Ole Miss Football: The GOATS Of Ole Miss, Top 10 All-Time Rebels

Charlie Conerly, HB-QB

Charlie Conerly played at Ole Miss from 1942 to 1947 as both half back and quarterback for the great Johnny Vaught. While at Ole Miss he left to serve with the US Marine Corps in World War II and fought at the Battle of Guam. Conerly returned to Ole Miss in 1946 and it didn’t take long for him to garner national attention on the football field. Conerly was key in getting Ole Miss their first ever SEC Championship in 1947.  Taking the Rebels to a 9-2 record in 1947 Conerly was named First Team All-SEC, Consensus All-American and Player of the Year by the Helms Athletic Foundation. Conerly also finished 4th in the Heisman voting in 1947.

Conerly played for the New York Giants from 1948 to 1961 and had 19,488 career passing yards in his 13 NFL seasons. Conerly won an NFL Championship with the Giants in 1956 and was a two-time Pro Bowl selection. Conerly was named the NFL Most Valuable Player in 1959 and had his No.42 retired from the Giants organization. The Conerly Trophy which is given to the top college football player each year is named after him. Conerly was also known to smoke cigarettes on the sideline during games and was the first Marlboro Man.

• Member College Football Hall of Fame
• Member Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame