.

[edit] Other sources

• Carroll, Bob, et al. (1999). Total Football II. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0-06-270174-6.

v • d • e Cleveland Browns Retired Numbers #14 Otto Graham • #32 Jim Brown • #45 Ernie Davis • #46 Don Fleming • #76 Lou Groza