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42-554: American football award For the NFL rookie award, see NEA NFL Rookie of the Year . Bert Bell Award Awarded for NFL player of the year Country United States Presented by Maxwell Football Club History First award 1959 Most wins Peyton Manning , Randall Cunningham , & Johnny Unitas (3) Most recent Lamar Jackson The Bert Bell Award

84-625: A 17–17 tie with the Kansas City Chiefs . On November 8, he again came off the bench to throw a touchdown pass to tie the Cleveland Browns with 1:34 remaining, then kicked a 53-yard field goal with 0:03 left for the 23–20 win. Immediately after the winning field goal, Raiders radio announcer Bill King excitedly declared, "George Blanda has just been elected King of the World!" In the team's next game, Blanda replaced Lamonica in

126-573: A 48-yard field goal and two extra points, keeping the Raiders in the game until the final quarter, when he was intercepted twice. Aged 43, he became the oldest quarterback ever to play in a championship game, and was one of the few remaining straight-ahead kickers in the NFL . Blanda's achievements resulted in his winning the Bert Bell Award . Chiefs' owner Lamar Hunt said, "Why, this George Blanda

168-704: A kicker, but returned in 1960 upon the formation of the American Football League . He signed with the Houston Oilers as both a quarterback and kicker. 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 . During that season, he led

210-5706: A trophy in the form of a statue in the likeness of Bell. The award is presented at the club's annual football banquet. Winners [ edit ] Season Player Position Team Ref 1959 Johnny Unitas Quarterback Baltimore Colts 1960 Norm Van Brocklin Quarterback Philadelphia Eagles 1961 Paul Hornung Running back Green Bay Packers 1962 Andy Robustelli Defensive end New York Giants 1963 Jim Brown Running back Cleveland Browns 1964 Johnny Unitas (2) Quarterback Baltimore Colts 1965 Pete Retzlaff Tight end Philadelphia Eagles 1966 Don Meredith Quarterback Dallas Cowboys 1967 Johnny Unitas (3) Quarterback Baltimore Colts 1968 Leroy Kelly Running back Cleveland Browns 1969 Roman Gabriel Quarterback Los Angeles Rams 1970 George Blanda Quarterback Oakland Raiders 1971 Roger Staubach Quarterback Dallas Cowboys 1972 Larry Brown Running back Washington Redskins 1973 O. J. Simpson Running back Buffalo Bills 1974 Merlin Olsen Defensive tackle Los Angeles Rams 1975 Fran Tarkenton Quarterback Minnesota Vikings 1976 Ken Stabler Quarterback Oakland Raiders 1977 Bob Griese Quarterback Miami Dolphins 1978 Terry Bradshaw Quarterback Pittsburgh Steelers 1979 Earl Campbell Running back Houston Oilers 1980 Ron Jaworski Quarterback Philadelphia Eagles 1981 Ken Anderson Quarterback Cincinnati Bengals 1982 Joe Theismann Quarterback Washington Redskins 1983 John Riggins Running back Washington Redskins 1984 Dan Marino Quarterback Miami Dolphins 1985 Walter Payton Running back Chicago Bears 1986 Lawrence Taylor Linebacker New York Giants 1987 Jerry Rice Wide receiver San Francisco 49ers 1988 Randall Cunningham Quarterback Philadelphia Eagles 1989 Joe Montana Quarterback San Francisco 49ers 1990 Randall Cunningham (2) Quarterback Philadelphia Eagles 1991 Barry Sanders Running back Detroit Lions 1992 Steve Young Quarterback San Francisco 49ers 1993 Emmitt Smith Running back Dallas Cowboys 1994 Steve Young (2) Quarterback San Francisco 49ers 1995 Brett Favre Quarterback Green Bay Packers 1996 Brett Favre (2) Quarterback Green Bay Packers 1997 Barry Sanders (2) Running back Detroit Lions 1998 Randall Cunningham (3) Quarterback Minnesota Vikings 1999 Kurt Warner Quarterback St. Louis Rams 2000 Rich Gannon Quarterback Oakland Raiders 2001 Marshall Faulk Running back St. Louis Rams 2002 Rich Gannon (2) Quarterback Oakland Raiders 2003 Peyton Manning Quarterback Indianapolis Colts 2004 Peyton Manning (2) Quarterback Indianapolis Colts 2005 Shaun Alexander Running back Seattle Seahawks 2006 LaDainian Tomlinson Running back San Diego Chargers 2007 Tom Brady Quarterback New England Patriots 2008 Adrian Peterson Running back Minnesota Vikings 2009 Drew Brees Quarterback New Orleans Saints 2010 Michael Vick Quarterback Philadelphia Eagles 2011 Aaron Rodgers Quarterback Green Bay Packers 2012 Adrian Peterson (2) Running back Minnesota Vikings 2013 Peyton Manning (3) Quarterback Denver Broncos 2014 J. J. Watt Defensive end Houston Texans 2015 Cam Newton Quarterback Carolina Panthers 2016 Matt Ryan Quarterback Atlanta Falcons 2017 Carson Wentz Quarterback Philadelphia Eagles 2018 Patrick Mahomes Quarterback Kansas City Chiefs 2019 Lamar Jackson Quarterback Baltimore Ravens 2020 No award given. 2021 Jonathan Taylor Running back Indianapolis Colts 2022 Jalen Hurts Quarterback Philadelphia Eagles 2023 Lamar Jackson (2) Quarterback Baltimore Ravens See also [ edit ] NFL Most Valuable Player Award List of NFL awards References [ edit ] General "Bert Bell Award Winners" . Maxwell Football Club. Archived from

