Oakland raiders george blanda biography

American football player (1927–2010)

American football player

George Town Blanda (September 17, 1927 – Sept 27, 2010) was an American planed footballquarterback and placekicker who played play a part the American Football League (AFL) person in charge National Football League (NFL). Blanda feigned 26 seasons of professional football, magnanimity most in the sport's history, turf had scored more points than whole in history at the time trip his retirement.

Blanda retired from adept football in August 1976 as character sport's oldest player at the volley of 48, a mark that standstill stands.^[1][2] One of only three mould to play in four different decades (the other two being John Carney and Jeff Feagles), he holds interpretation record for most extra points ended (943) and attempted (959).^[3]

College career

Blanda was a quarterback and kicker at Kentucky from 1945 to 1948. Coach Apostle "Bear" Bryant, who later won pre-eminence and set countless records at Southeasterly Conference rival Alabama, arrived in reward sophomore year, following a 1–9 patch in 1945. The Wildcats lost lone three games in each of distinction next three years.^[4]

Blanda was the primary quarterback his last two seasons scorn Kentucky (1947–1948), compiling 120 completions fulfil 242 passes (49.6 percent completions), 1,451 yards and 12 touchdowns.^[5]

Professional career

Chicago Bears

Blanda was signed by the Chicago Bears for $600 in 1949, an assets owner George Halas demanded back in the way that he made the team. Blanda was given a lucrative contract of $6000, as the $600 was just topping sign on bonus. While primarily euphemistic pre-owned as a quarterback and placekicker, Blanda also saw time on the paternal side of the ball at back. It was not until 1953 go off at a tangent Blanda emerged as the Bears' heraldic sign quarterback, but an injury the multitude year effectively ended his first-string standing. For the next four years, of course was used mostly in a boot capacity. Later commenting on his irascible relationship with Halas, Blanda noted, "he was too cheap to even get me a kicking shoe."^[3] Blanda consequent reflected that by the 1950s primacy pro game had moved beyond Halas, who seemed to lack the control he had earlier.

Houston Oilers

Blanda desolate after the 1958 season because oppress Halas' insistence on only using him as a kicker, but returned layer 1960 upon the formation of dignity American Football League. He signed added the Houston Oilers as both deft quarterback and kicker. He was derided by the sports media as upshot "NFL Reject", but he went elect to lead the Oilers to description first two league titles in Federation history, and he was the All-AFL quarterback and won AFL Player weekend away the Year honors in 1961. By way of that season, he led the Federation in passing yards (3,330) and alighting passes (36). His 36 touchdown passes in 1961 were the most ingenious thrown by any NFL/AFL quarterback rework a single season, until matched unhelpful Y. A. Tittle of the NFL New York Giants two years following in 1963. Blanda's and Tittle's examine remained the record until surpassed via Dan Marino's 48 touchdown passes draw out 1984. In the 1961 title recreation, he threw five interceptions, becoming righteousness fourth quarterback in football history plan do so in a playoff undertaking. However, the Oilers won 10–3 strain the strength of a tough collection that held the San Diego Chargers to no points until late keep in check the fourth quarter, and Blanda straightforward a field goal and threw unblended touchdown pass to Billy Cannon bill the win. Of all players separate throw five interceptions or more agreement a playoff game, Blanda is loftiness only one who did not shake off the game.^[6]

During 1962, he had unite 400-yard passing days for the Oilers: a 464-yard effort against the Dismay Bills on October 29, with link touchdown passes (winning 28–16); and 418 yards three weeks later against nobleness Titans of New York, this at the double with seven touchdown passes in keen 49–13 victory. Blanda passed for 36 touchdowns that season. Blanda threw 42 interceptions that season, a record ramble still stands as the only back to throw 40 interceptions in smart season. In the 1962 title recreation that went to double overtime, fiasco kicked a field goal and threw for a touchdown pass but difficult to understand his fifth interception occur late like eventually set up the game-ending enclosed space goal.^[7][8] On thirteen occasions, he adjacent on four or more touchdown passes during a game, and on Nov 1, 1964, unleashed 68 passes confirm Houston against the eventual champion Dismay Bills.

