George Blanda - Highlights from a 26-Year Professional Football Career

George Blanda: The Miracle Man

 Throughout the history of the NFL, there have been a handful of players that have always been referred to with an extended amount of respect and admiration. Without a doubt, George Blanda will always be one of those players. A true gridiron legend, Blanda’s career spanned 4 different decades for 26 seasons. When he was drafted in 1949 the Cardinals were still in Chicago and Bobby Layne was quarterbacking the New York Bulldogs. He was drafted the same year as Chuck Bednarik and Norm van Brocklin. He was picked by the Bears in the 12th round – the same round Pittsburgh took Jim Finks. He played his college ball at the University of Kentucky when Bear Bryant was the coach there.
 

University of Kentucky and the Chicago Bears

 George Frederick Blanda was born September 17, 1927, in Youngwood, Pennsylvania to Czech immigrants. While at the University of Kentucky where he played quarterback and kicker for the Wildcats earning All-SEC honors in 1947 and 1948. After joining Chicago he remained there for 10 seasons. Primarily used as the kicker for that time, he wasn’t the starting QB until 1953 when he started all 12 games and passed for over 2100 yards and 14 touchdowns. He resumed as the Bear’s starter in 1954 but was sidelined with an injury in week 8 and never started another game again for the Bears. Nonetheless he remained the kicker and by the end of his time in Chicago had scored 499 points with his foot. As it stands, he still ranks #6 on the Bears All-Time Leading Scoring list with 541 points – 247 xtra points, 88 field goals and 5 touchdowns.
 Blanda left the Chicago and the NFL after the 1958 season. When asked about his time with the Bears he has been quoted as saying, “I didn’t have much fun”.  
George Blanda, QB of the Houston Oilers
George Blanda, Houston Oilers 1960-1966
George Blanda, QB Oakland Raiders
George Blanda, Oakland Raiders 1967-1975
Raider kicker George Blanda kicks a field goal
George Blanda (#16)

Houston Oilers and the AFL

After being retired for the year of 1959, He was contacted by the Houston Oilers of the newly formed American Football League in 1960. Accepting a chance to play again he was named the Oilers starting quarterback at age 33 and became one of the AFL’s most prominent passers at that time being named the AFL Player of the Year in 1961. As Houston’s quarterback he twice he led the league in passing yardage, three times in attempts & completions and four times in touchdown passes. All this while guiding Houston to 2 AFL Championships and earning 3 AFL All-Star team selections and 1 All League inclusion.
Houston Oilers kicker George Blanda kicks against the Dallas Texans.
George Blanda kicks against the Dallas Texans

The Raiders Years and the Ironman Streak

In 1967, after 17 seasons as a professional football player George Blanda was released by Houston. He was already 39 years old. That’s when Al Davis of the Oakland Raiders gave him a call. It was originally intended that his role was to be a temporary backup to Raider QB Daryle Lamonica and handle the kicking duties. He was 9 years older than head coach John Madden.
 From 1967 to 1969 he excelled as Oakland’s kicker. During that period, he only missed one extra point and scored over 100 points each season. In 1967, he scored the most points in the AFL with 116 points. And while his time at quarterback was limited, he had his moments of greatness. In week 9 of the 1968 season he relived a banged up Daryle Lamonica against the Chiefs and set a Raiders record by connecting on 11 of 14 passes. The following week he starred in his only start at quarterback for Oakland and threw 4 touchdowns against the Broncos. But there was still another episode of the George Blanda story to come.

1970 - George Blanda at His Best

 The 1970 season began in the typical way for Blanda. At 43 years of age, the Raiders organization placed him on waivers – but nobody bit. He was retained when the Raiders new kicker didn’t work out as planned and the coaching staff felt youngster Kenny Stabler had a little more developing to go.

 

