Former Washington fullback Don Bosseler, who is a member of the team's 80 Greatest list, has passed away. He was 88.
The ninth overall pick in the 1957 NFL Draft, Bosseler spent his entire pro career in Washington. Nicknamed "Bull" because of the way he would run through tacklers, Bosseler was a force on Washington's offense from 1957 to 1964. During his eight seasons with the Burgundy & Gold, he rushed for 3,112 yards and racked up 22 touchdowns. The fullback was named to the Pro Bowl following his 1959 season.
Born in Wethersfield, New York, Bosseler opted to take his talents south for college and was a four-year starter for the Miami Hurricanes from 1953 to 1956. Of Bosseler's time in Miami, the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame wrote that Bosseler was "the face of the University of Miami football program in the mid-1950s" and "was as familiar to Hurricane fans as Elvis was to teenage music lovers and James Dean was to movie buffs."
The Canes fullback rushed for 1,642 yards in his college career, the second most in Miami history at the time and a number that still ranks 21st in school history. After rushing for 723 yards during his senior season and helping to lead his team to its highest national ranking ever at that point (No. 6), Bosseler was named a unanimous first-team All-American. He was also named MVP of the Senior Bowl.
Bosseler was selected by Washington in the 1957 NFL Draft with the ninth overall pick. He hit the ground running with the Burgundy & Gold, starting in ten of 12 games his rookie season and finishing third in the league in rushing yards behind Bears All-Pro Rick Casares and Hall of Famer Jim Brown. Bosseler led Washington in rushing yards in 1959 and 1960. When he retired in 1964, he was the franchise's all-time leading rusher and is still just one of 11 players to have over 3,000 career rushing yards with the team.
After hanging up his cleats, Bosseler worked as a stockbroker for Prudential Financial. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame (1990) and the Florida Sports Hall of Fame. He was named to Washington's 80 Greatest list as part of celebrations to honor the team's 80th season in 2012.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Marcia Bosseler, his daughters Loni Perse and Catherine Vale and his son Greg Bosseler.
