Steve Van Buren Biography

Stephen Wood Van Buren was a Honduran-American professional football halfback who played for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League from 1944 to 1951. Van Buren won three consecutive NFL rushing titles from 1947 to 1949 and earned a total of four rushing titles in his eight-season NFL career. He played college football for the LSU Tigers, where he led the NCAA in scoring during his senior season. Van Buren was known by several nicknames including Wham Bam, Moving Van, and Supersonic Steve due to his running style. After retiring from playing, he coached in minor league football and won an Atlantic Coast Football League championship with the Newark Bears in 1963. He is recognized as a member of the NFL 1940s All-Decade Team, the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, and the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. His final college game was the 1944 Orange Bowl, where he accounted for all of LSU's points in a 19–14 victory over Texas A&M by scoring two touchdowns, throwing for one, and kicking the only extra point.