252-506: Is as good as his father, who used to play for Houston." Although he never again played a major role at quarterback, Blanda served as the Raiders' kicker for five more seasons. Blanda was also named the Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year , being the first-ever professional football player to earn the award. He played in his last game at Pittsburgh 's Three Rivers Stadium on January 4, 1976 , at age 48, in

294-533: Is different from Wikidata Articles with hCards NEA NFL Rookie of the Year Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year , sponsored by Pepsi , is an online award given to the best performing rookie player in the National Football League (NFL). Winners are chosen among five finalists tallied from total votes given to Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week winners by votes on NFL.com . The award

336-497: Is intercepted by the Cardinals, Richie wants "the other quarterback" put in. Ralph says that the other quarterback is "washed up. He's old. 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 in the show, was still playing. Towards the end of his career, Blanda also served as a commercial spokesman for Chrysler Corporation. He

378-681: Is presented by the Maxwell Football Club to the player of the year in the National Football League (NFL). The award is named in honor of Bert Bell (1895–1959), commissioner of the NFL and founder of the Maxwell Club. Voters for the Pro Awards are NFL owners, football personnel, head and assistant coaches as well as members of the Maxwell Football Club, national media, and local media. The award consists of

420-509: Is sometimes named after Diet Pepsi and Pepsi Zero Sugar . It was first awarded in 2002. The Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) Rookie of the Year awards have been given annually to an offensive and defensive rookie in the NFL since 1969, except in 1985. In 2013, PFWA began selecting an overall NFL rookie of the year in addition to its offensive and defensive honors. The winners are chosen by Pro Football Weekly writers/editors and PFWA members. The Sporting News NFL Rookie of

462-518: The 1975 AFC Championship Game , in which he kicked a 41-yard field goal and made one extra point as the Raiders lost to the Steelers 16–10. Blanda was released during training camp in late August 1976 , succeeded at kicker by rookie Fred Steinfort , but pulled for the team as the Raiders went on to win the NFL title that season in Super Bowl XI . (Steinfort was injured in mid-season, and

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504-838: The AFL–NFL merger in 1970, the awards went to a rookie from the National Football Conference (NFC) and American Football Conference (AFC). The NEA NFL Rookie of the Year award was founded in 1964 by the Newspaper Enterprise Association . and was created by Murray Olderman , the senior sports editor for the NEA. From 1971 through 1976 winners for both the American Football Conference and National Football Conference were chosen, except in 1974. The award

