As a rookie, Dudley was a star Back who led the league in Rushing Yards (696), while also working as their Punter and Returner. He also was adept at defense, recording three picks. Like so many other athletes in the 1940s, Dudley left the game to serve his country in World War II, and he returned in 1945. That was a good year, but it was 1946, where he had one of the most complete seasons in the NFL. Dudley led the NFL in Rushing Yards (604), had four Receptions, six Punts, 452 Passing Yards, and a league-leading 385 Punt Return Yards and 1,650 All-Purpose Yards. Defensively, he also was first on the leaderboard with ten Interceptions.
Dudley was traded to the Detroit Lions after the 1946 season, where he played three years and was later with the Washington Redskins for another three. Dudley entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1966, and was an inaugural inductee to the Steelers Hall of Fame.
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