Harrison Samuel "Sam" Francis (October 26, 1913 – April 23, 2002) was an American football player, coach, and shot putter. He played college football at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where, in 1936, he was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy. Francis was the first overall selection in the 1937 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. His rights were traded to the Chicago Bears in exchange for Bill Hewitt and $4,000 in cash on February 15, 1937. He played in the NFL for four years with the Bears, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Brooklyn Dodgers before leaving to serve in the Army during World War II. Francis was also an exceptional athlete in track and field and placed fourth in the shot put at the 1936 Summer Olympics. Francis served as the head football coach at Kansas State University for on