Nevada Football will pay tribute to the legacy of former Wolf Pack standout and Pro Football Hall of Famer Marion Motley throughout the 2025 season, beginning with a special recognition in this week’s opener.
Motley, who played at Nevada from 1940 to 1942, is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of football.
His No. 41 jersey was retired by Nevada in 1969 to mark his 1968 induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
In each of the Wolf Pack’s games this season, a different player will wear Motley’s No. 41 to honor his journey, military service, and football legacy.
The number will continue to hold retired status and will not be permanently assigned.
At this Saturday’s 2025 opener at Penn State, wide receiver Charles Brown will be the first player to wear the jersey.
“I’m tremendously grateful for this opportunity and for the support from my coaches and teammates who have recognized the hard work I put in every day,” Brown said. “Being the first to wear Marion Motley’s No. 41 is more than just an honor; it’s a responsibility. This initiative reminds me to lead with humility, to set an example for my team, and to bring along selfless, dedicated individuals who share that same drive day in and day out. It’s motivation to keep pushing, not just for myself but for the legacy we are all part of.”
Nevada Athletics Director Stephanie Rempe said Motley’s story remains foundational to the university.
“Marion Motley’s Nevada legacy is an essential component in the history of Wolf Pack Athletics,” Rempe said. “So much about Marion Motley’s story at Nevada—his journey to Reno, his perseverance, his outstanding performances on the field, his service for this country—embodies the values we hold highest at the University and in Northern Nevada.”
Motley, a Canton, Ohio, native, began his college career at South Carolina State in 1939 before transferring to Nevada in 1940. He became a starter at both fullback and linebacker and returned multiple kickoffs for touchdowns, including a 105-yard return in 1941 that remains tied for the school record.
During his time at Nevada, a Reno reporter wrote that “in Marion Motley, the ball club has one of the best backs in the entire nation.”
Motley left the Wolf Pack in 1942 after being inducted into the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was stationed at Great Lakes Naval Station near Chicago, where he played football for coach Paul Brown. In 1946, Brown brought Motley to the Cleveland Browns of the new All-American Football Conference.
At age 26, married with four children and working in a mill in Canton, Motley earned a spot on the team. That year, he and Browns teammate Bill Willis, along with Woody Strode and Kenny Washington of the Los Angeles Rams, broke the color barrier in modern professional football.
Motley played nine professional seasons, including eight with the Browns (1946–53) and one with the Pittsburgh Steelers (1955). He was the AAFC’s all-time rushing leader, led the NFL in rushing in 1950, and played in the 1951 Pro Bowl. He finished his career with 4,720 rushing yards, a 5.7 yards-per-carry average, and was called “the greatest fullback ever” by coach Paul Brown after a 1946 game.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968 as just the second Black player to receive the honor and entered the Nevada Athletics Hall of Fame as part of its inaugural class in 1973.
Motley died in 1999 at the age of 79. His influence continues to be recognized, including his selection to the NFL’s 75th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1994. Sports Illustrated’s Paul “Dr. Z” Zimmerman once named him the best player in the history of football in his book A Thinking Man’s Guide to Pro Football.
