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6. George Blanda

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6. George Blanda

George Blanda played for George Halas’ Chicago Bears in the 1950s, but Halas used him more as a Kicker than Quarterback, and a frustrated Blanda retired after the 1958 season.  When the American Football League formed, Blanda returned to the game, signing with the Houston Oilers, where he was able to prove that he belonged as a pivot all along.

Blanda was the Oilers Quarterback and Kicker for seven seasons, and he led the Oilers to the first AFL Championship. Blanda repeated that in 1961, but individually, he had his best year, leading the AFL in Passing Yards (3,330) and Touchdowns (36) while winning the MVP.  An AFL All-Star that season, Blanda would be again in 1962 and 1963, the latter year winning his second Passing Yard Title.  

Blanda threw for 19,149 Yards and kicked for another 91 Field Goals and 301 Extra Points as an Oiler.

He joined the Oakland Raiders after the 1966 season and played until his mid-40s, donning the pads for 26 total seasons.

Blanda was chosen for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1981, and arguably it was on the strength of his accomplishments in Houston.  He would be inducted into the Titans Ring of Honor in 1999.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Place Kicker, Quarterback
  • Acquired: Signed as a Free Agent before the 1960 Season.
  • Departed:

    Signed with the Oakland Raiders after the 1966 Season.

  • Games Played: 98
  • Notable Statistics:

    82 Games Started
    1,347 Pass Completions
    2,784 Pass Attempts
    48.4 Pass Completion Percentage
    19,149 Passing Yards
    165 Touchdown Passes
    189 Interceptions
    61.5 Passer Rating
    41 Rushing Attempts
    28 Rushing Yards
    4 Rushing Touchdowns
    1 Reception 
    -23 Receiving Yards
    91 Field Goal Attempts
    189 Field Goals 
    48.1 Field Goal Percentage
    301 Extra Point Attempts
    306 Extra Points 
    98.4 Extra Point Percentage 
    87 Approximate Value

    3 Playoff Games
    57 Pass Completions
    117 Pass Attempts
    48.7 Pass Completion Percentage
    722 Passing Yards
    5 Touchdown Passes
    10 Interceptions
    47.0 Passer Rating
    2 Rushing Attempts
    -4 Rushing Yards
    6 Field Goal Attempts
    3 Field Goals 
    50.0 Field Goal Percentage
    6 Extra Point Attempts
    6 Extra Points 
    100.0 Extra Point Percentage 

  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    AFL Champion (1960 & 1961)
    AP AFL Player of the Year (1961)
    UPI AFL Player of the Year (1961(
    The Sporting News Player of the Year (1961)
    First Team All-Pro (1961)
    Second Team All-Pro (1962 & 1963)
    AFL All-Star (1961, 1962 & 1963)
    Most Pass Completions (1963, 1964 & 1965)
    Most Pass Attempts (1963, 1964 & 1965)
    Most Passing Yards (1961 & 1963)
    Most Passing Touchdowns (1961)
    Highest Passer Rating (1961)
    Most Passing Yards per Game (1961 & 1963)
    Most Yards per Pass Attempt (1961)
    Most Yards per Pass Completion (1960 & 1961)
    Most Pass Attempts per Game (1963, 1964 & 1965)
    Most Pass Completions per Game (1963, 1964 & 1965)
    Most Extra Point Attempts (1961 & 1962)
    Most Extra Points Made (1961 & 1962)
    Most Field Goal Attempts (1960)
    Highest Field Goal Percentage (1961)

Last modified on Tuesday, 20 September 2022 17:02

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