Born in Trinity, Texas, and raised in San Francisco, Ollie Matson was a transcendent two-sport athlete whose gifts were evident long before he reached the professional level. At the University of San Francisco, he led the nation in rushing yards (1,566) and touchdowns (21) in 1951, guiding the Dons to an undefeated season. Before ever playing a down in the NFL, Matson competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland, winning a bronze medal in the 400-meter run and a silver medal as part of the United States 4×400-meter relay team. The Chicago Cardinals made him the third overall pick in the 1952 NFL Draft, and he rewarded them immediately, earning co-Rookie of the Year honors and returning two kickoffs for touchdowns, including a 100-yard return.

Over seven seasons with the Cardinals, Matson established himself as one of the most dangerous players in the league. A seven-time first-team All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowl selection, he was equally explosive as a runner, receiver, and return specialist, recording a career-high 924 rushing yards in 1956 and consistently ranking among the NFL’s leaders in all-purpose production. Following the 1958 season, the Los Angeles Rams acquired him in a blockbuster trade involving eight players and a high draft pick. When Matson retired in 1966, his 12,799 career all-purpose yards were second only to Jim Brown’s in NFL history.

Matson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1972 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1976. He and his wife Mary, whom he met as teenagers in San Francisco, made their home in Los Angeles for the remainder of his life. He passed away there in February 2011.