Red Cochran

John Thurman "Red" Cochran Jr (born August 2, 1922 in Fairfield; died September 5, 2004 in Green Bay, Wisconsin) was an NFL cornerback, assistant coach and scout.

Cochran graduated from Hueytown High School where he played both football and baseball. He was offered a scholarship in both sports at Wake Forest University and starred as a passing tailback for Peahead Walker's Demon Deacons. He was named to the 1942 All-Southern Conference team.

After the outbreak of World War II he joined the Army Air Force as a bomber pilot. He served with the 14th Air Force's 373rd Bomb Squadron and 308th Bomb Group in China. After leaving the service he returned to college and was an outfielder and clean-up hitter for the 1946 Demon Deacons baseball team.

Cochran had already been drafted by the NFL's Card-Pitt combined team in 1944. After graduating he joined the 1947 Chicago Cardinals as a cornerback, kick returner, punter and running back. As a rookie he helped Chicago win the NFL Championship by beating the Philadelphia Eagles at Comiskey Park. He went on to record 15 pass interceptions in 24 games and to set a team record for punt return average before being forced to retire due to a knee injury in 1950.

References

• [http://www.wakeforestsports.com/trads/hof-1973.html accessdate=17 June 2013}}</ref>