George Blanda is still my favorite player.. Everytime he came on the field in the 70’s I got goose bumps.. George just kept going.. He kicked field goals and still threw many touchdowns as a qb after the age of 40.. nobody can ever equal m in inspiration.. I loved that mam and played till he was 48 years old.. no one can equal him ever.. yay George..
Just think. George had a career that long and back in the day when Football was really rough. He was tougher than woodpecker lips. Today we got players that can't make it thru pre season games.
Although I was a Washington Redskins fan and in particular a Sonny Sonny Jurgenson fan, I also thought highly of George Blanda, especially because of his age. I believed back then that we were going to see the first 50 year man playing football but George Blanda retired at age 48 still making him the oldest player in the league. Very impressive.
Papaw was a huge Kentucky football fan in the 40s and 50s - it had been a long time since i became choked up thinking about Kenny Redding - he loved George Blanda and so do i -
I remember watching Blanda's streak of victory's as a kid, after every miracle win that Monday the major news networks would devote time to show how Blanda kept pulling out last minute victories, it was like watching a grandfather play pro football and winning those games against much younger men.
The definition of a pro!!! One of my all time favorite players. I loved watching him during those 5 or 6 games where he came in to pull out the victory. I never missed a Radier game back when he played.
I met him right after he retired for good. He was doing motivational speaking. I got his autograph and some words of encouragement for a young teenage boy regarding football and sports in general. Work hard, never let someone tell you your not good enough, always give your best effort, be a good sport whether you win or lose. My brother and I really looked up to this athlete as kids. We were huge Raiders fans back then.
I remember Blanda as a kicker when I was a kid in the early 1970s. He could never be a kicker in this era, but he was fully capable in that era -- and he could play backup QB, too.
I am pleased to have lived in Oakland during all his years as a Raider. So many times he brought us back from certain defeat. He is Oakland Raider gold. George Blanda will never be forgotten
I watched George Blanca from the time he was on the Bears all the was through the years with the Raiders. He was always ready and always competitive. George always seemed to come into a game when all seamed lost . . . and pull off some of the greatest comebacks.
How a man could play QB for so long in that era (and a little linebacker, too) is simply incredible. No protection from the refs or rules committee AT ALL. A few men, like Blanda and Otto and Bruce Matthews, are pretty much indestructible and who knows why.
I want to phrase this very carefully because like much of America in the early 1970s, I was thrilled with the phenomenon of George Blanda coming off the bench and winning games with his passing and kicking. BUT, I ran into George at the LaGrange YMCA when I was shortly out of high school in the late 1960s, while waiting to be inducted into the Army. At the Y one night, George, who lived near me in nearby LaGrange Park (He lived east of La Grange Road and my parents' home was west of this major highway, aka U.S. Route 45), showed up to play pickup basketball in the Y's full court gym. We were all thrilled but kept cool and treated him just like one of the guys. What makes this night so long ago so memorable is that George got into an argument with another player (who obviously didn't give a shit that he was squabbling with a national hero). And what amazed all of us was that George was sort of a poor sport. I have no memory of who fouled whom, who might have traveled or carried the ball or been guilty of hacking, but what I did see was this national football hero squawking and carping like a punk with a nobody, in a YMCA half-court pickup game. Wouldn't you think he would have simply been above the fray? That he would have calmly said something to diffuse the situation and maintained his prestige as one of the most admired men in America? Well, he did not. I'll never forget that moment. It was the only time I ever ran into George, so to speak, even though we lived only two miles away in a sedate, affluent western suburb of Chicago.
Another great player and QB from western PA. Can you name them all. I challange you. Also good photo of George and Fred Bilitnicoff from Erie Pa. Lots and lots of great players from Pennsylvania.
I was a 19 year old who started my military time. We were only allowed to play flag football, because we were government issues. We had a guy who played in his 40s who we called "pops" He could get after you in the games. When I was kid remember Blanda. Tough as nails.
