Título: Steve Van Buren
Seção: 1944-1946: Kick return prowess
Background: Born in La Ceiba, Honduras to an American father and a mother of Spanish heritage, Stephen Wood Van Buren was orphaned at age ten and was sent to live with relatives in New Orleans, Louisiana. There he attended Warren Easton High School, and tried out for the football team originally as a sophomore, but did not make the team. Later that year he dropped out of high school and went to work in an iron foundry. He returned to high school two years later and made the team as an end his senior year.

Conteúdo: Van Buren played in nine games during his first season with the Eagles, rushing for 444 yards as a running back and recording five interceptions on defense as a defensive back. His first NFL return touchdown came in the third game of the season, on a 55-yard punt return in the second quarter of a 38-0 shutout win against the Boston Yanks. Three games later, he returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown against the New York Giants, which was the longest kickoff return by any player that season. His 15.3 yards per punt return also led the league. Van Buren was named to the Associated Press's All-Pro first team following the season, the only rookie so named for 1944.  In 1945, Van Buren led the NFL in rushing yards for the first time, and also led the league in scoring, yards from scrimmage, and kickoff return yards. He set an Eagles single-season record with fifteen rushing touchdowns, a mark that stood until 2011. His eighteen total touchdowns broke Don Hutson's league record by one, set three seasons earlier. He again had the longest kickoff return of the season, this time with a 98-yard return touchdown against the Giants. In that game he also rushed for 100 yards and two more touchdowns as he scored all of the Eagles' touchdowns in the 28-21 loss. At least six major publications named him a first-team All-Pro for the season, including the Associated Press and United Press.  By 1946, Van Buren was considered one of the best players in the league. Before the season, he signe

user: What was the kick return prowess?

assistant: His first NFL return touchdown came in the third game of the season, on a 55-yard punt return

user: Why was this significant?

assistant: first NFL return touchdown

user: What happened after that?

assistant: Three games later, he returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown against the New York Giants,

user: Did he have any other touchdowns?

assistant: His 15.3 yards per punt return also led the league. Van Buren was named to the Associated Press's All-Pro first team following the season,

user: Did he stay with the Eagles during this time?

assistant: Sutherland then offered to trade Dudley to the Eagles. In return he wanted Van Buren,

user: But the trade didn't happen?

assistant: according to Les Biederman of The Pittsburgh Press, "before [Sutherland] finished the second syllable of that name, Neale had fled the table."

user: What else happened during this period?

assistant: By 1946, Van Buren was considered one of the best players in the league. Before the season, he signed a three-year contract to remain with the Eagles,

user: Were any other teams trying to trade for him?

assistant: dispelling rumors that he planned to join the rival All-America Football Conference.