1961 Retirements 

OL Andrew Furrson - Weymouth, MA
Teams: Boston Independents (1949-1960)
McCallister Cups: 2 (1949, 1950)
Captaincy: BOS - A (1957-1960)
All-Stars: 10 (1950-1959)
Andrew Furrson was a longtime staple on the Boston O-line. After starting with the team as a rookie in 1948 (one year before the NAAF), Furrson developed into one of the greatest Offensive Linemen the league has seen. Over his 12-year NAAF career, Furrson was selected as an All-Star 10 times. While it is easier for OL to get an All-Star nod over say a QB, he’s the only one to do it 10 times in his career. He would help the team to their 2 McCallister Cups in 1949 and 1950, and then stuck with the team through the tough rebuild that followed. Furrson is one of the great leaders as well, holding the “A” for his last four seasons.  

DL Sean Bowen - Brooklyn, NY
Teams: Hartford Hawks (1950-1953), Buffalo Blue Wings (1954-1960)
McCallister Cups: 1 (1957)
Captaincy: BUF - C (1957-1960)
Awards: Defensive Player of the Year (1954)
All-Stars: 10 (1950-1959)
DL Sean Bowen was one of the league’s earliest defensive stars. After signing with the Hartford Hawks in 1950, he quickly developed into a force on the line. Unfortunately in his early years, he was the only bright spot in a terrible Hawks team. When the team was bought by Wayne Tillman and moved to Long Island, Bowen wanted to see what else was out there. Tillman would respect the decision and would trade the DL to the Buffalo Blue Wings. From there, Bowen became an anchor on the Blue Wings roster. He would take home DPOY in his first season with the team. He eventually would be named captain in 1957. While the first few seasons with the team were rough and injury-filled for Bowen, he finally was able to achieve what he arrived in Buffalo to do and won the 1957 title with the team. Bowen also is the only other player to get 10 All-Stars in his career.  

QB Angelo Medina - Morgantown, WV
Teams: Buffalo Blue Wings (1950-1960)
McCallister Cups: 2 (1952, 1957)
All-Stars: 1 (1957)
Angelo Medina made a very difficult decision early in his career. He originally started as a QB for the Pittsburgh Hammers, being the successor to Nathaniel Braddock’s father, William Braddock. However, with some issues from the ownership and the team, and Medina struggling on the field, he decided to change course and sign in the NAAF with the Blue Wings. From there, his career changed. He quickly developed into one of the best dual-threat QBs of his time being able to beat you on his feet as much as through the air. He would lead the Buffalo to their first-ever championship in 1952. Unfortunately, Medina would suffer a major leg injury in the next year. He wouldn’t be the same player after that and the Blue Wings fell behind the shadow of the Royals dynasty. However, in 1957 Medina would rise up and lead Buffalo on an 11-game win-streak to claim their second title. Medina spent his last season letting the young guns play after getting hurt, but he would play in the season finale loss to the Victors as his final game in Buffalo. 

WR Peter Brooks - Taunton, MA
Teams: Providence Gold Stars (1949-1958), Long Island Raiders (1959-1960)
McCallister Cups: 0
Captaincy: PRO - A (1957-1958)
All-Stars: 6 (1951-1956)
One of the best WRs in the NAAF, Peter Brooks was always up at the top of the league in WR stats usually only falling behind Ottawa WR Allen Atkins for the league lead. Brooks was a great player for the Gold Stars leading the team as their primary weapon over 10 seasons with the team, especially during his 6 All-Star seasons. Brooks was unable to win a title in Providence, and late in his career would get the chance as a depth role in Long Island, but the team was unable to bring home a title in the two years he was there. Brooks still had a pair of seasons with an “A” on his jersey with the Gold Stars. 

WR Wilbert Benjamin - Hamilton, ON
Teams: London/Ontario/Toronto Tigers (1950-1960)
McCallister Cups: 1 (1960)
Captaincy: LDN/ON - A (1957-1960)
All-Stars: 2 (1955, 1958)
Easily one of the most shocking retirements this season, sees the longtime Tiger call it a career. The decision did come after Benjamin’s several injuries, especially the one that prevented him from playing this season’s McCallister Cup, and he didn’t feel that the risk of further injury was worth coming back for, especially since the team walked away on top this season. Over his career, Benjamin gave his all to the Tigers organization, always sticking with them through it all, likely due to a great connection to GM Joseph Johnson. He was the Tigers' #1 WR option over the majority of his career even catching a playoff-clinching touchdown in 1956 to get the Tigers into the playoffs for the first time in team history. While he was sad to not play in the championship game, he still got to raise the trophy and walk away a champion. 

