An image reminisce of the physical harshness of the Old School Era of NFL Football - Giants quarterback YA Tittle, already a familiar subject of multiple images depicting the brutal conditions faced by QBs of that time, nurses an injury on the sideline. The story that goes with this picture is Tittle has just scored a 21-yard run against the Cardinals in 1962.
Some early 1960s football as YA Tittle of Giants goes to scrambling against Larry Stephens & Bob Lilly of the Dallas Cowboys. The other Giant in the photo is 13-year vet Greg Larson.
The 1957 Cover of Pro Football All Stars featuring 49er quarterback YA Tittle. In 1957 the 49ers were much improved from the previous season winning 8 games and 1st Place tie with Detroit in the West Division. Along with Tittle, the 49ers included some big names like RC Owens, Hugh McElhenny and Joe Perry.
Some Classic NFL action from the 1962 season.Jack Stroud holds up Ed O'Bradovich and Doug Atkins gets a little tripped up by Rosey Brown as YA Tittle gets the pass away. Giant #24 is running back Phil King.
West Coast NFL in 1959! 49er QB YA Tittle gives to Hugh McElhenny against the Los Angeles Rams defense. This may be the Week 7 game played at the LA Memorial Coliseum that ended up a 24-16 49er win. The other 49ers seen are #24, JD Smith at left and Joe Perry, #34 on the right.
Some Vintage NFL as Giants Leader YA Tittle gets set to pass as Steeler lineman Gene "Big Daddy" Lipscomb gomes in hard from his blindside. This photo comes from the early 1960s era football.
YA Tittle - shown here as a 49er. Spent 10 seasons in San Francisco and still hold the franchise's #5 Passing Yards Mark (16016) and the #6 Completions (1226) and Passing Touchdowns (108).
New York Giants -probably 1964. Hall of Famer YA Tittle turns to handoff to Southern Illinois Rookie Ernie Wheelwright. Wheelwright played 7 seasons in the NFL - 2 in New York, 1 in Atlanta and 4 in New Orleans.
Some of the members of that great San Francisco 49er backfield of the 1950s decade - Hugh McElhenny, Joe Perry, YA Tittle and Joe Arneas. McElhenny, Perry, and Tittle are all in the Hall of Fame.
Old Man Can Run! YA Tittle takes off against the Cardinals in 1962. YA Tittle had a league-high 33 touchdown passes in 1962. He had 3 in this game.
Yet the subject of another iconic NFL History photo, Giants quarterback YA Tittle walks across a playing field turned into a quagmire of mud.
This Green Bay Packers defender won't get to Giants quarterback YA Tittle. In his 17-year NFL career Tittle passed for 248 touchdowns, 2427 completions and 33,070 yards.
Together in San Francisco for 10 years YA Tittle & Hugh McElhenny were reunited again for 1 season in 1963 with the New York Giants.
YA Tittle joined the Giants in 1961 and led them to 8 wins and a showdown with the Green Bay Packers in the NFL Title Game. Here he is in action with longtime offensive lineman Jack Stroud at the left.
Colts Dick Szymanski & Ordell Braase take down a opposing quarterback - we think it's YA Tittle of the San Francisco 49ers in, 1960 maybe.
A scene from week one of the NFL 1963 season. YA Tittle led the Giants passing for 3 touchdown and running for another in a 37-28 win over the Colts.
Larry Morris gets to YA Tittle in the 1963 NFL Title Game. The Bears defense forced 6 turnovers in a 14-10 win to claim the NFL Championship. That looks like Phil King, #24 keeping Bears linebacker Joe Fortunato away.
YA Tittle, at age 36, set a new NFL record with 33 passing touchdowns in 1962. A year later he broke that record with 36. Here he sets up to pass with Alex Webster providing pass protection.
Another picture from the 1963 NFL Championship as Giants QB YA Tittle gets the pass away as Bears Earl Leggett and Doug Atkins force the issue. Giants tackle Jack Stroud, #66, is in the background.
A two-time All-SEC player from LSU YA Tittle originally started his pro career with the Baltimore Colts of the All-American Football Conference in 1948. When that league folded in 1951 he was picked up by San Francisco and remained there for 10 seasons.
New York Giants of the early 1960s - Alex Webster heads into the line after taking a handoff from QB YA Tittle. #66 at the left is most probably guard Jack Stroud. Stroud played 12 years for the Giants.
Opening day of the 1963 NFL season - Giants and Colts. Giants quarterback YA Tittle gets protection as the Colts defense swarms all around. Rosey Brown battles Ordell Braase in the foreground while Jack Stroud keeps Gino Marchetti away. Tittle threw 3 touchdowns this day in a 37-28 win.
YA Tittle around 1963 - age 37, led the league with a 60.2% completion percentage while setting an NFL record for most touchdown passes in a season with 36.
No stranger to ferocious hits Giants quarterback YA Tittle with one of the many injuries he received during his career.
From the 1959 game between the 49ers and Rams at Kezar Stadium. YA Tittl eturns to hand off to running back Hugh McElhenny as Joe Perry counters in the other direction. The 49ers would blank the Rams this day 34-0.
1963 Lions and Giants. YA Tittle turns to hand off the the Giants leading ball carrier in 1963 - halfback Phil King. Lions lineman Darris McCord and Alex Karras are ready to receive him. Giant #53 is veteran center Greg Larson who played 13 seasons in New York.
YA Tittle of the New York Giants gets going with Jim Houston of the Browns giving chase. In 1963, at age 37, Tittle had a career season completing 60% of his passes for 3145 yards - the first Giant quarterback to pass for over 3,000 yards. His league-high 36 touchdown passes are still a record in the New York franchise book.
