Renowned Quarterback George Blanda dies at the age of 83
George Blanda, also known as “The Great Old Man”, after having played 26 seasons, in a span of 40 exciting years, was finally laid to rest on September 27, 2010. The legendary quarterback (QB) played the highest number of seasons in football history along
with scoring the highest number of points when he retired in 1976.
Born on September 17, 1927, Blanda started his career at the University of Kentucky as a QB and kicker. With the help of coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, Blanda played as a starting QB in his final two seasons at Kentucky, racking up 120 completions in 242 passes
made, 1,451 yards, and 12 touchdowns.
Blanda was first picked up by the Chicago Bears in round 12 of the National Football League (NFL) Draft in 1949 for $600. While his main positions were QB and kicker, Blanda also played defence as a linebacker. By 1953, Blanda was the Bears’ top player,
but an injury the following year ended his number one status. In the four years following the accident, Blanda was used mainly as a kicker. Blanda had a temperamental relationship with Bears’ owner George Halas, who later noted and said, “He was too cheap
to even buy me a kicking shoe.”
After the 1958 NFL season, Blanda retired due to Halas’ persistence on keeping Blanda as a kicker only. However, with the formation of the American Football League (AFL) in 1960, Blanda signed with the Houston Oilers as a QB and kicker. Called an “NFL Reject”
by the media, Blanda proved them wrong by leading the Oilers to their first two league titles in the history of the AFL. Blanda was the All-AFL QB, and received recognition for his efforts in the form of AFL Player of the Year Award in 1961. During the 1961
season, Blanda had the most passing yards at 3,330, and scored 36 touchdowns - the highest number thrown by any NFL or AFL QB. His record of the most number of touchdowns was matched by Y.A. Title two years later and surpassed by 12, for a total of 48 by Dan
Marino in 1984. His record of 42 interceptions in 1962 still stands.
For the next 2 years since1963, Blanda was the AFL leader in terms of passing. He ranked top ten for attempts, completions, touchdowns, and yards over seven successive seasons. Having played in four AFL All-Star team games, Blanda’s extended career appeared
to be finished when he was released by the Oilers in March, 1967. However, being seen as a contributory backup passer and reliable kicker, he was picked up by the Oakland Raiders only two months after leaving the Oilers. A strong supporter of the AFL, Blanda
believed, “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." Blanda had faith in his team having said if they played against the Super Bowl champions of the
time, the Philadelphia Eagles, his team would have won.
During his first season with the Raiders, Blanda led the AFL with 116 points. The Raiders then competed in Super Bowl II in 1968. Two seasons later, Blanda was released during the pre-season, but came back to play his 21st professional season
which was dubbed as one of the most dramatic comebacks in history. Blanda played well throughout the entire season was once declared the “King of the World” by Raiders radio announcer Bill King after a field goal in the final three seconds of the game that
clinched victory for the team. With so many achievements under his belt, Blanda won the Bert Bell Award as well as being elected in the Professional Football Hall of Fame. Throughout his entire career, Blanda broke many records while most of them still stand
today. Blanda holds the most passing touchdowns in a game with 7, most seasons played (26), most seasons scoring a point (26), oldest person to play in an NFL game (48 years, 108 days), first player to score over 2000 points, and many other records. George
Blanda had a long fulfilling career, until his death on September 27, 2010, when he passed away after a minor illness. In the words of Pro Football Hall of Fame President Steve Perry, “He will be truly missed.”
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