I think he was the Greatest NFL/AFL QB of all time! He could do it all! John Madden loved him! And I believe John had great respect for George Blanda! And his days playing for Papa Halas, and that's why when John Madden was interviewed on his bus and asked if there was another team he would like to Coach? he said The Chicago Bears! I remember one game when Lamonica just didn't have it one game! And Madden call a timeout and put in the Old Man George Blanda, he threw for a Touchdown, kicked the extra point and later kicked the Winning field goal! The 60's had some great football talents back then and The Old Man Blanda was a Great One! They might be better athletes today? But better football players? OH HELL NO.....!
I remember George Blanda and at the time ( With the Raiders ), I remember thinking, " This guy was playing pro ball before some of his teammates were born".
No way! Wow. I never knew he kicked a ,... did read it right? 52 yds? wow. I knew his career to an extent but I never thought he was capable of that kind of kick. Truly outstanding! If I recall he came off the bench to go in when stabler got hurt a couple of times there in his last years and did well.
What a great memory! My dad and grandpa were there. They came home so stoked. Like they just witnessed a miracle! Bill King could call a game back then. He made you feel like you were there. Remember everyone the with their transistor radios watching the game and listening to Kings play by play. Great times! Take me back!
Grew up a Browns fan, watching Jim Brown drag the other team down the field at Municipal Stadium. But moved to California in '66 and was glad to hear Blanda, who I had seen on TV performing some last minute heroics in Houston, was coming to the Raiders. Been a fan ever since.
You stated that Blanda was inducted into the pro football Hall of Fame in 1981 just two years before his passing. But he didn't pass in 1983, he passed in 2010 at the age of 83. . . . p.s. That was 40 yrars after that magical 1970 season when after winning five straight games in the last seconds lengendary Oakland Raiders announcer Bill King declared that George Blanda has just been elected "King of the World!"
When I was a kid George was bringing me an NFL football he was going to sign but he said he wanted to have some of the team also sign it. In mean time he made the HOF so he said I couldn't have the ball because now his autograph is worth money...real nice guy.
Please note that the passing game was totally different back then. Throwing the ball was almost a desperation move, resulting in either long gains, incompletes, or interceptions. No one did the dink-and-dunk stuff of today's game--it would have resulted in crushed QBs and no gains. In his time, Blanda was never really the best. But when you take longevity into account, his place in the Hall of Fame is quite deserved. I'm glad he got to experience his induction.
It was man to man, bump and run all the way down the field back then. A 50-55% completion % was considered elite status back then. Stabler was connecting 60% of the time under the old rules. That would be equivalent to hitting 80 to 85% in todays flagfest of passing. Terry Bradshaw couldn't break 50% back then most seasons. Todays football is pass happy offensive friendly. No comparison to old school.
I remember November 8,1970 when Blanda kicked a game winning 52 yard field goal and it was all the big news on NFL TODAY until the news came in that New Orleans Saints Tom Dempsey kicked his record breaking 63 yard field goal to beat the Detroit Lions on the last play of the game. All of the sudden, George Blanda was back page news on that broadcast...
I was in elementary school when he was with the Raiders ! TV guide used to show the rosters of teams playing on NBC that week, curt Howdy was announcer At the time.
From the position he prepared at the golf course, Routh apparently planned to kill Secret Service agents as well, which should result in more attempted murder charges. --Bob bailey in Maine
U t did it to me again I for got if I go else where to check a fact I need to open a new window or ut will trash my any work had done. So kids u get to read this rather then one about Fran T
He was inducted into the hall of fame in 1981, not too long after retiring. It was a very different game when he played, with very different rules. Players back then didn't get paid huge money. They had to work regular jobs if they wanted to eat. There was no constant off season training like today. Obviously the voters thought his career was worthy of the HOF. Now wipe the snot off your nose and go outside and touch some grass.
Kevin read the other comments about the rules back then. It wasnt a flagfest dont touch me after 5 yards joke her comes the PI flag like todays game. Dudes were getting mugged 40 yards down the field and it was legal. Do some research.
