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The Philadelphia Eagles introduced the demise of former Pro Bowl linebacker Frank LeMaster on Saturday. LeMaster was a beginning linebacker on the Eagles’ 1980 NFC Championship workforce and earned a Pro Bowl choice in 1981, enjoying all 9 of his NFL seasons in Philadelphia.
A 1974 fourth-round select of the University of Kentucky, LeMaster performed all 129 video games eligible for the Eagles and began 114 of them. He made 115 consecutive begins for the Eagles, beginning with teammates John Bunting and Bill Bergey to kind one of many prime linebacker items within the NFL from 1975 to 1980.
LeMaster and Robert Brazile (Houston Oilers) have been the one two linebackers within the NFL to begin in each sport from 1975 to 1982. His 115 begins at linebacker is fourth in franchise historical past, trailing solely William Thomas (129), Chuck Bednarik (123), and Bunting (116). LeMaster scored three touchdowns in his profession, one among solely three Eagles linebackers to perform the feat. He completed his NFL profession with 10 interceptions.
LeMaster was essential towards constructing a winner in Philadelphia after the franchise endured an 18-year playoff drought, which was snapped in 1978. The Eagles gained the NFC Championship two years later with LeMaster entrenched as one of many leaders of a protection that completed first within the NFL in factors per sport allowed and second in yards allowed.
The Eagles had the No. 1 protection in factors per sport allowed in 1980 and 1981, each when LeMaster was on the unit. That was the final time Philadelphia allowed the fewest factors per sport within the league.
