By Darin What happens when a player possesses the frame of a lineman and the hands of a world-class receiver? You get Ted Kwalick, the man Joe Paterno described as “what God had in mind when he made a football player.” Arriving at Penn State just as the tight end position was evolving into a primary offensive weapon, Kwalick set the gold standard for versatility. From his unanimous All-American honors in State College to his Pro Bowl dominance in the NFL, Kwalick wasn’t just a player; he was the prototype that redefined what a tight end could achieve on the gridiron.
Football Bio
April 15, 1947 – McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania – The talented tight end for Penn State from 1966 to 1968, Ted Kwalick, was born.
Ted arrived at State College at the perfect time with his 6’-4”, 225-pound athletic frame. The tight end position was just starting to come into vogue in football, and Kwalick was a powerful blocker and a gifted receiver to boot. The Football Foundation quotes assistant coach Bob Phillips: “He had very big hands and great hand strength. Could catch the ball one-handed or two-handed. I don’t remember that he ever dropped a pass.”
Ted’s head coach, Joe Paterno, who was hired the same year Kwalick arrived at the school, stated, “He’s what God had in mind when he made a football player.” Kwalick was voted as an All-American in 1967 by a few sources, but in 1968, he was a unanimous selection. The College Football Hall of Fame proudly displayed a tribute to Ted Kwalick in its legendary museum in 1989. Ted played for 9 seasons in the NFL with San Francisco and Oakland.
Conclusion
Ted Kwalick’s career was a journey of firsts and foundational moments. He was Penn State’s first two-time All-American and a key architect of the Nittany Lions’ rise to national prominence under Joe Paterno. His transition to the professional ranks was equally seamless, where he earned three consecutive Pro Bowl nods and eventually secured a Super Bowl ring with the Oakland Raiders. By the time he hung up his cleats, Kwalick had proven that a tight end could be a leading receiver without sacrificing the grit required in the trenches. Today, he remains an iconic figure in both McKees Rocks and State College, a Hall of Famer who truly embodied the complete football player.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- College Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1989.
- Super Bowl Champion: Super Bowl XI (Oakland Raiders).
- 3× NFL Pro Bowl Selection: 1971, 1972, 1973 (San Francisco 49ers).
- First-Team All-Pro: 1972.
- Unanimous First-Team All-American: 1968.
- First-Team All-American: 1967.
- Heisman Trophy Finalist: Finished 4th in the 1968 voting.
- Orange Bowl Champion: 1969 (Part of Penn State’s 11-0 season).
- NFL First Round Pick: 7th overall by the San Francisco 49ers in the 1969 NFL Draft.
- Penn State Record Holder: Set school tight end records for career yards (1,343) and touchdowns (10).
- National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame: Inducted in 2005.
