They called Jerry Stovall “Mr. Everything” because on a football field he could do almost anything.

During three varsity seasons at LSU (1960-62), Stovall excelled as a running back, receiver, safety, punter, and kick returner. After his senior season in ‘62, he was a unanimous pick to the All-America team as a halfback, named the Southeastern Conference’s most valuable player, and finished as runner-up to Terry Baker in the Heisman voting.

“Jerry Stovall was one of the great all-around players of his era and a tremendous representative of LSU and the game of college football,” said Archie Manning, speaking as chairman of the National Football Foundation. “There simply wasn’t much he couldn’t do on a football field.”

Stovall, who also played multiple roles in nine NFL seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals (1963-1971), passed away on August 31, 2026 after a long battle with heart disease, according to Saturday Down South. He was 85.

A native of West Monroe, LA, Stovall compiled impressive numbers at LSU: 1,081 yards and 13 touchdowns as a rusher; 462 yards as a receiver; seven interceptions as a safety; and nearly 700 yards on special teams. He once held the school record for punting yards average in a season (42.1).

The Cardinals selected Stovall second overall in the 1963 NFL draft on December 3, 1962—the New York Jets took him third overall in the AFL draft—but players weren’t allowed to sign contracts with professional teams until after their senior season in college.

After LSU defeated Texas, 13-0, in the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Day in 1963, then-Cardinals vice president Bill Bidwill came out of the stands and chased down Stovall, who signed a contract under the goal posts.

“It was the best run and catch I ever made,” Bidwill said in Bob Burnes’ book ‘Big Red.’ “I was a bit winded, but I still had strength enough to hand him the contract and the pen.”

Stovall took more wind out of Bidwill’s sails when he said he and the Cardinals already had agreed on a contract, “but I suppose the Cardinals wanted to gain a little publicity if they could. I enjoyed watching Mr. Bidwill chase me.”

Stovall played 97 games (90 starts) in the NFL, all with the Big Red, and continued to show his versatility at the pro level. He primarily played strong safety, opposite free safety Larry Wilson, and intercepted 18 passes, two of which he returned for touchdowns. He also recovered six fumbles, punted 87 times for a 40.2-yard average, and had a 25.7-yard average as a kick returner. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1966, 1967 and 1969, and voted to the Associated Press All-Pro second team in ’66.

“Jerry was not just a great player; he was a complete athlete who could do it all on the field,” Wilson said.

Former Big Red tight end Jackie Smith admired Stovall’s work ethic. “Jerry was always the first one in and the last one out. His dedication inspired the whole team,” said Smith.

Stovall continued his association with football after his playing career. He served as head coach at his alma mater, LSU, for four years (1980-83), compiling a 22-21-2 record. After LSU went 8-3-1 in ’82, earning a trip to the Orange Bowl, Stovall was named national coach of the year by the Walter Camp Football Foundation and coach of the year in the SEC.

After his stint at LSU, Stovall worked in banking before serving as the athletic director at Louisiana Tech from 1990 to 1994. He later served as president and CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Sports Foundation.

Among his other honors, Stovall was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 1981 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2010.

In 2018, LSU retired Stovall’s uniform No. 21 and put his name and number up in lights in Tiger Stadium.