Mountain Empire Football Hall of fame
Inducted 2023
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"Big" Ed Cifers
“Gentleman, scholar, athlete” - no other phrase seems as appropriate in describing former Dobyns-Bennett High School, University of Tennessee, and NFL standout, "Big" Ed Cifers. The talented Kingsport native was the 1st player east of Knoxville to be named to the high school All-State team and was a 4-sport letterman. Cifers played in 3 post-season bowl games (1939 Orange Bowl, 1940 Rose Bowl, and 1941 Sugar Bowl). Starting at tight end, he was a member of 3 SEC championship teams that compiled a 31-2 record. Upon graduation from UT, Cifers played 5 seasons in the NFL with the Washington Redskins and Chicago Bears. He started his pro career with the Redskins (1941 and 1942) and was a key member of Washington’s NFL Championship team. That same year he was named to the UPI All-Pro Squad. His career was interrupted before the start of the 1943 season by his call to service during World War II. Then in 1944, his career was nearly ended by a car accident in which he suffered a broken back. Despite the magnitude of his injuries, Cifers returned to pro football after the war, playing 1 year with Washington and 2 with the Chicago Bears. Following his football career, Cifers moved to Knoxville and had a successful career in the contracting and construction business. He took particular pleasure in his membership in the Optimist Club and his service as a high school football referee. He is the brother of National Football Foundation Mountain Empire Hall Fame inductee Bobby Cifers. He was named to the Sports Illustrated Silver Anniversary All-America Team (1965); and was inducted into the East Tennessee Chapter of the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame (1975); Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame (1983); and Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame (1985). |