Jack Crabtree, a former quarterback for the Oregon Ducks, has passed away. He was 91 years old.
Videos by FanBuzz
The Eugene-based university issued a statement on Monday and announced the news. Oregon did not provide a cause of death.
"Oregon football mourns the loss of former Duck quarterback Jack Crabtree, MVP of the 1958 Rose Bowl and a 2002 Oregon Hall of Fame inductee," the university said in a statement.
A native of Southern California, Crabtree moved from San Bernardino Junior College to Eugene. He spent the first two seasons of his Oregon tenure sharing the starting duties. However, he then took center stage during his senior season.
He completed 55 of his 99 attempted passes during the 1957 season. He threw for 624 yards and five touchdowns during the regular season as the Ducks went 7-3. He added four touchdowns as a runner.
This season featured the Ducks defeating No. 19 UCLA 21-0 and San Jose State 26-0. The Oregon Ducks also beat the University of Southern California Trojans 16-7.
Oregon football mourns the loss of former Duck quarterback Jack Crabtree, MVP of the 1958 Rose Bowl and a 2002 Oregon Hall of Fame inductee. pic.twitter.com/8CQRn0OsQG
— Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) April 6, 2026
The Oregon Ducks faced off with the favored Ohio State Buckeyes on Jan. 1, 1958. He threw for 135 yards and nearly led the team to a massive upset, but his final pass fell incomplete. The Buckeyes escaped with a 10-7 win, but Crabtree earned MVP honors.
According to the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame, Crabtree also played defense during this Rose Bowl. He helped limit the Buckeyes' offense despite entering the game as a three-touchdown underdog.
The Philadelphia Eagles selected Crabtree in the 12th round of the 1958 NFL Draft, but he spent two seasons in the United States Army. He then spent time on the rosters of the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers.
The State of Oregon named the former MVP quarterback to its Hall of Fame in 1981 and then the Rose Bowl named him to its Hall of Fame in 1998. The University of Oregon named him to its Hall of Fame in 2002.
