Joe Perry

Fletcher Joseph "Joe" Perry (January 22, 1927 – April 25, 2011) was an American professional football fullback who played in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and the National Football League (NFL). After a season of college football at Compton Junior College, Perry joined the U.S. Navy, where he was spotted playing service football by the San Francisco 49ers and signed into the AAFC. He played for the 49ers from 1948 to 1960, the Baltimore Colts from 1961 to 1962, and returned to San Francisco in 1963 for his final season.

Exceptionally fast for a fullback, Perry earned the nickname "the Jet." Over 13 seasons with San Francisco he was featured in the "Million Dollar Backfield" and made three straight Pro Bowl appearances. In 1954 he was named the NFL Most Valuable Player, becoming the first African-American to receive the honor and one of the sport's first black stars. He was the first player in the NFL to rush for 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons, doing so in 1953 and 1954.

Perry retired in 1963 as the league's all-time leader in rushing yards. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1969.