Image Gallery of George Blanda

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”.

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.

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

Raider George Blanda gets sets to pass while Hall of fame offensive guard gene Upshaw provides blocking.
George Blanda passing with Gene Upshaw blocking

George Blanda left the NFL in 1958 and after joining the American Football League led Houston to 2 league championships in 1960 and 1961 and a 3rd straight appearance in 1962. Here he is in 1966, his last season in Houston before joining Oakland in 1967. #77 is tackle Rich Michael and #35 could very well be former NFL great John Henry Johnson.
George Blanda, Houston Oilers in 1966

George Blanda kicks a 27-yard field goal against the Steelers in 1970. It was this game he came off the bench and threw 3 touchdowns in addition to this field goal to help the Raiders win 31-14. Some big names in this picture - We see Jim Otto (#00) barring the way of Joe Greene (#75) and former Chargers standout Chuck Allen (#58) while Rookie Ken Stabler (#12) holds for Blanda.
George Blanda kcks a field goal against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1970

After 10 seasons with the Chicago Bears George Blanda called it quits after the 1958 season only to join the Houston Oilers and the AFL in 1960. He went on to play another 15 years as one of the AFL's top quarterbacks and kickers.
George Blanda, Houston Oilers Quarterback in 1961

26 year NFL vet - George Blanda played 340 regular season games and 20 post season games.
George Blanda 26 Year NFL Veteran

There's over 40 years of old school football here. George Blanda (#16) played from 1949 to 1975 - that's a total of 26 seasons. Center Jim Otto (#00) put in 15, playing from 1960 to 1975.
George Blanda and Jim Otto of the Oakland Raiders

George Blanda of the Oilers and Gerry Philbin with the Jets Defense

The immortal George Blanda in 1970 get behind the blocking of center Jim Otto (#00) and runner Charlie Smith (#23). Pictured here Blanda is 44 years old. And while he still saw just spot duty, he still managed to throw 6 touchdowns. Oh, and he still played another 5 years in the NFL.
George Blanda sets up to pass behind Jim Otto and Charlie Smith | 1970 Raiders

2 of Pro Footballs All-Time Greats. Kenny Stabler holds while the timeless George Blanda kicks the winning fieldgoal in the 1975 overtime win over Washington.
George Blanda Kicking as Kenny Stabler Holds in 1975

George Blanda, Chicago Bears

George Blanda & Daryle Lamonica, Oakland Raiders

George Blanda, Houston Oilers AFL Quarterback

George Blanda of the Houston Oilers

George Blanda, Oiler vs NY Titans

George Blanda, Oilers & Ron McDole of the Bills

George Blanda, Oilers under pressure from the Chargers

George Blanda of the Oilers against the Raiders in the AFL

George Blanda, Raiders Quarterback

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AFL Legend George Blanda

George Blanda Football Cards & Covers

His 20th year in Pro Ball. In 1969 his primary job was kicking and he was the Raiders top scorer with 105 points.
George Blanda 1969 Oakland Raiders Topps AFL Football Card #232

Providing the late-game heroics in 4 victories and a tie, a 43-year old George Blanda is honored on this November issue of Sports Illustrated.
George Blanda on the Sports Illustrated Cover in November of 1970

