George Blanda
George Blanda was a prominent American football player known for his remarkable versatility as a quarterback and kicker. Born on September 17, 1927, in Youngwood, Pennsylvania, he was the eldest of eleven children in a family rooted in a strict, disciplined upbringing. Blanda showcased his athletic talent early on, excelling in multiple sports during high school and earning a football scholarship to the University of Kentucky. His college career saw ups and downs, but he ultimately emerged as a starting quarterback under the guidance of legendary coach Paul W. Bryant.
Drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1949, Blanda's early NFL career involved backup roles, but he made his mark with the Houston Oilers in the American Football League, leading them to two consecutive championships. His most notable years came with the Oakland Raiders, where, despite being over forty, he produced several dramatic comebacks and became the first player to score over 2,000 career points. Blanda's fierce competitive spirit and dedication to fitness allowed him to extend his playing career until the age of forty-eight. After retiring, he remained active in sports and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981. Blanda is remembered not only for his athletic achievements but also for his strong principles and loyalty to friends.
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Subject Terms
George Blanda
Football Player
- Born: September 17, 1927
- Birthplace: Youngwood, Pennsylvania
- Died: September 27, 2010
- Place of death: Alameda, California
Sport: Football
Early Life
George Frederick Blanda, the eldest of eleven children, was born in Youngwood, Pennsylvania, on September 17, 1927. His father Michael Blanda, a coal miner and devout Catholic of Polish ancestry, was a strict disciplinarian who commanded the respect of his children and encouraged them to participate in sports.
At Youngwood High School, George was the entire track team. He threw the shot, the javelin, and the discus, all without a coach. He caught the eye of college recruiters because of his prowess on the football field, where he was a genuine triple threat, running, passing, and kicking with equal ability. For a time, George considered attending the University of Pennsylvania, but in the end he accepted a scholarship to play football at the University of Kentucky, where he enrolled in 1945.
The Road to Excellence
During his freshman year at Kentucky, George started at quarterback on a team that finished the season with one victory and nine losses. In his memoirs, George revealed that he was disappointed in himself and his choice of teams after the poor record in 1945. However, the fortunes of George and his team turned with the arrival of a new and unknown football coach named Paul W. Bryant.
George’s work habits were not on the same level as his physical ability before Bryant’s arrival. During the spring and summer of 1945, Bryant brought a number of former servicemen to Kentucky and earned the nickname “Bear” for his legendary practice techniques. George was demoted to the second team during his second and third years at Kentucky, but he learned that hard work and dedication were essential to success on the football field. During his senior year at Kentucky, George impressed Bryant enough to recapture his role as starting quarterback. Bryant’s Wildcats started the season slowly with a 3-3 record. With only 44 seconds left in the seventh game, Kentucky trailed Villanova 13-6. George engineered one of the miracle finishes that became his trademark in later years, and Kentucky won.
The Emerging Champion
After marrying his college sweetheart Betty Harris—with whom he would have eleven children—George was chosen by the Chicago Bears in the twelfth round of the 1949 NFL draft. The Bears already had two outstanding quarterbacks in Sid Luckman and Johnny Lujack, and George was relegated to backup duty, occasionally kicking extra points and field goals. In 1953, George became the Bears’ starting quarterback, but because of injuries his team finished with a disappointing 3-8-1 record. George never started another game for the Bears at quarterback, but over the next six seasons he appeared several times late in games to manufacture miraculous victories.
In 1960, George joined the Houston Oilers of the American Football League (AFL), and, as the starting quarterback, guided the team to the first AFL championship. The Oilers, with George at quarterback, also won the championship in 1961, and finished second in 1962. The Oilers went into decline after 1962, and after four disappointing seasons, George was replaced at quarterback. The next year, in 1967, Houston traded him to the Oakland Raiders. Although George was past forty, he enjoyed his finest and most amazing years in Oakland. His kicking was instrumental in the Raiders’ 1967 AFL championship. That year the Raiders had two wins over the Houston team that had traded George; in both games George kicked four field goals. In 1968 and 1969, the Raiders played well but failed to win the AFL championship. In the 1970 season, George, at forty-three, had his finest campaign. In six of the Raiders’ games that year, he came off the bench to win games in the last seconds.
Continuing the Story
George engineered more miracles in subsequent years. In 1971, he kicked a last-second field goal to tie Kansas City; this score gave him more points than any player in NFL history. His record of 2,002 career points was not broken until 2000, when placekicker Gary Anderson became the all-time points leader. George went on to play three more seasons as backup quarterback to Ken Stabler and as Oakland’s regular kicker. He retired at the age of forty-eight. He designated conditioning as the main component of his longevity in a sport in which players are old at thirty. During the off-season he ran 2 miles a day and played golf or handball every day as well. He became a hero to many American males over the age of forty.
After his retirement, George devoted most of his time to his horses and grandchildren. He continued to pursue leisure sports with the same enthusiasm that he devoted to football. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981, and later selected to the AFL-NFL 1960-1984 all-star team.
Summary
George Blanda excelled during his football career primarily because of his fierce competitive instinct. The same instinct that pushed him to excel also produced a storm of controversy that followed him throughout his playing days. He often said uncomplimentary things about fellow players, coaches, management, and representatives of the press when he felt he had not received fair treatment. Perhaps the best insight into George came during his spectacular 1970 season. When approached with numerous product endorsement opportunities, George refused to praise any product he did not use regularly, saying it was dishonest. He was fiercely loyal to his friends and never forgot a real or imagined injury perpetrated by his enemies. His overriding will to win and his exhausting work habits made him into a champion.
Bibliography
Blanda, George, and Mickey Herskowitz. Over Forty: Feeling Great and Looking Good! New York: Simon and Schuster, 1978.
Lombardo, John. Raiders Forever: Stars of the NFL’s Most Colorful Team Recall Their Glory Days. Lincolnwood, Ill.: Contemporary Books, 2001.
Masin, Herman L. “A Sweet Streak … by George!” Coach and Athletic Director 76, no. 10 (May/June, 2007): 6.
Porter, David L., ed. Biographical Dictionary of American Sports: Football. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1987.