George Blanda

The next Hall of Famer to have a birthday was George Blanda. He was born on September 17, 1927, and played quarterback and placekicker in the AFL, NFL, and AAFC. He may be the only player to have been significant in all three professional football leagues. His career lasted 26 years, longer than any other player in history. In his final season at the ripe old age of 48, he is the oldest person to have played quarterback professionally.

George played collegiately at the University of Kentucky. After college, Blanda played for the AAFC’s Baltimore Colts from 1947 to 1949. After the All-America Conference folded in 1949, George Hallis signed the youngster to a $600 fee to play for the NFL’s Chicago Bears.

Blanda kicked and played a little linebacker in his first few seasons with the Bears. George was named Chicago’s starting quarterback in 1953, but an injury a year later relegated him back to kicker. Blanda and Hallis had a very rocky relationship together during Blanda’s time with the Bears.

The strain between the two led to Blanda retiring after the 1958 season. When the AFL formed in 1960, though, George Blanda found another chance to play quarterback as he joined the new Houston Oilers. Although so-called experts called him an NFL castoff, Blanda proved he could still play, as he and the Oilers won the first two AFL championships.

In the 1961 season, he set a record at the time for AFL and NFL quarterbacks by throwing for 36 touchdowns. His most remarkable season, though, came in 1970, when he was with the Oakland Raiders. In his first season with the Silver and Black, Blanda had a five-game span, helped the Raiders pull off four last-second victories, and won a tie with either a touchdown pass or a field goal; he was 43 years old at the time.

Another fantastic fact about Blanda that will never be matched is that he spent seven or more seasons with three different franchises. George Blanda was selected to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the 1981 induction class.

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