| George Blanda | |
|---|---|
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| Position(s): Quarterback / Kicker |
Jersey #(s): 16 |
| Born: September 17, 1927 Youngwood, Pennsylvania |
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| Career Information | |
| Year(s): 1949–1975 | |
| NFL Draft: 1949 / Round: 12 / Pick: 119 | |
| College: Kentucky | |
| Professional Teams | |
| Career Stats | |
| TD-INT | 236-277 |
| Yards | 26,920 |
| QB Rating | 60. In American football, each team has 11 players on the field at one time Quarterback ( QB) is a position in American and Canadian football. Placekicker, or simply kicker ( PK or K) is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the In team Sports the squad number, shirt number, jersey number, sweater number, or uniform number is the Number Events 1176 - The Battle of Myriokephalon is fought 1462 - The Battle of Świecino (or Battle of Żarnowiec Year 1927 ( MCMXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Youngwood is a borough in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. In an organised Sports league, a season is the portion of one Year in which regulated Games of the sport are in session The 1949 NFL season was the 30th Regular season of the National Football League. The 1975 NFL season was the 56th Regular season of the National Football League. The NFL Draft is an annual Sports draft in which NFL teams select newly-eligible players for their rosters The 1949 National Football League Draft was held on December 21 1948 This is a List of Athletic Conferences of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public, Co-educational, University, and is also the state's land-grant university located The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. The 1949 NFL season was the 30th Regular season of the National Football League. The 1950 NFL season was the 31st Regular season of the National Football League. The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. The 1950 NFL season was the 31st Regular season of the National Football League. The 1958 NFL season was the 39th Regular season of the National Football League. The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville Tennessee. The 1960 American Football League season was the inaugural regular season of the American Football League The 1966 American Football League season was the seventh regular season of the American Football League and one of the last before the AFL-NFL Merger The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in the city of Oakland California. The 1967 NFL season was the 48th Regular season of the National Football League. The 1975 NFL season was the 56th Regular season of the National Football League. A touchdown is the primary method of scoring in American and Canadian football. Passer rating (known as passing efficiency or pass efficiency in NCAA football) is a measure of the performance of Quarterbacks or any other passers 6 |
| Stats at NFL.com | |
| Career Highlights and Awards | |
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| Pro Football Hall of Fame | |
George "The Fossil" Blanda (born September 17, 1927, Youngwood, Pennsylvania) is a former American football placekicker and quarterback. In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the All-star game of the National Football League (NFL All-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season The Associated Press ( AP) is an American News agency. The AP is a Cooperative owned by its contributing Newspapers radio The Sports Network (commonly known as TSN) is a Canadian English language Cable television Specialty channel and is Canada's leading The Bert Bell Award for the Professional American football Player of the Year is presented by the Maxwell Football Club. The American Football League (AFL All- Time Team was selected in 1970 by a panel of Hall of Fame selectors comprised of professional football writers from American Football Events 1176 - The Battle of Myriokephalon is fought 1462 - The Battle of Świecino (or Battle of Żarnowiec Year 1927 ( MCMXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Youngwood is a borough in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. American football, known in the United States and Canada simply as football, is a competitive Team sport known for mixing strategy with Placekicker, or simply kicker ( PK or K) is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the Quarterback ( QB) is a position in American and Canadian football. The son of a Pittsburgh area coal miner, Blanda has the distinction of having played 26 seasons of professional football, the most in the sport's history, and had scored more points than anyone in history at the time of his retirement. Coal mining is the extraction or removal of Coal from the Earth by Mining. Blanda retired from pro football in 1976.
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Collegiate career
Blanda was a quarterback and kicker at the University of Kentucky. The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public, Co-educational, University, and is also the state's land-grant university located Bear Bryant, who later won fame and set countless records at Texas A&M and Alabama, arrived in his sophomore year, following a 1-9 season. Texas A&M University, often called A&M or TAMU, is a Coeducational public Research University located in College Station The Wildcats lost three games in each of the next three years.
Recalling the time he met Bryant, Blanda said: "I thought this must be what God looks like. "
Blanda was the starting quarterback his last two seasons at Kentucky (1947 - 1948), compiling 120 completions in 242 passes (. Year 1947 ( MCMXLVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 496 percentage), 1,451 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions.