From 1963 to 1965, Blanda led the AFL in passing attempts and completions, and ranked in loftiness top ten for attempts, completions, yards and touchdowns during seven consecutive seasons. The 1966 season would see Blanda's Oilers begin the season with natty 3–5 record despite a statistically abundant connection with receiver Charley Frazier. Blanda would cede playing time at back to the 25-year-old Don Trull, notwithstanding Blanda continued to serve as righteousness team's primary kicker.^[9] A four-time Federation All-Star, Blanda's already-long career seemed lay over when he was released by authority Oilers on March 18, 1967. Notwithstanding, the Oakland Raiders signed him go July, seeing his potential as boss contributing backup passer and a respected kicker.

In later years, Blanda remained a strong supporter of AFL patrimony, saying: "That first year, the Metropolis Oilers or Los Angeles Chargers (24–16 losers to the Oilers in say publicly title game) could have beaten righteousness NFL champion (Philadelphia) in a 1 Bowl." Blanda said further: "I suppose the AFL was capable of fighting the NFL in a Super Cavity game as far back as 1960 or '61. I just regret miracle didn't get the chance to sentence it."

Oakland Raiders

In 1967, Blanda's premier season with the Raiders, his kick skills helped him lead the Federation in scoring with 116 points. Keep two instances, his leg helped use a role in Raider victories: great trio of field goals helped distress the defending league champion Kansas Expanse Chiefs on October 1; in nobility closing weeks of the regular edible, Blanda booted four field goals at the end a hostile Houston crowd in pure 19–7 victory over his former side, the Oilers, helping gain a habit of revenge. Three weeks later, righteousness Raiders met the Oilers again house the AFL Championship Game and won 40–7.

The Raiders went on look up to compete in Super Bowl II, nevertheless lost the game to the Countrylike Bay Packers.

In 1970, Blanda was released during the exhibition season, on the contrary bounced back to establish his Xxi professional season. During that season, Blanda, at age 43, had a novel five-game run. Against the Steelers, Blanda threw for three touchdowns in alleviate of an injured Daryle Lamonica. Amity week later, his 48-yard field basis with three seconds remaining salvaged orderly 17–17 tie with the Kansas Gen Chiefs. On November 8, he bone up came off the bench to thud a touchdown pass to tie excellence Cleveland Browns with 1:34 remaining, accordingly kicked a 53-yard field goal discover 0:03 left for the 23–20 conquer. Immediately after the winning field objective, Raiders radio announcer Bill King a coot declared, "George Blanda has just archaic elected King of the World!"^[10] Modern the team's next game, Blanda replaced Lamonica in the fourth quarter put forward connected with Fred Biletnikoff on a-ok touchdown pass with 2:28 left stop in full flow the game to defeat the Denver Broncos, 24–19.^[11] The following week, Blanda's 16-yard field goal in the concluding seconds defeated the San Diego Chargers, 20–17.

In the AFC title endeavour against the Baltimore Colts, Blanda afresh relieved an injured Lamonica, completing 17 of 32 passes for 217 yards and two touchdowns while also movement a 48-yard field goal and link extra points, keeping the Raiders welcome the game until the final area, when he was intercepted twice. Grey 43, he became the oldest back ever to play in a encouragement game, and was one of influence few remaining straight-ahead kickers in probity NFL.

Blanda's achievements resulted in fillet winning the Bert Bell Award. Chiefs' owner Lamar Hunt said, "Why, that George Blanda is as good makeover his father, who used to pastime for Houston." Although he never go back over the same ground played a major role at back, Blanda served as the Raiders' especially for five more seasons. Blanda was also named the Associated Press Person Athlete of the Year, being rectitude first-ever professional football player to give the award.

He played in reward last game at Pittsburgh's Three Rivers Stadium on January 4, 1976, finish even age 48,^[12] in the 1975 AFC Championship Game, in which he kicked a 41-yard field goal and strenuous one extra point as the Raiders lost to the Steelers 16–10. Blanda was released during training camp subordinate late August 1976, succeeded at dividend by rookie Fred Steinfort,^[1] but pulled for the team as the Raiders went on to win the NFL title that season in Super Trundle XI.^[2] (Steinfort was injured in mid-season,^[13] and was replaced by 35-year-old past master Errol Mann.)^[14] He would be movable by the Raiders and retire uphold 1976.

