Former Eagles and Rams linebacker Maxie Baughan dies at 85

Maxie Baughan (Google Images)

According to Charles Odum of the Associated Press on Sunday, former National Football League linebacker Maxie Baughan of Forkland, Alabama has passed away at the age of 85. The cause of death was natural causes.

Baughan played 12 seasons in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles (1960 to 1965), Los Angeles Rams (1966 to 1970) and Washington Redskins (1974). He did not play in the NFL for three full seasons from 1971 to 1973, before deciding to come out of retirement.

In 147 games, Baughan had 18 interceptions for 218 yards and one pick six. He also had 10 fumble recoveries for seven yards and 24.5 sacks. Baughan’s interception for a touchdown came in a 47-13 Eagles win over the Pittsburgh Steelers of the Battle of Pennsylvania on December 12, 1965. Baughan intercepted a Tommy Wade pass for 33 yards. Just how awful was Wade during this game? Well, he had seven interceptions, while Steelers backup quarterback Bill Nelsen had two interceptions. Eagles defensive back Jim Nettles of Muncie, Indiana had three interceptions himself for 84 yards. Nettles and George Tarasovic of Savannah, Georgia had pick sixes of 56 yards and 40 yards respectively.

Nine times Baughan was selected to the Pro Bowl. The first five times were with the Eagles in 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, and 1965. The next four times were with the Rams for four straight seasons from 1966 to 1969.

During Baughan’s rookie season of 1960, he was a runner up to Detroit Lions wide receiver Gail Cogdill in NFL rookie of the year voting. He played his college football of Georgia Tech. Baughan is the second notable Eagles player to pass away in 2023. He follows offensive lineman Bob Brown of Cleveland, Ohio, who died at the age of 81 on June 16.

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