Professional career
Chicago Bears
Blanda was signed by the Chicago Bears for $600 in 1949, an amount owner George Halas demanded back when he made the team. The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been Year 1949 ( MCMXLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. George Stanley Halas Sr ( February 2 1895 &ndash October 31 1983) nicknamed "Papa Bear" and "Mr While primarily used as a quarterback and placekicker, Blanda also saw time on the defensive side of the ball at linebacker. Quarterback ( QB) is a position in American and Canadian football. Placekicker, or simply kicker ( PK or K) is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the This article relates to Sports. For the Vietnam War bombing raids see Operation Linebacker and Operation Linebacker II. It would not be until 1953 that Blanda would emerge as the Bears' top signal caller, but an injury the following year effectively ended his first-string status. Year 1953 ( MCMLIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. For the next four years, he was used mostly in a kicking capacity. Later commenting on his testy relationship with Halas, Blanda noted, "he was too cheap to even buy me a kicking shoe. " Blanda later reflected that by the 1950's the pro game had moved beyond Halas who seemed to lack the interest he had earlier.
In an episode of the TV series Happy Days, set in the 1950s, Richie Cunningham (played by Ron Howard) and Ralph Malph (Donny Most) watch a televised game in which Blanda and the Bears struggle. Happy Days is an American Television sitcom that originally aired from 1974 to 1984 on ABC. Richard "Richie" Cunningham was played by Ron Howard on the sitcom Happy Days. Ronald William Howard (born March 1 1954 is a director and producer as well as an Actor. Ralph Malph was a character on Happy Days played by Don Most. Don Most (born August 8, 1953, in Brooklyn, New York City) is an American Actor best known for his role as Ralph Ralph says that Blanda is finished in football. Richie says that Blanda has a few more years left. The joke was that Blanda, 20 years later at the time of the show's filming, was still playing.
Houston Oilers
Blanda retired after the 1958 NFL season because of Halas' insistence on only using him as a kicker, but returned in 1960 upon the formation of the American Football League. The 1958 NFL season was the 39th Regular season of the National Football League. The 1960 American Football League season was the inaugural regular season of the American Football League Note There were three earlier and unrelated major American professional football leagues of the same name One in 1926, one in 1936-1937 and one in 1940-1941 He signed with the Houston Oilers as both a quarterback and kicker. The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville Tennessee. He was derided by the sports media as an "NFL Reject", but he went on to lead the Oilers to the first two league titles in AFL history, and he was the All-AFL quarterback and won AFL Player of the Year honors in 1961. Note There were three earlier and unrelated major American professional football leagues of the same name One in 1926, one in 1936-1937 and one in 1940-1941 Sporting News American Football League All-League Team - 1961 The 1961 American Football League All-League Team was selected by AFL players and published Division Races The AFL had 8 teams grouped into two divisions During that season, he led the AFL in passing yards (3,330) and touchdown passes (36). His 36 touchdown passes in 1961 were the most ever thrown by any NFL or AFL quarterback in a single season, and would remain the record until surpassed by Dan Marino's 48 touchdown passes in 1984. Daniel Constantine Marino Jr (born September 15, 1961 in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania) is a Polish - Italian American Hall of His 42 interceptions in 1962 is a record that still stands.
During 1962, he had two 400-yard passing days for the Oilers: a 464-yard effort against the Buffalo Bills on October 29, with four touchdown passes (winning 28-16); and 418 yards three weeks later against the Titans of New York, this time with seven touchdown passes in a 49-13 victory. The 1962 American Football League season was the third regular season of the American Football League The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo New York Metropolitan area, playing seven of their home games in the suburb Events 437 - Valentinian III, Western Roman Emperor, marries Licinia Eudoxia, daughter of his cousin Theodosius II Blanda passed for 36 touchdowns that season. On 13 occasions, he connected on four or more touchdown passes during a game, and on November 1, 1964, unleashed 68 passes for Houston against the New York Titans. A touchdown is the primary method of scoring in American and Canadian football. Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar.