 The story began in Week 6 when Terry Bradshaw and the Pittsburgh Steelers came to town. The Raiders were in 3rd place of the AFC West behind the previous World Champion Kansas City Chiefs and the surprising Denver Broncos. Starter Daryle Lamonica went down early in the game and it was Blanda to the rescue. The score was tied at 7 all when he began and by the end of the afternoon he had thrown 3 touchdown passes (2 to tight end Raymond Chester and 1 to wide receiver Warren Wells) and kicked 1 field goal as Oakland came away with a 31-14 win. The following week against the powerhouse Chiefs Lamonica resumed the signal-calling duties but it was Blanda coming through in the clutch with a 48-yard field goal to tie the game at the end.
In Week 8 against the Cleveland Browns Daryle Lamonica went down again. This time it was in the 4th quarter with Oakland behind 17-13. George’s first drive ended badly when he was intercepted. Cleveland turned it into 3 points and now the Raiders were looking at a 20-13 deficiet with 4 minutes left. George guided his offense downfield and capped the drive with a 14-yard strike to Warren Wells. The Raiders defense came up big when they picked off Bill Nelson with 34 seconds left. Oakland pulled off another miracle finish as Blanda booted a 52-yard field goal for a 23-20 win.
 The magic continued into Week 9 against the Broncos. With the Broncos up 19-17, Blanda put together a 4th quarter drive that started on his own 20 and ended with a 20-yard TD pass to Fred Biletnikoff as time ran out. That was 4 weeks in row George Blanda had come through in critical moments to keep playoff hope alive for Oakland. And it didn’t stop there. The Chargers were next to fall, this time with his foot as he kicked a 16-yard game winner to give the Silver and Black  a 20-17 victory.
 The success finally did end. The Detroit Lions managed to put an end to it all with a 28-14 win on Thanksgiving Day. This time it was Lions quarterback Greg Landry who had the hot hand as he threw 3 touchdowns, 2 of which went to Charlie Sanders. Mel Farr had a big day too with a touchdown and 168 yards from scrimmage.

The 1970 season would end with the Raiders advancing all the way to the AFC Championship where they would lose to the Baltimore Colts. George would continue to play until 1975. He retired at age 48 – one month  before his 49th birthday. He had 26 seasons of play to his credit – more than other player in NFL history.

Records and Marks

To list all of the records George Blanda set or still holds would take a whole separate article. It would be hard to go 26 seasons in the NFL and not have an impressive list of accomplishments. But Blanda did it in an very quiet and unassuming way. So here is just a few of the marks he made. 

 

NFL Records Still Held

  • Most Seasons – 26
  • Oldest Player – 48 Years & 109 Days
  • Most PAT Attempts – 959
  • Most PAT Made – 943
  • Most TD Passes in a Game – 7 (Tied)
  • Raiders All-Time Leading Scorer – 836 points

Records Held at Retirement

  • Most Point Scored – 2,002 (still #7 as of 2023 season) 
  • Most Games Played – 340 (still #5 as of 2023 season)
  • Most Consecutive Games Played – 224 (still tied #21 as of 2023 season)
  • Most Points in a Raiders Single Season –  117  (10th best as of 2023 season)

Selected 1970 Player of the Year. Inducted into the Pro Football Hall  of Fame in 1981.