DB Louie White - Montreal, QC
Teams: Ontario/Toronto Tigers (1949-1956), Buffalo Blue Wings (1956-1958), Montreal (1959), London Tigers (1960)
McCallister Cups: 2 (1957,1960)
All-Stars: 3 (1950,1951,1953)
Louie White was unable to make his hometown Rouge team right out of college and ended up playing for the Toronto Tigers. With the struggling team, White would develop into one of the best DBs over the early ‘50s. White earned 3 All-Star nods during that time and was a huge part of the Tigers’ climb out of the basement. Unfortunately, he never was able to get into the playoffs with the team before being traded during the 1956 season. He was traded to Buffalo who was fighting for a playoff spot, however, despite the Tigers being way behind the Blue Wings, they would manage to come back and make the playoffs for the first time as White once again missed. The next season, White was finally able to make an impact and would win the 1957 title with the Blue Wings. He would soon get a chance to play for his hometown team but was then traded back to the Tigers one year later. He would then finally get a chance to win with the Tigers being a part of their 1960 championship squad.  

Other Notable Retirements
* = Championship Won
DB Amyre Rouleau - Harrisburg, PA - LI (1954-1959)*, BOS (1960)
K Nathaniel King - Syracuse, NY - TOR/ON/LDN (1949-1959), FA (1960)
LB Roger Morrow - Mansfield, MA - PRO (1949-1959), LI (1960)
S Lester Greer - Markham, ON - OTT (1951-1956)***, LOU (1957), OTT (1958-1959)*, LI (1960)
QB Micheal Kramer - Hamilton, ON - TOR (1949-1951), HAR (1952-1953), WOR (1954-1956), OTT (1957-1958), WOR (1959), PRO (1960) 

Always tough to say goodbye to some of the big stars, these retirements also leave only 2 players that were on NAAF teams in 1949: QB Jean Matieau & DB Victor Bean

1961 Coaching Changes 

Indiana Victors
The Victors decided to change things up at the top by letting go of GM Jacob Harrell. To replace him, Owner Sammy Kirkdale brought on a friend of his in Everett Henderson. Henderson has been mainly involved in baseball, but had shifted to football in recent years and was working in the GLFL for the Cincinnati Centurions. Henderson was super excited to be able to be involved with his hometown team and promises to do his best to turn the team around.  

Long Island Raiders
It has been a rocky battle for the Raiders offence over the last few seasons, while the run-game has been great with RB Dareion Fields and RB Johnnie Stafford, QB Lyle Painter and the pass-game has not been quite as stellar. This brought on the firing of longtime offensive coordinator Richard Thorne. The Raiders brought on Levi Bray, a coach from the New Jersey Chargers of the ACFL. Bray was moving up the ranks in NJ, but felt stuck and decided to move onto Long Island. 

Providence Gold Stars
Probably the biggest shock in terms of coaching changes was the Gold Stars letting go of DC Jerome Morris after only one season and then hiring DC Urick Wilkins of the Blue Wings to replace him. Wilkins has been the DC in Buffalo since 1956, helping the team win a title in 1957. Wilkins decided he wanted a change of scenery and decided to give Providence a chance next to HC Harry Meadows.  

Worcester Athletics
The Athletics would make the change up at DC, however, it wasn’t their choice with DC George Mitchell stepping down from his role with the team. Worcester would continue to make a hire out of West Mass State, bringing in Phillip Little as the new DC. Little is fairly young for most coaches but he always wanted to make it to pro and left his head coaching job.  

Buffalo Blue Wings
With Wilkins leaving the Blue Wings would end up bringing in George Mitchell from the Athletics for the DC role. Mitchell has some decent experience in the NAAF now, but they were also with the Hartford Hawks and the Worcester Athletics. Mitchell has shown some improvement in the last year specifically helping Worcester to the playoffs with a barebones defence.   

Wow did not see Bishop wanting out of Worcester so soon. I'm sure he will get a huge deal somewhere this offseason maybe in Montreal or Buffalo. 

Not looking good in Worcester, bet this team will have to relocate in coming years.

That NYC guy seems like a real piece of work. Hoping it all works out in Worcester (if only so I can keep saying it) but if not hopefully they end up somewhere nice (Springfield?).