Victor Wilson Sears (March 4, 1918 – September 22, 2006) was an American professional football guard and tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1941 through 1953.
Early Life and College Career
Sears was born on March 4, 1918, in Ashwood, Oregon. He attended South High School in Eugene, Oregon. He played college football at Oregon State College (now Oregon State University), where he lettered from 1938 to 1940. In 1940, he was named an All-American lineman, becoming the second lineman in school history to earn that recognition. He also played in the 1941 East-West Shrine Game.
Professional Career
Sears was selected in the fifth round (33rd overall) of the 1941 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers but was promptly traded to the Philadelphia Eagles, for whom he played his entire NFL career. During World War II, in 1943, he played for the "Steagles," a temporary merger of the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers necessitated by league-wide manpower shortages.
Sears played 12 NFL seasons (1941–1953), appearing in 131 games with 108 starts. He played primarily as a tackle and defensive tackle. Over his career, he recorded 1 interception (returned for a touchdown), 11 fumble recoveries, and 2 touchdowns (one on a fumble recovery in 1942 and one on an interception return in 1952).
Awards and Honors
- 2× NFL champion (1948, 1949)
- Member of the NFL 1940s All-Decade Team
- 2× Second-team All-Pro (1943, 1949)
- First-team All-PCC (1940)
- Inducted into the Oregon State University Hall of Fame (1991)
- Inducted into the State of Oregon Hall of Fame (1980)
- Inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame
Death
Sears died on September 22, 2006, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, at the age of 88.
