Football | October 27, 2018

Lindon Crow, USC's 1954 football team captain who led the NFL in interceptions in 1956 before starring in "the greatest game ever played" and then playing for the Rams, died on Thursday (Oct. 25) in Exeter, Calif., due to complications from strokes.  He was 85.
 
There will be no services held.
 
Crow, who came to USC from Corcoran High in Central California, was a 3-year (1952-53-54) letterman as a 2-way halfback for the Trojans.  He earned All-Pacific Coast Conference honors in 1952 and 1954.  The 1952 Trojans went 10-1 and finished atop the PCC.  
 
He rushed for 666 yards in his Trojan career and caught 13 passes (with 6 TDs).  He had 11 career interceptions, including 6 in 1952.  He led USC in pass deflections in 1954, with 6.  He scored 12 touchdowns in his career.  He also returned kickoffs and punts for the Trojans.  An ankle injury slowed him in his 1953 junior season.  He played on a pair of USC's Rose Bowl squads, including beating Wisconsin in the 1953 Rose Bowl.  He participated in the 1955 Senior Bowl and College All-Star Game.
 
Crow was a second round pick of the Chicago Cardinals in the 1955 NFL Draft.  He played defensive back for the Cardinals (1955-57), New York Giants (1958-60) and Los Angeles Rams (1961-64).  He led the NFL in interceptions in 1956 with 11 and had 41 picks in his pro career.  He was named to 3 Pro Bowls (1956-57-59).  He played in the NFL Championship Game with the Giants in 1958 (getting 2 interceptions in a sudden death loss described as "the greatest game ever played") and 1959.
 
After his playing days and some time away from the game, he returned to coach football, first for 4 seasons (1972-75) as the defensive coordinator at Cal State Northridge and then for 13 years (1976-88) as the head coach at St. Genevieve High in Panorama City, Calif.  He also was St. Genevieve's athletic director his final 4 years there.
 
He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Sandy, and his 3 children (daughters Wendy and Melissa and son Lindon Jr.), along with 6 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.