Hall of Fame quarterback and placekicker George Blanda, best remembered for remarkable run of late-game theatrics for the Oakland Raiders during the waning years of a 26-year career in professional football, has passed away at age 83, the Raiders confirmed on Monday.
Mr. Blanda, who played his college ball for Bear Bryant at Kentucky, began his pro career with the Chicago Bears in 1949 and played for them for ten years. During his earliest years with the Bears, George played not only quarterback, he placekicked, punted, played defensive back and even linebacker.
After being out of football in 1959, George signed on with the Houston Oilers of the newly-formed American Football League and quarterbacked them to the AFL's first three championship games, winning the first two of them in 1960 and '61, losing the '62 title clash in double overtime to the Dallas Texans (who became the Kansas City Chiefs the following year).
George joined the Oakland Raiders in 1967 and played with them for nine years. It was in 1970 that the legend of "Old" George really blossomed when he, at age 43, performed late-game herorics, either with his arm (entering the game in relief of starter Daryle Lamonica) or with his foot.
When he retired shortly before his 49th birthday in 1976, he was the last remaining original AFL player still playing in the National Football League.
George did play in one Super Bowl, the second one in 1968 when the Raiders fell to the Green Bay Packers, who played their last game under head coach Vince Lombardi.
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