Les Josephson

Lester Andrew Josephson (July 29, 1942 – January 1, 2020) was an American professional football player who served as a running back for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League. Raised in Minneota, Minnesota, he began his football career playing 8-man football in high school, and did not play 11-man football until he enrolled at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

At Augustana, Josephson was a two-way player at running back and linebacker, earning Williamson Midbracket All-America honors as a senior. He finished his college career with 1,422 rushing yards and a school-record 5.2 yards per carry. He was also a track athlete, setting the South Dakota collegiate record in the high jump at 6 feet, 5 inches, and winning the high jump title at the North Central Conference meet and the Howard Wood Dakota Relays in 1963.

After the 1964 NFL draft, Josephson was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys. He went on to play in the NFL as a running back for the Los Angeles Rams. He was inducted into the Augustana Athletics Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Dakota Relays Hall of Fame in 1989.