Charley Robinson—The First African-American to Start a Game/Season at Middle Linebacker?

 By John Turney 

Charley Robinson, known as "Redd" but also had the nickname of "Bull", played football at Morgan State. There he was All-CIAA and All-American in 1949 and 1950. He also boxed, winning the conference heavyweight title. 

“Redd” was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 1951 and was called a "cat-like" 225-pound guard. But he played defensive with the Packers - though just two games.

One of those was against the Bears. In a defensive scoring system implemented by the Packers' coaches that was based on tackles, assisted tackles and so forth, Robinson scored twelve "points". Walt Michaels led the team that day with 29 points.

He didn't finish the season with the Pack but was signed by the Eagles in April 1952.  He was the first African-American player ever signed by the Eagles. However, he was cut just prior to the season.

The following May Robinson was signed by the Colts but likethe previous season was among the final cuts before the regular season.

In 1954 Robinson made the Colts roster and started he first game. He was the starting middle guard. The Colts played mostly a 5-2 defense but would play some 4-3 as well with the middle guard standing up.

On the first play of the first game of the 1954 season, Robinson stood up at middle linebacker. The Colts were playing the Rams, a pass-heavy team and in those days the 4-3 was used more against the pass than the run. 

For most of the game he played with his hand in the dirt, nose up on the guard.

For unknown reasons, possibly ineffectiveness, at midseason Robinson was cut and Joe Campanella took over as the middle guard/middle linebacker.

Like Robinson, he would play both at middle guard and standing up as a middle linebacker, but more as the former than the latter. The Colts simply played more 5-2 than 4-3.

Bill Willis was the middle guard for the Cleveland Browns dynasty teams and it is possible that he stood up to start a game, though it is not documented in any way. It is a fact that the Browns were the last NFL team to switch to a 4-3 defense full-time, doing so in the late-1950s so it is possible Willis didn't stand up, even on occasion.

So, was Charley Robinson the first African-American to start a game and season as a middle linebacker? 

Possibly.

We cannot say for sure but if he wasn't he was certainly among the first even though it was not a full-time proposition - it was a hybrid middle guard/linebacker spot.

It was not until the late-1960s that Black players started full seasons as middle 'backers, one of the examples of racism in pro football, was the idea that Black athletes couldn't play certain positions like quarterback and middle linebacker was one of those positions.

It took success by guys like Garland Boyette, Willie Lanier and Jamie Rivers to prove that nonsense wrong. 

Regardless, it film shows that Robinson is someone worth remembering - that even someone with a short NFL career can have a notable achievement.