George Blanda

He fell in love with Betty Harris and married her in 1949. The couple would be happily married for 60 years till his death. This relationship produced two children.

He died in 2010 after a short illness. He was 83 years old.

George Blanda was born as one of the several children of Michael and Mary Blanda. His father worked as a coal miner and often found himself out of work when coal mines were closed. Growing up in a large family as a coal miner’s son, George was no stranger to poverty.

Tall and athletic, young George sought solace in football and excelled as a quarterback, kicker and blocker even as a teen. He went to Youngwood High School where he played not only football but also basketball and participated in track and field.

He enrolled at the University of Kentucky where he was coached by the legendary Bear Bryant. He played as a quarterback and kicker and thrived under the coaching of Bryant.

He ended his collegiate career at Kentucky with 120 completions in 242 passes with 12 touchdowns.

After college he signed a contract with the Chicago Bears for $600 in 1949. There he primarily played as a quarterback and place kicker; he also sometimes played as a linebacker.

Playing for the Bears, he was mostly used in a kicking capacity. He was an athletically built young man and could blast long field goals.

In 1960 he signed with the Houston Oilers where he got the chance to play both as a quarterback and kicker. Playing as a quarterback was his passion and this move helped him tap into his hitherto hidden talents.

In 1961 he won AFL Player of the Year honors. He had scored 36 touchdown passes which were the most ever thrown by a quarterback at that time. The next year also was a great one for him as he threw 42 interceptions.

Over the next few seasons from 1963 to 1965, he led the AFL in passing attempts and completions. In 1964 he scored 68 passes against the Buffalo Bills in just one day! He also proved to be among the best in attempts, completions, and touchdowns.

He was named American Football League Most Valuable Player in 1961 for scoring 187 of 362 passes for 3,330 yards and 36 touchdowns, for 216 points.

He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981 and was also elected to the University of Kentucky Hall of Fame.

George Blanda was an awesome player who created many records, but the performance that makes him immortal is his 1970-71 season with the Oakland Raiders during which he played amazingly well and even kicked a 53-yard field goal—this at the age of 43!