Carl "Spider" Lockhart

Who was Carl "Spider" Lockhart?

Carl Ford "Spider" Lockhart was an American football defensive back in the National Football League for the New York Giants. He was a two-time Pro Bowler. Lockhart played college football at North Texas State University and was drafted in the thirteenth round of the 1965 NFL Draft.

On arriving at Giants training camp, Emlen Tunnell, their defensive backfield coach, gave Carl the nickname Spider. The popular and talented Spider spent his entire 11-year career with the Giants. He was a Pro Bowl free safety in 1966, despite the Giants being the worst defensive team in points allowed/game in NFL history: 35.8, the 1981 Baltimore Colts allowing 533 points in 16 games: 33.3; see List of National Football League records. In particular, their run defense was shredded by Washington Redskins runners with 209 yards, net passing yards only 132, in a 72-41 game, the most points allowed by any team in a single game, Lockhart did get an interception against Sonny Jurgensen in the game.

He was a Pro Bowl free safety a second time in 1968, leading the league in defensive touchdowns. Spider intercepted 41 passes in his career and recovered 16 fumbles during his 145 games played.