Ernie "The Big Cat" Ladd (2014) - Hall of Fame - Southwestern Athletic Conference

Hall of Fame

Early Life & College

Ernie Ladd was born on November 28, 1938, in Rayville, Louisiana, and raised in Orange, Texas.
He attended GSU on a basketball scholarship but also played football under legendary coach Eddie Robinson at Grambling.
At GSU, he played defensive tackle and helped the team win the conference championship.

Professional Football Career

Ladd played in the then-American Football League (AFL).
He signed with the San Diego Chargers from 1961–1965, then played for the Houston Oilers (1966–1967) and the Kansas City Chiefs (1967–1968).
Standing 6'9" and weighing around ~290–320 lbs., he was one of the largest players in pro football at the time.
Highlights:
- Four-time AFL All-Star (1962–1965)
- AFL champion with the Chargers in 1963.
He was also a civil rights figure: prior to the 1965 AFL All-Star game in New Orleans, Ladd was influential in the black players’ boycott of the game because of discriminatory treatment in the city.