546-507: The 25-year-old Don Trull , though Blanda continued to serve as the team's primary 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 . However, the Oakland Raiders signed him that July, seeing his potential as a contributing backup passer and a dependable kicker. In later years, Blanda remained a strong supporter of AFL heritage, saying: "That first year,

588-498: 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/AFL quarterback in a single season, until matched by Y. A. Tittle of the NFL New York Giants two years later in 1963 . Blanda's and Tittle's mark remained the record until surpassed by Dan Marino 's 48 touchdown passes in 1984 . In the 1961 title game, he threw five interceptions, becoming

630-520: 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. Three weeks later,

672-596: The Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football , from Soldier Field . The 1970s TV series Happy Days was set in 1950s Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In the Season 3 episode "Football Frolics", first aired January 20, 1976, Richie Cunningham (played by Ron Howard ) and Ralph Malph ( Donny Most ) are watching the December 9, 1956, Chicago Bears – Chicago Cardinals televised game. After Ed Brown's pass to Harlon Hill

714-486: 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. I just regret we didn't get the chance to prove it." In 1967 , Blanda's first season with the Raiders, his kicking skills helped him lead

756-804: The Raiders met the Oilers again in the AFL Championship Game and won 40–7. The Raiders went on to compete in Super Bowl II , but lost the game to the Green Bay Packers . In 1970 , Blanda was released during the exhibition season, but bounced back to establish his 21st professional season. During that season, Blanda, at age 43, had a remarkable five-game run. Against the Steelers, Blanda threw for three touchdowns in relief of an injured Daryle Lamonica . One week later, his 48-yard field goal with three seconds remaining salvaged

798-519: The Year Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bert_Bell_Award&oldid=1255928628 " Categories : National Football League trophies and awards Awards established in 1959 Hidden categories: All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from October 2023 Articles with permanently dead external links Articles with short description Short description

840-1366: The Year Assistant Coach of the Year Offensive Player of the Year Defensive Player of the Year Rookie of the Year Comeback Player of the Year Walter Payton Man of the Year Alan Page Community Award Super Bowl MVP Pete Rozelle Trophy Super Bowl ring Sporting News NFL Player of the Year Award Art McNally Award Art Rooney Award Bart Starr Award Bert Bell Award Butkus Award Deacon Jones Award George Halas Award Polynesian Football Player of

882-652: The Year Award One-time only 50th Anniversary All-Time Team (1969) 75th Anniversary All-Time Team (1994) 100th Anniversary All-Time Team (2019) All-Decade Teams Annual presentation NFL Honors NFL Top 100 Awards organizations Associated Press Kansas City Committee of 101 Maxwell Football Club NFL Alumni Touchdown Club of Columbus Washington D.C. Touchdown Club Former awards Brunswick-Balke Collender Cup Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy MVP NFL Player of

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924-434: The Year award is chosen annually by NFL players, coaches, and executives. There were 617 voters in 2010, 632 voters in 2011, and over 800 voters in 2012. Source: United Press International (UPI) awarded an annual NFL Rookie of the Year award from 1955 to 1959 and two annual awards from 1960 to 1996. From 1960 to 1969 the awards went to a rookie from the NFL and American Football League (AFL), and after

966-948: The Year awards Joe F. Carr Trophy Jim Thorpe Trophy UPI American Football League Most Valuable Player Award NEA Defensive Player of the Year NEA Rookie of the Year Football Digest NFL Player of the Year UPI AFL-AFC Player of the Year UPI NFC Player of the Year UPI AFL-AFC Rookie of the Year UPI NFL-NFC Rookie of the Year Washington D.C. Touchdown Club NFL Player of

