Dudley continued to shine in his senior year at UV. In the unforgettable NC vs. UV game of 1941 “Bullet” shined for the entire football world to see. That night Dudley scored all three of UV’s touchdowns (passing for the third) and kicked for four extra points. This stellar performance, along with his other remarkable efforts on the field that season, locked “Bullet” Bill Dudley in as the University of Virginia’s first All-American player. He was also dubbed the “Outstanding College Football Player of the Year” by the Maxwell Memorial Club of Philadelphia that same year.

In 1942, World War II began and Dudley was filled with an overwhelming desire to serve his county. He desperately wanted to become a Navy pilot in the Air Corps but lacked the parental consent to enlist. Instead, he was the Pittsburg Steelers’s number one draft pick for the 1942 season. A truly impressive talent, Dudley led the NFL in rushing with 696 yards on 162 carries.

In 1942, the armed services began drafting all eligible young men to fight in WWII. Dudley’s old dreams of military service had finally become a reality and in September of 1942, he was finally able to enlist in the Army Air Corps. There was an influx of recruits and Dudley was told he would have to wait three months before he began training. This delay made it possible for “Bullet” to wrap up his rookie season with the Steelers. The hold up proved to be beneficial for Dudley who was then named to the All-Pro team and awarded Rookie of the Year for 1942.

Dudley eventually went through basic training in Florida before attending flight school in Texas. Ultimately, he was asked to join the Army’s football team. Dudley was told he was an “essential” part of the war effort as a “morale booster.” In the 1944 season, “Bullet” helped his team triumph with a 12-0 record. That year he was named MVP and made the All-Service squad.

Once the war came to a close, Dudley was shipped to Hawaii where the Army selected him to play in three more football games against All-Star teams. He returned to Pittsburgh that fall and rejoined the Steelers’s team for the last four games of the 1945 season. In a game against the Chicago Cardinals, Dudley proved he was still a football force to be reckoned with. He ran for two touchdowns and kicked for two additional points during this game and became the Steelers’ leading scorer for the 1945 season. He also rushed for 204 yards, aerials ran back five punts for 20 yards, connected on 10 or 32 and returned three kickoffs for 65 yards.

The following year bellowed in the arrival a new coach for the Steelers, Jock Sutherland. “Bullet’s” performance in the 1946 season still makes jaws drop in amazement. Dudley scored 48 points for the Steelers that year, contributing to their 5-5-1 record.

In the 1946 season, Dudley became the league leader in rushing (604 yards), interceptions (10 total which he returned for 242 yards) and punt returns (27 total for 385 yards). He was also led in lateral passing but that category is no longer regarded as a separate statistical entity. He is the first and only NFL player to lead in four unique statistical categories, earning “Bullet” the designation of Triple Crown Winner. Bill was named All-Pro and honored with him NFL’s Most Valuable Player award that same year. The NFL MVP award made Dudley the only player in football history to receive MVP in college, service and pro sectors.
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