Spent 10 seasons in San Francisco where he stated 78 games and passed for 108 touchdowns and over 16,000 yards. Here he sets up to pass against the Rams.
Giants quarterback YA Tittle gets the pass off under pressure. In 1963 Tittle would lead New York to an NFL Eastern Division Title and a league Title Game appearance. It was the last post season game the Giants would attend until 1981 - 18 years later. #79 is Hall of Famer Rosey Brown.
Giants quarterback YA Tittle drops back to pass behind his offense in 1961. #29 is Alex Webster, #35, Bob Gaiters, #53, Greg Larson (#53), center Ray Wietecha, #55 & the on-coming Ram is rookie Deacon Jones (#75).
Hall of Famers Rosey Brown and YA Tittle take a knee on the Giant's sideline probably sometime around 1964. Both legends were at the end of their long and distinguished careers. Tittle had a total of 17 years in the NFL and Brown had 13.
Two of the Old School NFL Greats - Hall of Fame quarterback YA Tittle and Hall of Fame defensive end Willie face-off on the field.
Giants QB YA Tittle stands alone during the 1963 NFL title game against the Bears. He was 37 at this time and had just set a new NFL record of 36 touchdown passes.
The offensive backfield that got the New York Giants to three consecutive trips to the NFL Championship Title Game in 1961, 1962 & 1963 - but lost all three times. From left to right: YA Tittle (#14), Alex Webster (#29), Frank Gifford (#16) & Phil King (#24)
Lions cornerback can do little more than watch as Giants quarterback YA Tittle crosses the goal-line on a 4-yard boot leg in this 1962 contest between New York and Detroit. The Giants pulled the win off this day 17-14.
The 49er's YA Tittle was one of the most productive quarterbacks of his generation. He recorded four 2,000+ yard seasons during the 1950s.
Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle has a big ol' hug for Giants quarterback YA Tittle. #66 is longtime Giants lineman Jack Stroud.
From the 1963 NFL Title Game between New York and Chicago. Giants QB YA Tittle has his leg rolled up during the 1st quarter as Bears linebacker Larry Morris (#33) comes in low. Big Doug Atkins (#81) comes in to assist. Tittle played the rest of the game hurting.
YA Tittle takes a moment to snap a picture with former Green Bay great Cecil Isbell before a game in 1959. Isbell was Tittle's head coach when he was with the Baltimore Colts of the old AAFC in the 1940s.
49ers QB YA Tittle scores on a 1-yard plunge against the Green Bay Packers in 1956. The 49ers won 17-16. #72 for the Packers is defensive lineman Jerry Helluin.
49ers Great Joe "The Jet" Perry (#34). Played a total of 14 seasons with San Francisco (played 2 with the Colts) and when he retired in 1963 he was the NFL's All Time Leader Rusher with 9723 yards - 8689 of those were with the 49ers. As of the 2022 season - almost 60 years later, that number still ranks #2 (behind Frank Gore) with the 49ers franchise Career rushing leaders. In the background team mate YA Tittle (#14) watches.
Recently acquired from the Colts, Gene "Big Daddy" Lipscomb quickly instantly made his presence felt as a Steeler. Unofficially he had the most sacks in 1961 with 17.5. Here, along with other Steeler defenders, he forces a throw from Giants quarterback YA Tittle. Also pictured is linebacker #82 - longtime NFL veteran George Tarasovic who played 15 seasons.
Even facing away from the photographer, Giants quarterback YA Tittle strikes an iconic pose.
A Rob Riger photo from the early 1960s of New York Giants quarterbacking legends Charlie Conerly and YA Tittle.
Bears linebackers Bill George (#61) & Larry Morris (#33) have just brought a little heat on Giants QB YA Tittle (#14) during the 1963 NFL Championship game. The Bears pulled this one out 14-10 as the Bears defense collected 5 Giants interceptions in the win.
Joe Morrison (#40) doesn't look happy.
The Giants veteran quarterback confers with Head Coach Allie Sherman in 1962.
Guiding the Giants to an NFL Championship showdown with the Packers in 1962.
From the early 1960s decade - veteran quarterback YA Tittle of the giants gets a pass off under the menacing approach of Steelers lineman Lou Michaels.
San Francisco quarterback from 1951 to 1960 - started 78 games. Left as the 49ers All-Time leader in passing yards with 16,016 yards to his credit.
One of the most respected quarterbacks in NFL History. The above picture, from the 1961 season - he has just been traded to the New York Giants.
He ended up with league MVP honors passing for over 2200 yards as he led the Giants to an Eastern Division title.
Visible in the foreground are #80, Joe Walton and #79, Hall of Famer Rosey Brown.
2 aging stars in the twilight of their careers. In 1961 YA Tittle joined the Giants and when Gifford rejoined the team in 1962 both men retired after the 1964 campaign. During that period from 1961 to 1964 the Giants won 3 East Divisional Titles while Tittle proved his career was hardly over with 3 Pro Bowl selections and making the All-Pro team 1962 and 1963. Gifford returned in 1962 after sitting out a year following that hellacious hit he received from Eagles linebacker Chuck Bednarik as a receiver. He made the Pro Bowl in 1963.
Taken from a public relations game program in 1964. YA Tittle was entering his 17th NFL season as a New York Giant. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1971.
Cast off by San Francisco in 1960 after being deemed "Too Slow" to run the offense, YA Tittle was traded to New York for Defensive Lineman Lou Cordileone (who couldn't believe he was considered valuable enough for such a swap). Tittle responded by leading the Giants to consecutive NFL title games from 1960 to 1963.
Some classic images from San Francisco photographer Frank Rippon of YA Tittle (#14) and the 49er offense.
Some classic images from San Francisco photographer Frank Rippon of YA Tittle (#14) and the 49er offense.