Image Gallery George Blanda, Quarterback/Kicker 1949-1975

George Blanda Football Cards & Covers

George Blanda All Time Career Statistics

Career Regular Season Passing Totals
Year Age Team # Games QB Record Att Comp Cmp% Yards Long Y/A TD Int Rating Sacked Yards Lost 4QC GWD
1949 22 CHI 22 12 21 9 42.9 197 44 9.4 0 5 37.3 33
1950 23 2TM 12 1 0 0.0 0 0 0.0 0 0 39.6 0 0
BCL 64 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CHI 22 11 1 0 0.0 0 0 0.0 0 0 39.6
1951 24 CHI 22 12 0 0 0 0 0 0
1952 25 CHI 22 12 1-1-0 131 47 35.9 664 59 5.1 8 11 38.5 74 1 1
1953 26 CHI 16 12 3-8-1 362♦ 169♦ 46.7 2164 72 6.0 14 23 52.3 110 2 2
1954 27 CHI 16 8 4-3-0 281 131 46.6 1929 76 6.9 15 17 62.1 108 3♦ 3♦
1955 28 CHI 16 12 97 42 43.3 459 51 4.7 4 7 41.6 57
1956 29 CHI 16 12 69 37 53.6 439 69 6.4 7 4 82.9 21
1957 30 CHI 16 12 19 8 42.1 65 13 3.4 0 3 11.8 13
1958 31 CHI 16 12 7 2 28.6 19 12 2.7 0 0 39.6 10
1959 32 Temporarily Retired
1960 33 HOU♚ 16 14 8-3-0 363 169 46.6 2413 88 6.6 24 22 65.4 9 76 1 1
1961*+ 34 HOU♚ 16 14 9-2-0 362 187 51.7 3330♦ 80 9.2♦ 36♦ 22 91.3♦ 7 88
1962* 35 HOU 16 14 11-3-0 418 197 47.1 2810 78 6.7 27 42♦ 51.3 5 39 3♦ 3♦
1963* 36 HOU 16 14 6-7-0 423♦ 224♦ 53.0 3003♦ 80 7.1 24 25♦ 70.1 18 147 1 1
1964 37 HOU 16 14 4-9-0 505♦ 262♦ 51.9 3287 80 6.5 17 27♦ 61.4 13 113
1965 38 HOU 16 14 3-9-0 442♦ 186♦ 42.1 2542 95 5.8 20 30♦ 47.9 11 95 2 2♦
1966 39 HOU 16 14 3-5-0 271 122 45.0 1764 79 6.5 17 21 55.3 8 72
1967* 40 OAK 16 14 38 15 39.5 285 50 7.5 3 3 59.6 3 19 0 1
1968 41 OAK 16 14 1-0-0 49 30 61.2 522 94 10.7 6 2 120.1 2 19
1969 42 OAK 16 14 13 6 46.2 73 20 5.6 2 1 71.5 1 4
1970 43 OAK 16 14 55 29 52.7 461 44 8.4 6 5 79.4 4 37 2 2
1971 44 OAK 16 14 58 32 55.2 378 37 6.5 4 6 58.6 2 26 2 1
1972 45 OAK 16 14 15 5 33.3 77 26 5.1 1 0 73.5 2 19
1973 46 OAK 16 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1974 47 OAK 16 14 4 1 25.0 28 28 7.0 1 0 95.8 0 0
1975 48 OAK 16 14 3 1 33.3 11 11 3.7 0 1 5.6 3 8
10 Seasons Bears 115 8-12-1 988 445 45.0 5936 76 6.0 48 70 51.3 426 6 6
9 Seasons Raiders 126 1-0-0 235 119 50.6 1835 94 7.8 23 18 77.5 17 132 4 4
7 Seasons Oilers 98 44-38-0 2784 1347 48.4 19149 95 6.9 165 189 62.5 71 630 7 7
1 Season Colts 1 0 0 0
26-Years NFL 340 53-50-1 4007 1911 47.7 26920 95 6.7 236 277 60.6 88 1188 17 17
Post Season Passing Table
Year Age Team Games QBrec Att Cmp Cmp% Yards Long Y/A TD Int Rate Sacked Yards Lost
1950 23 CHI 1 0-0 0
1956 29 CHI 1 0-1 27 12 44.4 140 5.2 0 1 45.3 34
1960 33 HOU♚ 1 1-0 31 16 51.6 301 88 9.7 3 0 117.8 0 0
1961*+ 34 HOU♚ 1 1-0 40 18 45.0 160 35 4.0 1 5 25.0 0 0
1962* 35 HOU 1 0-1 46 23 50.0 261 24 5.7 1 5 35.1 0 0
1967* 40 OAK 2 0-0 2 0 0.0 0 0 0.0 0 0 39.6 0 0
1968 41 OAK 2 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1969 42 OAK 2 0-0 11 3 27.3 57 33 5.2 0 3 9.1 1 7
1970 43 OAK 2 0-0 32 17 53.1 271 38 8.5 2 3 63.4 4 35
1972 45 OAK 1 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1973 46 OAK 2 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1974 47 OAK 2 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1975 48 OAK 2 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total Post Season Raiders 15 0-0 45 20 44.4 328 38 7.3 2 6 44.7 5 42
Post Season Oilers 3 2-1 117 57 48.7 722 88 6.2 5 10 47.0 0 0
Post Season Bears 2 0-1 27 12 44.4 140 5.2 0 1 45.3 34
Career Totals AFL/NFL 20 2-2 189 89 47.1 1190 88 6.3 7 17 42.4 5 76