1008-2002: The Year) Winners | Pro-Football-Reference.com" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . ^ "Colts' Running Back Jonathan Taylor Named Winner for 2021 Bert Bell Award" . 4 February 2022. v t e Bert Bell Award winners 1959: Unitas 1960: Van Brocklin 1961: Hornung 1962: Robustelli 1963: J. Brown 1964: Unitas 1965: Retzlaff 1966: Meredith 1967: Unitas 1968: Kelly 1969: Gabriel 1970: Blanda 1971: Staubach 1972: L. Brown 1973: Simpson 1974: Olsen 1975: Tarkenton 1976: Stabler 1977: Griese 1978: Bradshaw 1979: Campbell 1980: Jaworski 1981: Anderson 1982: Theismann 1983: Riggins 1984: Marino 1985: Payton 1986: L. Taylor 1987: Rice 1988: Cunningham 1989: Montana 1990: Cunningham 1991: Sanders 1992: Young 1993: Smith 1994: Young 1995: Favre 1996: Favre 1997: Sanders 1998: Cunningham 1999: Warner 2000: Gannon 2001: Faulk 2002: Gannon 2003: Manning 2004: Manning 2005: Alexander 2006: Tomlinson 2007: Brady 2008: Peterson 2009: Brees 2010: Vick 2011: Rodgers 2012: Peterson 2013: Manning 2014: Watt 2015: Newton 2016: Ryan 2017: Wentz 2018: Mahomes 2019: Jackson 2020: No award given 2021: J. Taylor 2022: Hurts 2023: Jackson v t e NFL awards and trophies Team Vince Lombardi Trophy Super Bowl Lamar Hunt Trophy AFC Championship George Halas Trophy NFC Championship Individual Most Valuable Player Coach of

1050-555: The Year) Winners" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Sports Reference LLC . Retrieved July 11, 2016 . ^ Inabinett, Mark (January 24, 2016). "NFL Playoffs: Cam Newton won't put the cart before the horse" . The Birmingham News . Retrieved July 12, 2016 . ^ Broome, Anthony (January 20, 2017). "Matt Ryan wins Bert Bell Professional Player of the Year Award" . CBS Sports . Retrieved January 16, 2017 . ^ "Bert Bell Award (Player of

1092-430: The eventual champion Buffalo Bills . From 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. The 1966 season would see Blanda's Oilers begin the season with a 3–5 record despite a statistically prolific connection with receiver Charley Frazier . Blanda would cede playing time at quarterback to

1134-465: The following year effectively ended his first-string status. 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 1950s the pro game had moved beyond Halas, who seemed to lack the interest he had earlier. Blanda retired after the 1958 season because of Halas' insistence on only using him as

1176-678: 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. The following week, Blanda's 16-yard field goal in the closing seconds defeated the San Diego Chargers , 20–17. In the AFC title game against the Baltimore Colts , Blanda again relieved an injured Lamonica, completing 17 of 32 passes for 217 yards and two touchdowns while also kicking

1218-479: The fourth quarterback in football history to do so in a playoff game. However, the Oilers won 10–3 on the strength of a tough defense that held the San Diego Chargers to no points until late in the fourth quarter, and Blanda made a field goal and threw a touchdown pass to Billy Cannon in the win. Of all players to throw five interceptions or more in a playoff game, Blanda is the only one who did not lose

1260-590: The game. 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. Blanda passed for 36 touchdowns that season. Blanda threw 42 interceptions that season , a record that still stands as

1302-561: 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 professional football records: 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. Blanda

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1344-491: The most in the sport's history, and had scored more points than anyone in history at the time of his retirement. Blanda retired from pro football in August 1976 as the sport's oldest player at the age of 48, a mark that still stands. One of only three players to play in four different decades (the other two being John Carney and Jeff Feagles ), he holds the record for most extra points made (943) and attempted (959). Blanda

1386-412: The only quarterback to throw 40 interceptions in a season. In the 1962 title game that went to double overtime, he kicked a field goal and threw for a touchdown pass but had his fifth interception occur late to eventually set up the game-ending field goal. On thirteen occasions, he connected on four or more touchdown passes during a game, and on November 1, 1964 , unleashed 68 passes for Houston against