George Blanda All Time Career Statistics

All Time Career Passing Statistics

Career Regular Season Passing Totals
Year	Age	Team	#	Games	QB Record	Att	Cmp	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-Year NFL Career				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
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 Post Season Totals			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
						0-19	0-19	20-2	20-2	30-3	30-3	40-4	40-4	50+	50+	Scoring							Total Points
Year	Age	Team	Pos	#	Games	FGA	FGM	FGA	FGM	FGA	FGM	FGA	FGM	FGA	FGM	FGA	FGM	Long	FG%	XPA	XPM	XP%	Total Points
1949	22	CHI		22	12											15	7		46.7%				27
1950	23	2TM	QB		12											15	6		40.0%				18
		CHI	QB	22	11											15	6		40.0%				18
1951	24	CHI	QB	22	12											17	6		35.3%	26	26	100.0%	44
1952	25	CHI	QB	22	12											25	6		24.0%	30	30	100.0%	54
1953	26	CHI	QB	16	12											20	7		35.0%	27	27	100.0%	48
1954	27	CHI	QB	16	8											16	8		50.0%	23	23	100.0%	47
1955	28	CHI	QB	16	12											16	11		68.8%♦	37	37	100.0%	82
1956	29	CHI	QB	16	12											28♦	12		42.9%	47♦	45♦	95.7%	81
1957	30	CHI	QB	16	12											26♦	14		53.8%	23	23	100.0%	71
1958	31	CHI	QB	16	12											23	11		47.8%	37	36	97.3%	169
1959	32	Temporarily Retired
1960	33	HOU♚	QB	16	14	8	6	6	3	5	3	9	1	4	2	32♦	15	53♦	46.9%	47	46	97.9%	115
1961*+	34	HOU♚	QB	16	14	6	6	8	6	3	1	6	1	6	2	29	16	55♦	55.2%♦	65♦	64♦	98.5%	112
1962*	35	HOU	QB	16	14	6	5	5	2	4	2	6	1	5	1	26	11	54♦	42.3%	49	48♦	98.0%	81
1963*	36	HOU	QB	16	14	2	1	3	1	8	4	8	3	3		24	9	46	37.5%	39	39	100.0%	66
1964	37	HOU	QB	16	14	4	3	7	3	4	3	12	4	2		29	13	49	44.8%	38	37	97.4%	76
1965	38	HOU	QB	16	14	4	4	1		7	4	7	3	2		21	11	45	52.4%	28	28	100.0%	61
1966	39	HOU	QB	16	14	4	3	1		7	3	12	8	6	2	30	16	51	53.3%	40	39	97.5%	87
1967*	40	OAK	QB	16	14	6	5	4	4	10	6	8	5	2		30	20	46	66.7%♦	57♦	56♦	98.2%	116♦
1968	41	OAK	QB	16	14	5	5	8	8	8	5	9	3	4		34	21	48	61.8%	54♦	54♦	100.0%	117
1969	42	OAK	QB	16	14	5	4	12	8	8	6	12	2			37	20	46	54.1%	45♦	45♦	100.0%	105
1970	43	OAK	QB	16	14	7	6	6	4	5	3	10	2	1	1	29	16	52	55.2%	36	36	100.0%	84
1971	44	OAK	QB	16	14	4	4	7	5	7	4	3	2	1		22	15	42	68.2%	42	41	97.6%	86
1972	45	OAK	QB	16	14	1	1	6	5	7	5	12	6			26	17	48	65.4%	44	44♦	100.0%	95
1973	46	OAK	QB	16	14	10	10	8	7	4	3	11	3			33	23	49	69.7%	31	31	100.0%	100
1974	47	OAK	QB	16	14	1	1	3	3	8	5	3	2	2		17	11	49	64.7%	46♦	44♦	95.7%	77
1975	48	OAK	QB	16	14	2	2	8	7	6	4	5				21	13	37	61.9%	48	44	91.7%	83
10 seasons Bears					115											201	88	50	43.8%	250	247	98.8%	541
9 seasons Raiders					126	41	38	62	51	63	41	73	25	10	1	249	156	52	62.7%	403	395	98.0%	865‡
7 seasons Oilers					98	34	28	31	15	38	20	60	21	28	7	191	91	55	47.6%	306	301	98.4%	598
1 season Colts					1																		0
26-Year NFL Career					340	75	66	93	66	101	61	133	46	38	8	641	335	55	52.3%	959	943	98.3%	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
Raiders Career Post Season Totals			15	33	19	57.6%	42	42	100.0%	99
Oilers Career Post Season Totals			3	6	3	50.0%	6	6	100.0%	15
Bears Post Season Totals			2				1	1	100.0%	1
Career Post Season Totals			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-Year NFL Career				340	135	344	2.5	19	9

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table Generated 11/6/2023.

+ – AFL All-League Selection

* – AFL All-Star Selection
♦ – Led the AFL

♚ – AFL Champion
‡ – Raiders Franchise Record

George Blanda: The Miracle Man