All Time Career Kicking Statistics

Regular Season Kicking Table
 0-190-1920-220-230-330-340-440-450+50+ScoringTotal Points
YearAgeTeamPos#GamesFGAFGMFGAFGMFGAFGMFGAFGMFGAFGMFGAFGMLongFG%XPAXPMXP%
194922CHI 2212          157 46.7%   27
1950232TMQB 12          156 40.0%   18
  CHIQB2211          156 40.0%   18
195124CHIQB2212          176 35.3%2626100.0%44
195225CHIQB2212          256 24.0%3030100.0%54
195326CHIQB1612          207 35.0%2727100.0%48
195427CHIQB168          168 50.0%2323100.0%47
195528CHIQB1612          1611 68.8%♦3737100.0%82
195629CHIQB1612          28♦12 42.9%47♦45♦95.7%81
195730CHIQB1612          26♦14 53.8%2323100.0%71
195831CHIQB1612          2311 47.8%373697.3%169
195932Temporarily Retired
196033HOU♚QB1614866353914232♦1553♦46.9%474697.9%115
1961*+34HOU♚QB16146686316162291655♦55.2%♦65♦64♦98.5%112
1962*35HOUQB16146552426151261154♦42.3%4948♦98.0%81
1963*36HOUQB1614213184833 2494637.5%3939100.0%66
196437HOUQB16144373431242 29134944.8%383797.4%76
196538HOUQB1614441 74732 21114552.4%2828100.0%61
196639HOUQB1614431 731286230165153.3%403997.5%87
1967*40OAKQB16146544106852 30204666.7%♦57♦56♦98.2%116♦
196841OAKQB1614558885934 34214861.8%54♦54♦100.0%117
196942OAKQB16145412886122  37204654.1%45♦45♦100.0%105
197043OAKQB16147664531021129165255.2%3636100.0%84
197144OAKQB1614447574321 22154268.2%424197.6%86
197245OAKQB1614116575126  26174865.4%4444♦100.0%95
197346OAKQB161410108743113  33234969.7%3131100.0%100
197447OAKQB1614113385322 17114964.7%46♦44♦95.7%77
197548OAKQB16142287645   21133761.9%484491.7%83
10 Seasons Bears  115          201885043.8%25024798.8%541
9 Seasons Raiders  12641386251634173251012491565262.7%40339598.0%865‡
7 Seasons Oilers  983428311538206021287191915547.6%30630198.4%598
1 Season Colts  1                 0
26 Years AFL/NFL  3407566936610161133463886413355552.3%95994398.3%2002
Post Season Kicking Table
Scoring
Year Age Team Games FGA FGM FG% XPA XPM XP% Total
1956 29 CHI 1 1 1 100.0% 1
1960 33 HOU♚ 1 2 1 50.0% 3 3 100.0% 6
1961*+ 34 HOU♚ 1 1 1 100.0% 1 1 100.0% 4
1962* 35 HOU 1 3 1 33.3% 2 2 100.0% 5
1967* 40 OAK 2 7 4 57.1% 6 6 100.0% 18
1968 41 OAK 2 6 5 83.3% 7 7 100.0% 22
1969 42 OAK 2 3 0.0% 9 9 100.0% 9
1970 43 OAK 2 2 1 50.0% 5 5 100.0% 8
1972 45 OAK 1 1 1 100.0% 1
1973 46 OAK 2 7 5 71.4% 4 4 100.0% 19
1974 47 OAK 2 3 2 66.7% 5 5 100.0% 11
1975 48 OAK 2 5 2 40.0% 5 5 100.0% 11
Post Season Raiders 15 33 19 57.6% 42 42 100.0% 99
Post Season Oilers 3 6 3 50.0% 6 6 100.0% 15
Post Season Bears 2 1 1 100.0% 1
Career AFL/NFL 20 39 22 56.4% 49 49 100.0% 115

All Time Career Rushing Statistics

Rushing & Receiving Table
Year Age Team # Games Carries Yards Y/A Long TD
1949 22 CHI 22 12 2 9 4.5 5 1
1952 25 CHI 22 12 20 104 5.2 16 1
1953 26 CHI 16 12 24 62 2.6 16 0
1954 27 CHI 16 8 19 41 2.2 19 0
1955 28 CHI 16 12 15 54 3.6 10 2
1956 29 CHI 16 12 6 47 7.8 17 0
1957 30 CHI 16 12 5 -5 -1.0 1 1
1960 33 HOU♚ 16 14 16 16 1.0 9 4
1961*+ 34 HOU♚ 16 14 7 12 1.7 7 0
1962* 35 HOU 16 14 3 6 2.0 10 0
1963* 36 HOU 16 14 4 1 0.3 7 0
1964 37 HOU 16 14 4 -2 -0.5 6 0
1965 38 HOU 16 14 4 -6 -1.5 0 0
1966 39 HOU 16 14 3 1 0.3 1 0
1968 41 OAK 16 14 0
1969 42 OAK 16 14 1 0 0.0 0 0
1970 43 OAK 16 14 2 4 2.0 4 0
1971 44 OAK 16 14 0
1972 45 OAK 16 14 0
1975 48 OAK 16 14 0
10 Seasons Bears 115 91 312 3.4 19 5
9 Seasons Raiders 126 3 4 1.3 4 0
7 Seasons Oilers 98 41 28 0.7 10 4
1 Season Colts 1 0
26 Years AFL/NFL 340 135 344 2.5 19 9
  • + – AFL All-League Selection
  • * – AFL All-Star Selection
  • ♦ – Led the AFL/NFL
  • ♚ – AFL Champion
  • ‡ – Raiders Franchise Record

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