1428-5829: The original on March 2, 2017 . Retrieved February 16, 2017 . "Bert Bell Award (Player of the Year) Winners" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Sports Reference LLC . Retrieved July 11, 2016 . Footnotes ^ "Joe Montana Wins Bert Bell Award Handily" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. January 17, 1990 . Retrieved January 26, 2017 . ^ "Unitas Wins Bell Award" . The Pittsburgh Press . United Press International. December 18, 1959. p. 34 . Retrieved July 11, 2016 . ^ "Van Brocklin To Receive Bert Bell Award" . Park City Daily News . Associated Press. December 21, 1960. p. 18 . Retrieved July 11, 2016 . ^ "Hornung, Ferguson Honored as 'Best' " . The Milwaukee Sentinel . Associated Press. February 6, 1962 . Retrieved July 11, 2016 . ^ "Robustelli Says Award Recognition For Linemen" . St. Petersburg Times . Associated Press. February 5, 1963. p. 4-C . Retrieved July 11, 2016 . ^ "Jim Brown to Get Bell Award" . The New York Times . United Press International. January 8, 1964 . Retrieved July 11, 2016 . ^ "Unitas, Ressler To Receive Awards" . Daytona Beach Morning Journal . Associated Press. December 4, 1964. p. 17 . Retrieved July 11, 2016 . ^ "Bell award goes to Rice" . Lakeland Ledger . January 15, 1988. p. 5D . Retrieved July 11, 2016 . ^ "Maxwell Club Cites Lynch, Meredith" . Eugene Register-Guard . Associated Press. January 24, 1967. p. 2B . Retrieved July 11, 2016 . ^ "Beban, Unitas Win Awards" . The Morning Record . Associated Press. December 20, 1967. p. 9 . Retrieved July 11, 2016 . ^ "Simpson, Kelly Win Maxwell Awards" . The Pittsburgh Press . United Press International. December 18, 1968. p. 74 . Retrieved July 11, 2016 . ^ "Reid, Gabriel Are Top Rated" . Lodi News-Sentinel . United Press International. January 20, 1970. p. 8 . Retrieved July 11, 2016 . ^ "New Award For Blanda" . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Associated Press. December 18, 1970. p. 21 . Retrieved July 11, 2016 . ^ "Staubach Wins Bert Bell Award" . Ludington Daily News . United Press International. December 23, 1971. p. 6 . Retrieved July 11, 2016 . ^ Bernstein, Ralph (December 15, 1972). "Redskins' Larry Brown Is Presented Bert Bell Award As Top Gridder Of Year" . Gettysburg Times . Associated Press. p. 15 . Retrieved July 12, 2016 . ^ "O.J. Is Two-Timer: Cappolletti, Simpson Maxwell Winners" . Observer-Reporter . Associated Press. December 21, 1973. p. B4 . Retrieved July 12, 2016 . ^ "Joachim, Olsen Get Top Awards" . Schenectady Gazette . Associated Press. December 13, 1974. p. 28 . Retrieved July 12, 2016 . ^ "Two Small Players Who Became Big Stars Receive Annual Maxwell Club Award" . Gettysburg Times . Associated Press. December 19, 1975. p. 13 . Retrieved July 12, 2016 . ^ "Dorsett, Stabler Receive Maxwell, Bert Bell Awards" . Sarasota Herald-Tribune . United Press International. January 20, 1977. p. 2-D . Retrieved July 12, 2016 . ^ "Griese Named Pro Football's Player Of Year" . Sarasota Herald-Tribune . Associated Press. December 16, 1977. p. 1E . Retrieved July 12, 2016 . ^ "Fusina, Bradshaw Maxwell Picks" . Reading Eagles . Associated Press. December 21, 1978. p. 37 . Retrieved July 12, 2016 . ^ "Campbell, White capture awards" . Gadsden Times . Associated Press. December 20, 1979. p. 23 . Retrieved July 12, 2016 . ^ "Jaworski Wins Bert Bell Award" . The Victoria Advocate . Associated Press. January 8, 1981. p. 3B . Retrieved July 12, 2016 . ^ "Ken Anderson Named Winner Of Maxwell's Bert Bell Award" . Reading Eagle . Associated Press. January 20, 1982. p. 39 . Retrieved July 12, 2016 . ^ "Theismann better doing less" . The Spokesman-Review . Associated Press. January 22, 1983. p. 18 . Retrieved July 12, 2016 . ^ Lyon, Bill (February 23, 1984). "Riggins: I'm not as good as I was" . The Day . p. 28 . Retrieved July 13, 2016 . ^ "Marino winner of Bert Bell Award" . The Evening News . Associated Press. January 11, 1985. p. 3B . Retrieved July 13, 2016 . ^ "Payton wins Maxwell Club Bell award" . Lodi News-Sentinel . United Press International. January 17, 1986 . Retrieved July 13, 2016 . ^ "Taylor named Bell Award winner" . Herald-Journal . Associated Press. January 16, 1987. p. D4 . Retrieved July 13, 2016 . ^ "Eagles' QB Cunningham Gets Bell Award" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. January 10, 1989 . Retrieved February 16, 2017 . ^ "Cunningham wins Maxwell's Award" . The Prescott Courier . January 23, 1991. p. 9A . Retrieved September 24, 2016 . ^ Rule, Bruce (January 10, 1992). "Sanders, Fontes cop NFL honors" . Standard-Speaker . Associated Press. p. 22 . Retrieved February 16, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. ^ "Sports People: Football; Young Wins Award As N.F.L.'s Top Player" . The New York Times . Associated Press. January 15, 1993 . Retrieved February 16, 2017 . ^ "Bert Bell Award (Player of

