An athlete who could excel at just about anything on the football field, George Shaw (July 25, 1933 – January 3, 1998) reached the heights of the game in high school, college and the pros.
Shaw quarterbacked Grant High School of Portland to state titles in 1949 and 1950. The Generals were the first back-to-back champion in the relatively new OSAA post-season. Shaw would be one of the first stars of the Shrine All-Star game. He was the fourth of his brothers to play football at Grant, playing offense, defense and on special teams. George was named High School All-America in 1950.
Due to the Korean War, Shaw was eligible to play as a freshman at the University of Oregon and immediately set a college record with 13 interceptions. He played both quarterback and defensive back for most of his career, regularly playing all 60 minutes. As a senior he led the nation in total yards offense with 1,536 and was named All-America. George's college career totals included 3,508 yards and 26 touchdowns rushing and passing as well as 18 interceptions on defense. The 1954 Duck team finished 6-4 and ranked as high as #16 in the national polls, their best finish in six years. Shaw won the Pop Warner Award, given to the top football player on the West Coast and finished eighth in Heisman Trophy balloting. He was known as "Gentleman George" and sometimes his leadership was questioned for be soft-spoken and showing concern for injured opponents and respect to officials.
Shaw also earned All-American status as part of the baseball team and the Ducks almost reached the College World Series in 1955. He was toying with signing a baseball contract even after being drafted by the Baltimore Colts with the number one pick of the NFL draft.
Once again, Shaw rose quickly on the depth chart, starting at quarterback as a rookie. The NFL was just about to make a jump in American sports consciousness and George was there to see it all. Shaw spent four seasons with the Colts, eventually losing the starting QB job to a young Johnny Unitas. Shaw was on the sidelines for the 1958 NFL championship game that the Colts won in dramatic fashion in overtime. He then played two seasons for the New York Giants and one season with the expansion Minnesota Vikings, backing up a young Fran Tarkenton. His career ended with one season with the Denver Broncos. Shaw threw for 5,829 yards and 41 touchdowns in his combined NFL and AFL career.
George Shaw is a member of the University of Oregon Athletic Hall of Fame and the Portland Interscholastic League Hall of Fame.