George Webster was a defensive back, he is listed as one of the top 100 players at his alma mater, Michigan State University, where he played from 1964 to 1966. At MSU, he played roverback, a position created by head coachDuffy Daugherty as a combination of safety and linebacker who could run with wide receivers but be strong enough to take on any running back. His Spartan teams compiled a 23-6-1 record, including the famous 10-10 tie against Notre Dame on November 19, 1966, and won a share of the national championship in 1965 and 1966. Among the honors given to Webster were being named to the All-Big Ten and All-American teams in 1965 and 1966, his number 90 was the second to be retired by the university, and he was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1987. In 1999 Webster was named one of the starting safeties on Sports Illustrated's NCAA football all-century team. His contributions at Michigan State are highlighted in the documentary Through the Banks of the Red Cedar, written and directed by MSU teammate Gene Washington's daughter, Maya Washington.
AFL career
After being selected by the American Football League's Houston Oilers as the fifth player overall in the first round of the 1967 draft, Webster's position was changed. In an exhibition game against the Cowboys, opposing QB Don Meredith completed a square-out to "Bullet" Bob Hayes, a former Olympic speedster. Hayes thought he had broken into the open, but was brought down from behind by #90, Webster, a linebacker. Webster started at left linebacker and made 15 tackles in his first AFL game. He made his first pro interception that year, helping the Oilers win the Eastern Division title. He was part of a defensive unit that held opponents under 200 points for the season. Webster averaged more than ten tackles a game, and was named the UPIAFL Rookie of the Year. He was named to the AFL All-Star Game 3 times. He is a member of the AFL All-Time Team.
Post-career disability and death
In 1989, Webster applied for benefits as totally and permanently disabled. He was found to have lost most use of a hand, foot, knee and ankle due to football-related injuries but did not meet the NFL's definition of totally disabled. In 1998, the Supreme Court let stand a finding by the NFL's retirement board that Webster's disability was not related to his football career. Football-related disability benefits are $4,000 a month; non-football disability monthly benefits are $750. In 2002, Webster had his right leg amputated above the knee in Houston because the limb had little circulation despite five previous surgeries. On April 19, 2007, Webster died in Houston, Texas.
