Lester Andrew Josephson (July 29, 1942 – January 1, 2020) was a professional American football running back in the National Football League for the Los Angeles Rams. He played college football at Augustana College.
| No. 34 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Running back | ||
| Personal information | |||
| Born: | (1942-07-29)July 29, 1942 Minneota, Minnesota | ||
| Died: | January 1, 2020(2020-01-01) (aged 77)[1] Tucson, Arizona | ||
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
| Weight: | 207 lb (94 kg) | ||
| Career information | |||
| High school: | Minneota (MN) | ||
| College: | Augustana (SD) | ||
| Undrafted: | 1964 | ||
| Career history | |||
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| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||
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| Player stats at NFL.com · PFR | |||
Josephson's football career had its start in his high school days in Minneota, Minnesota, where he played 8-man football. He did not play 11-man ball until he began college at Augustana in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
His early college years were outstanding, playing on a college team that showed unusual success and talent. The team during his final two years, however, had only mediocre success, and his hope to be claimed in the pro football draft faded.
Josephson was signed by the Dallas Cowboys in 1964 as an undrafted free agent, because they were impressed with his athletic ability. The Cowboys needed an offensive tackle because of injuries and although they did not want to lose Josephson, he was traded during training camp to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for Jim Boeke.
He joined the backfield of Roman Gabriel as a rookie fullback, and became a team leader for the next decade.
Josephson was selected for the Pro Bowl in 1967, after having his best professional season with 800 rushing yards. In the Pro Bowl, he scored a first-quarter touchdown in the 38–20 West victory.[2] The next year, he suffered a left calf injury in pre-season, while running through the stadium tunnel to the field.[3] After the cast for the injury was removed, he tore the Achilles tendon of the same leg while jumping rope during his rehabilitation and was placed on the injured reserve list.[4]
Injuries including a broken jaw and the ruptured Achilles tendon slowed him down but he contributed to the team for many years after his worst injuries. He retired in 1975 after he was waived during the preseason.[5] At the time. his 3,407 rushing yards were the third highest rushing total in Rams' history.[6]
After his career, he acted in several films and also served as a football film consultant.