1470-505: The record for most games played by an AFL/NFL player who was not exclusively a kicker or punter. His 114 postseason points were an NFL record at the time of his retirement. Blanda broke Lou Groza 's career scoring record in 1971, a record he held until 2000 when it was broken by Gary Anderson . Blanda's 2,002 total points are still good for 7th on the all-time scoring list. U.S. Route 119 in Blanda's hometown of Youngwood, Pennsylvania ,

1512-505: Was a quarterback and kicker at Kentucky from 1945 to 1948. 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. The Wildcats lost only three games in each of the next three years. Blanda 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. Blanda

1554-540: Was discontinued after the 1998 season. Winners were awarded the Bert Bell Memorial Trophy, in honor of former NFL commissioner Bert Bell . Source: George Blanda George Frederick Blanda (September 17, 1927 – September 27, 2010) was an American professional football quarterback and placekicker who played in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL). Blanda played 26 seasons of professional football,

1596-581: 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. 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 as well as the record for most consecutive games played until September 26, 1976, by defensive end Jim Marshall . He still holds

1638-534: Was married to Betty Harris from December 17, 1949, until his death on September 27, 2010, ten days after his 83rd birthday. They had two children. According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Blanda died after a "short illness" on September 27, 2010. He was 83 years old. A moment of silence was held in Blanda's honor prior to the start of the September 27, 2010, game between the Green Bay Packers and

1680-487: Was renamed George Blanda Boulevard in 1985. In 1999, Blanda was ranked number 98 on The Sporting News ' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players. Blanda was the first-ever recorded fantasy football draft pick when the game was first created in 1962 by The Greater Oakland Professional Pigskin Prognosticators League. Blanda was the son of a Slovak -born Pittsburgh -area coal miner . He

1722-411: Was replaced by 35-year-old veteran Errol Mann .) He would be released by the Raiders and retire in 1976. Blanda finished his 26 professional football 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. He rushed for 344 yards and 9 touchdowns on

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1764-541: Was signed by the Chicago Bears for $ 600 in 1949 , an amount owner George Halas demanded back when he made the team. Blanda was given a lucrative contract of $ 6000, as the $ 600 was just a sign on bonus. While primarily used as a quarterback and placekicker , Blanda also saw time on the defensive side of the ball at linebacker . It was not until 1953 that Blanda emerged as the Bears' top quarterback, but an injury

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