I just regret we didn't get the chance to prove it." In later years, Blanda remained 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." 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. However, the Oakland Raiders signed him that July, seeing his potential as a contributing backup passer and a dependable kicker. A four-time AFL All-Star, Blanda's already-long career seemed over when he was released by the Oilers on March 18, 1967. 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 eventual champion Buffalo Bills.įrom 1963 to 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. Blanda passed for 36 touchdowns that season. ĭuring 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. Blanda's 42 interceptions thrown in 1962 is a record that still stands. Blanda's and Tittle's mark remained the record until surpassed by Dan Marino's 48 touchdown passes in 1984. Tittle of the NFL New York Giants two years later in 1963. His 36 touchdown passes in 1961 were the most ever thrown by any NFL/AFL quarterback in a single season, until matched by Y. During that season, he led the AFL in passing yards (3,330) and touchdown passes (36).
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. He signed with the Houston Oilers as both a quarterback and kicker.
#Geo 5 raider pro#
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 1950s the pro game had moved beyond Halas, who seemed to lack the interest he had earlier.īlanda retired after the 1958 season because of Halas' insistence on only using him as a kicker, but returned in 1960 upon the formation of the American Football League. For the next four years, he was used mostly in a kicking capacity. It was not until 1953 that Blanda emerged as the Bears' top quarterback, but an injury the following year effectively ended his first-string status. While primarily used as a quarterback and placekicker, Blanda also saw time on the defensive side of the ball at linebacker. Blanda was given a lucrative contract of $6000, as the $600 was just a sign on bonus.
#Geo 5 raider professional#
Professional career Chicago Bears īlanda was signed by the Chicago Bears for $600 in 1949, an amount owner George Halas demanded back when he made the team.
īlanda was the starting quarterback his last two seasons at Kentucky (1947–1948), compiling 120 completions in 242 passes (49.6 percent completions), 1,451 yards and 12 touchdowns. The Wildcats only lost three games in each of the next three years. Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant, who later won fame and set countless records at Southeastern Conference rival Alabama, arrived in his sophomore year, following a 1–9 season in 1945.