CARD: Playoff Contenders European Contenders 2000 Leaf Rookies & Stars 2000 ACQUIRED: 2021, Future Considerations. TTM 2022, C/o Home
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
The most acclaimed of Central College’s runningbacks, ran for an astounding career 5855 yards on 928 carries.
Saw time in camp with the Bears (97), Eagles (99), Colts/Giants (00).
Assigned to NFL Europe by the Eagles to play for the Frankfurt Galaxy in 1999, winning the World Bowl that year.
Ran for 192 yards on 43 carries, and caught 9 passes for 72 yards for Frankfurt.
Played one final season with the Amsterdam Admirals in 2000.
Rushed for 212 yards on 73 carries, and caught 14 passes for 104 yards for the Admirals.
ACCOLADES:
Iowa High School Sports Hall of Fame
Leaf Rookies & Stars 2000, #274
NOTES:
Mark during his college days was featured in a two page profile spread in Sports Illustrated (print).
He was pretty easy to find on the internet, so I went ahead and dropped him his Leaf card in the mail to sign. He responded and attached a nice sticky note to the card.
Selected in the 3rd round of the 56 Draft by the New York Giants.
Moved to middle linebacker in Tom Landry‘s 4-3 alignment.
Became starter during rookie season and started every game until traded to Washington Redskins after the 63 season.
Prototypical middle linebacker, who could read plays, disrupt running lanes or drop off into coverage and score interceptions, while also being a bone crushing tackler.
Played 13 seasons in the NFL, starting 159 games and logging 30 interceptions.
Worked with Redskins great Sonny Jurgensen in the broadcasting booth until he retired in 2012.
ACCOLADES:
College Football Hall of Fame 1982
Pro Football Hall of Fame 1982
Pro Bowl 1958-61, 64
All Pro 1958-59
Second Team All Pro 1957,60-61, 63
West Virginia Mountaineers #75 retired
New York Giants Ring of Honor
Washington Redskins Ring of Fame
NFL 50s All-Decade Team
First NFL player to appear on the Cover of Time magazine
Appeared in a TV special called: “The Violent World of Sam Huff”
#76 Sporting News Greatest NFL Players
NOTES:
I was shocked to get a certified Sam Huff for so cheap during the pandemic, but as it stood it was much more affordable to get a few autographed Upper Deck Legends for my set, than to get a blaster box of Panini, that’d probably have an autograph of a street free agent.
TAC
SAC
FUM
INT
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
N/A
N/A
17
30
381
12.7
2
39
EPITAPH:
11/13/21- Sam Huff passed away at the age of 87. He had been diagnosed with dementia in 2012, however it is unknown if it ultimately played a role in his passing.
Cards: Pro Set World League 1991, Ultimate World League 1992 Acquired: TTM 2021, C/o Home Sent: 6/21 Received: 7/24 (33 days) Failure: TTM 2010, C/o Home
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
At time of graduation, was Appalachian State’s all-time leading scorer with 277 points, and field goals made (62).
Undrafted in 1989, tasted first NFL action later that year with the New York Giants.
Scored 39 points in 6 games, converting 9 of 12 field goals as injury replacement for Raul Allegre.
After failing to beat out Nick Lowery in camp in 1990 with the Chiefs, was the #1 overall pick amongst kickers in the WLAF positional draft by the Montreal Machine in 1991.
Paired with punter Chris Mohr to form the best special teams duo in the World League.
Scored 51 points on 13 of 18 field goals for the Machine in 1991, setting numerous league records along the way including most field goals in a game (4, Orlando), and longest field goal (50 yards, SA).
After season concluded, signed alongside Mohr to the Buffalo Bills, but failed to unseat incumbent kicker Scott Norwood.
Joined the Cleveland Thunderbolts of the Arena Football League in 1993 playing one season with the franchise.
Hopped over to the CFL, kicking for the Shreveport Pirates in 1994 and 95.
After two more attempts at making an NFL roster in 1996 (Chiefs) and 1997 (Bucs), returned to the Arena Football League in 1998.
Played for the Tampa Bay Storm (1998), Buffalo Destroyers (1999), Arizona Rattlers (2000), and Carolina Cobras (2001).
Briefly reemerged for a comeback attempt in 2005 and was an offseason addition for the Ottawa Renegades, retiring soon thereafter.
ACCOLADES:
All World League 1991 Second Team
Ultimate World League 1992, #85
NFL
XPA
XPM
PCT
FGA
FGM
PCT
LG
PTS
13
12
92.3
9
12
75.0
39
39
WLAF
XPA
XPM
PCT
FGA
FGM
PCT
LG
PTS
27
24
88.9
28
20
71.4
50
84
CFL
XPA
XPM
PCT
FGA
FGM
PCT
LG
PTS
72
72
100.0
91
74
81.3
N/A
306
ARENA
XPA
XPM
PCT
FGA
FGM
PCT
LG
PTS
298
273
91.6
162
60
37.0
N/A
453
NOTES:
Bjorn Nittmo was the first Swede to play professional gridiron football and is considered an ambassador of the sport. While playing for the Giants, late night host David Letterman fell in love with his name and made jokes about it, leading to two appearances by Nittmo on Letterman’s show in late 1989 and early 1990. In 1999, Bjorn also appeared in the movie Any Given Sunday and was the placekicker for the Sharks.
Nittmo is unfortunately a long study in concussions and CTE. After taking a bone crunching hit during the preseason with the Bucs, he was never the same again. His short term memory was severely damaged by the injury and he apparently has dealt mood swings. Estranged from his family, he became a nomad of sorts, moving around the country, picking up jobs here and there. Over the years, multiple articles have been written about his case, so after failing out in 2010 on him- not knowing he was estranged from his family, I tracked him down in Northern Arizona of all places.
It’s a small world really. Back in 2007 I drove through Northern Arizona, and passed through the town he was living in. The only reason I remember it was because it was in the middle of nowhere, and it was just a blip on the radar, so I honed in on his location and wrote him a letter.
I was shocked to get a response from this ‘white whale’ in less than 30 days. It was nice hearing from him. I know his life has been… hard- over the last few years, but I hope that he is making the best of it and trying to better himself.
As a final note, I’d like to thank those out there who have collaborated with me over the years to find World League players. I have been at this for many years now. This is a success, for me personally, a triumph of singularity that others can only claim to have found, but more than likely got from me. – There is no reason I shouldn’t toot my horn about this one.
Nonetheless, I hope that this information finds its way into the right hands, and reunites some more players with each other and brings back fond memories of their time in the World League.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