From 1963-1965, Blanda led the AFL in passing attempts and completions, and ranked in the top ten for attempts, completions, yards and touchdowns during seven consecutive seasons. The 1963 American Football League season was the fourth regular season of the American Football League The 1965 American Football League season was the sixth regular season of the American Football League Note There were three earlier and unrelated major American professional football leagues of the same name One in 1926, one in 1936-1937 and one in 1940-1941 A four-time member of the American Football League All-Star team, Blanda's already-long career seemed over when he was released by the Oilers on March 18, 1967. Events 37 - The Roman Senate annuls Tiberius ' will and proclaims Caligula emperor Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. However, the Oakland Raiders signed him that July, seeing his potential as a contributing backup passer and a dependable kicker. The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in the city of Oakland California.
In later years, Blanda would remain a strong supporter of AFL heritage, saying: "That first year, the Houston Oilers or Los Angeles Chargers (24-16 losers to the Oilers in the title game) could have beaten the NFL champion (Philadelphia) in a Super Bowl. The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego California. " Blanda said further: "I think the AFL was capable of beating the NFL in a Super Bowl game as far back as 1960 or '61. I just regret we didn't get the chance to prove it. "
Oakland Raiders
During that first season, his kicking skills helped him lead the AFL in scoring with 116 points. In two instances, his leg helped play a role in Raider victories: a trio of field goals helped upset the defending league champion Kansas City Chiefs on October 1; in the closing weeks of the regular season, Blanda booted four field goals behind a hostile Houston crowd in a 19-7 victory over his former team, the Oilers, helping gain a measure of revenge. The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City Missouri. Events 331 BC - Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela.
The Raiders went on to compete in Super Bowl II, but the following two seasons ended in heartbreak as they lost the final two AFL Championship games in the 10-year history of the league. The second AFL-NFL World Championship Game in professional American football, later to be known as Super Bowl II, was played on January 14, 1968
In 1970, Blanda was released during the preseason, but bounced back to establish his 21st professional season as one of the more dramatic comebacks in sports history. The 1970 NFL season was the 51st Regular season of the National Football League, and the first one after the AFL-NFL Merger. Beginning with the October 25 game at Pittsburgh, Blanda put together five straight clutch performances. Events 1147 - The Portuguese, under Afonso I, and Crusaders from England and Flanders conquer Lisbon after a
Against the Steelers, Blanda threw for two touchdowns in relief of an injured Daryle Lamonica. Daryle Pat Lamonica (born July 17, 1941 in Fresno, California) is a former collegiate and professional American football Quarterback One week later, his 48-yard field goal with three seconds remaining salvaged a 17-17 tie with the Kansas City Chiefs. The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City Missouri. Repeating the thrilling finish on November 8, Blanda once again came off the bench to throw for a pass to tie the Cleveland Browns with 1:34 remaining, then kicked a 53-yard field goal as time expired for the 23-20 win. Events 1519 - Hernán Cortés enters Tenochtitlán and Aztec ruler Moctezuma welcomes him with great a Celebration The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. In the team's next game, Blanda replaced Lamonica in the fourth quarter and connected with Fred Biletnikoff on a touchdown pass with 2:28 left in the game to defeat the Denver Broncos, 24-19. Frederick S Biletnikoff (born February 23, 1943) is a former American football Wide receiver and coach The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. The incredible streak concluded one week later when Blanda's 16-yard field goal in the closing seconds defeated the San Diego Chargers, 20-17. The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego California.
In the AFC title game against the Baltimore Colts, Blanda again relieved an injured Lamonica and had a superb performance, completing 17 of 32 passes for 217 yards and 2 touchdowns while also kicking a 48-yard field goal and two extra points, keeping the Raiders in the game until the final quarter, when he was intercepted twice. The Indianapolis Colts are a professional football team based in Indianapolis Indiana. Aged 43, he became the oldest quarterback ever to play in a championship game
Blanda's eye-opening achievements resulted in his winning the Bert Bell Award. The National Football League Most Valuable Player Award is given by various entities most notably the Associated Press, to the player who is considered most valuable Chiefs' owner Lamar Hunt quipped, "Why, this George Blanda is as good as his father, who used to play for Houston. " Although he never again played a major role at quarterback, Blanda would serve as the Raiders' kicker for five more seasons.