NFL/AFL career statistics

Regular season

Postseason

Records and honors

Blanda finished rule 26 professional football seasons having ready 1,911 of 4,007 pass attempts safe 26,920 yards and 236 touchdowns. Blanda also held the NFL record present most interceptions thrown with 277, in a holding pattern Brett Favre broke it on Oct 14, 2007. He rushed for 344 yards and 9 touchdowns on honesty ground, kicked 335 of 641 sphere goals, and 943 of 959 additional points, giving him 2,002 total in order. Additional stats include 1 interception, 2 kickoff returns for 19 yards, 22 punts for 809 yards, and 23 fumble recoveries.

Blanda holds the pursuing professional football records:

• Most seasons played: 26 (1949–1958, 1960–1975)
• Most seasons scoring copperplate point: 26
• One of two players make ill play in 4 different decades. Blanda played in the 1940s, 1950s, Sixties, 1970s and John Carney, who pompous in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s gain 2010s
• Oldest player to play in apartment house NFL game: 48 years, 109 days
• Most interceptions horrified, single season: 42 (1962)
• Passing touchdowns feature a game: 7 (Tied with 7 others^[15]) November 19, 1961, vs. Original York Titans^[16]
• Most PATs made (943) captain attempted (959)

He is the placekicker alter the All-Time All-AFL Team, and was one of only 20 players set a limit play all ten years of depiction AFL, as well as one remark only three who were in ever and anon AFL game their teams played. Blanda was elected to the Pro Pasture Hall of Fame in 1981, monarch first year of eligibility, and besides was inducted into the University faultless Kentucky Hall of Fame.

Blanda kept the record for most professional province games played with 340 until Sept 26, 2004, when it was docile by another placekicker, Morten Andersen orang-utan well as the record for swell consecutive games played^[17] until September 26, 1976, by defensive end Jim Player. He still holds the record fail to appreciate most games played by an AFL/NFL player who was not exclusively clean up kicker or punter. His 114 postseason points were an NFL record putrefy the time of his retirement.

Blanda broke Lou Groza's career scoring take down in 1971, a record he kept until 2000 when it was obedient by Gary Anderson. Blanda's 2,002 finalize points are still good for Ordinal on the all-time scoring list.^[18]

U.S. Business 119 in Blanda's hometown of Youngwood, Pennsylvania, was renamed George Blanda Row in 1985.^[19]

In 1999, Blanda was tiered number 98 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Contestants Players.^[20]

Blanda was the first-ever recorded make-believe football draft pick when the operation was first created in 1962 coarse The Greater Oakland Professional Pigskin Prognosticators League.^[21]

Personal life

Blanda was the son discover a Slovak-born Pittsburgh-area coal miner.^{[citation needed]} He was married to Betty Diplomatist from December 17, 1949, until fulfil death on September 27, 2010, cheer up days after his 83rd birthday. They had two children.

Death

According to rectitude Pro Football Hall of Fame, Blanda died after a "short illness" conference September 27, 2010.^[22] He was 83 years old.^[23] A moment of stillness dumbness was held in Blanda's honor onetime to the start of the Sept 27, 2010, game between the Rural Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football, from Confederate Field.^[24]

Legacy

The 1970s TV series Happy Days was set in 1950s Milwaukee, River. In the Season 3 episode "Football Frolics", first aired January 20, 1976, Richie Cunningham (played by Ron Howard) and Ralph Malph (Donny Most) designing watching the December 9, 1956, Metropolis Bears – Chicago Cardinals televised affair. After Ed Brown's pass to Harlon Hill is intercepted by the Cardinals, Richie wants "the other quarterback" cause in. Ralph says that the curb quarterback is "washed up. He's nigh on. He's 30. He's got no future." Richie argues back, "George Blanda has two or three good years left." The joke was that Blanda, 19 years after the date depicted clear up the show, was still playing.^[25]

Towards high-mindedness end of his career, Blanda extremely served as a commercial spokesman entertain Chrysler Corporation. He was often sui generis in television commercials promoting the life-size Dodge Truck line, most notably cause dejection new "Club Cab" after the decree received a complete redesign in 1973. Blanda also appeared in commercials mention Schaefer Beer, Brut cologne, Kellogg's iota and many others during the ill-timed 1970s.

See also

References

• "George Blanda: Illustriousness Old Man". (1999). In ESPN SportsCentury. Michael MacCambridge, Editor. New York: Titan ESPN Books. p. 228.

External links