He played in his last game at Pittsburgh's Three Rivers Stadium on January 4, 1976, at age 48, in the 1975 AFC Championship Game, where he kicked a 41-yard field goal and made one extra point as the Raiders lost to the Steelers 16-10. Three Rivers Stadium was a Multi-purpose stadium located in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania from 1970 to 2000 Events 46 BC - Titus Labienus defeats Julius Caesar in the Battle of Ruspina. Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The NFL playoffs following the 1975 NFL season led up to Super Bowl X. He was released by the Raiders on August 25, 1976. Events 1248 - The Dutch city of Ommen receives city rights and fortification rights from Otto III the Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
Records and honors
Blanda finished his 26 NFL seasons having completed 1,911 of 4,007 pass attempts for 26,920 yards and 236 touchdowns. Blanda also held the NFL record for most interceptions thrown with 277, until Brett Favre broke it on October 14, 2007. Brett Lorenzo Favre (ˈfɑrv (born October 10 1969 is an American football Quarterback for the New York Jets of the National Football League He rushed for 344 yards and 9 touchdowns on the ground, kicked 335 of 641 field goals, and 943 of 959 extra points, giving him 2,002 total points. Additional stats include 1 interception, 2 kickoff returns for 19 yards, 22 punts for 809 yards, and 23 fumble recoveries.
Blanda holds the following NFL records:
- Most seasons played: 26 (1949-58, 1960-75)
- Most seasons scoring a point: 26
- Only player to play in 4 different decades; (40s, 50s, 60s, 70s)
- Most PATs made (943) and attempted (959)
- Most interceptions thrown, single season: 42 (1962)
- Held record of most pass attempts in a single game: 68 (37 completions, vs. NY Titans on 11/1/1961) until 1994 when Drew Bledsoe had 70
- Oldest person to play in an NFL game: 48 years, 110 days
- First player ever to score over 2,000 points
- Oldest quarterback to start a title game
- Fewest receiving yards in a career: -16
He is the placekicker on the All-Time All-AFL Team, and was one of only 20 players to play all ten years of the AFL, as well as one of only three who were in every AFL game their teams played. Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) Drew McQueen Bledsoe (born February 14, 1972) is a former American football Quarterback in the NFL, best known as the starting quarterback The American Football League (AFL All- Time Team was selected in 1970 by a panel of Hall of Fame selectors comprised of professional football writers from American Football Blanda was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981, his first year of eligibility, and also was inducted into the University of Kentucky Hall of Fame. The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the Hall of fame of the National Football League (NFL Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public, Co-educational, University, and is also the state's land-grant university located
Blanda held the record for most professional football games played with 340 until September 26, 2004, when it was broken by another placekicker, Morten Andersen. All-time top 232 appearances (minimum 200 games played As of December 31, 2007 (regular season only (Includes AAFC and AFL games Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar dedicates a "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Morten Andersen (born August 19, 1960 in Copenhagen, Denmark) is an American football kicker. Blanda is currently third in career points scored, ranking behind the aforementioned Andersen and fellow placekicker Gary Anderson. Gary Allan Anderson (born July 16, 1959 in Parys, Free State, South Africa) is a former American football Placekicker It should be noted that this category doesn't count the many passing touchdowns that Blanda threw, only his kicks and his nine rushing touchdowns.
In 1999, he was ranked number 98 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Sporting News (previously The Sporting News, and known colloquially as TSN) is an American -based Sports
See also
External links
- Pro Football Hall of Fame: Member profile
- Blanda's 1965 Topps football card
- The Pennsylvania Football News All-Century Team
- Full roster of all American Football League players 1960 - 1969
- Gallery of George Blanda football cards
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Tom Seaver |
Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year 1970 |
Succeeded by Lee Trevino |
| Sporting positions | ||
| Preceded by Johnny Lujack |
Chicago Bears Starting Quarterbacks 1952-1954 |
Succeeded by Ed Brown |
| Preceded by Franchise Founded |
Houston Oilers Starting Quarterbacks 1960-1966 |
Succeeded by Pete Beathard |
| Preceded by Abner Haynes |
American Football League MVP 1961 |
Succeeded by Len Dawson & Cookie Gilchrist |
| Preceded by Lou Groza (1,608) |
Career Pro Football points record holder (2,002) 1971–2000 |
Succeeded by Gary Anderson |
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