![[Full] 4 ต่อ 4 Celebrity EP.920 | 3 พ.ย. 67 | one31](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/KwiW2M_kAg4/mqdefault.jpg)
George Blanda is still playing football somewhere.
Yep
Exactly 💯
No, he dead.
lDon’t let those gray hairs fool you. They are full of knowledge.
Legends live forever he's got to be coming off the pine and hitting at least a 50 yard game winner every now and again 🤔💯👍🇺🇲
Loved watching him when I was a kid. He was a big reason I became a Raider fan.
Same here. That run of 5 straight comeback wins off the bench was a rally cry for anyone in their 40's back then. He was a real class act
@@jimmurphy834 A REDSKINS FAN and watched the Raiders on Sunday afternoon.
Blanda was a phenomenon and still is.
Yep! I was a Raiders fan because of George Blanda. I also loved Daryl Lamonica when he threw those epic bombs.
George Blanda what a great athlete he was one of the
greats
Imagine if George Blanda played for Vince Lombardi.
George Blanda is still my favorite player.. Everytime he came on the field in the 70’s I got goose bumps.. George just kept going.. He kicked field goals and still threw many touchdowns as a qb after the age of 40.. nobody can ever equal m in inspiration.. I loved that mam and played till he was 48 years old.. no one can equal him ever.. yay George..
Imagine an All-Fogie team consisting of George Blanda, Minnie Minoso and Gordie Howe.
He the reason I became a long time Raider fan, just turn 80 and still love the Raiders
George Blanda was quite a player. I remember him coming in and leading the Raiders in SBll when Daryl Lamonica went down with an injury.
George blanda is definitely a player you'll be lucky to see once in a lifetime athlete, his longevity is endless he's timeless.
Just think. George had a career that long and back in the day when Football was really rough. He was tougher than woodpecker lips. Today we got players that can't make it thru pre season games.
Yup, played pro football in 4 different decades. Amazing!
Although I was a Washington Redskins fan and in particular a Sonny Sonny Jurgenson fan, I also thought highly of George Blanda, especially because of his age. I believed back then that we were going to see the first 50 year man playing football but George Blanda retired at age 48 still making him the oldest player in the league. Very impressive.
Papaw was a huge Kentucky football fan in the 40s and 50s - it had been a long time since i became choked up thinking about Kenny Redding - he loved George Blanda and so do i -
I remember watching Blanda's streak of victory's as a kid, after every miracle win that Monday the major news networks would devote time to show how Blanda kept pulling out last minute victories, it was like watching a grandfather play pro football and winning those games against much younger men.
John Wayne huh
Age is just a number!
I loved George Blanda!
Awesome player
The definition of a pro!!! One of my all time favorite players. I loved watching him during those 5 or 6 games where he came in to pull out the victory. I never missed a Radier game back when he played.
Although the Eagle is in the hall of fame as a Chicago Bear, he will always be a silver and black legend forever.
In the fourth quarter when the Oakland fans chanted “Blanda, Blanda, Blanda’ and he would come in and win.
The football poses back then were hilarious
I remember watching Blanda in thr 60s. He was great.
Thumb's down for the Collin Allred commercial at the beginging.
What a legend ❤️❤️❤️
God I Loved him ! what a guy what a Raider , the Best of the Best!
I met him right after he retired for good. He was doing motivational speaking. I got his autograph and some words of encouragement for a young teenage boy regarding football and sports in general.
Work hard, never let someone tell you your not good enough, always give your best effort, be a good sport whether you win or lose. My brother and I really looked up to this athlete as kids. We were huge Raiders fans back then.
I remember Blanda as a kicker when I was a kid in the early 1970s. He could never be a kicker in this era, but he was fully capable in that era -- and he could play backup QB, too.
Forever young . . . give em hell, George. All through space and time.
This what we called a Pro Football player .This man was one of them hands down at the top for sure.
Oakland Raiders Forever
In my eyes he's the greatest player to ever play in the NFL
Blanada was before my time, but i had his 1976 Record Breaker football card. His 1970 season was crazy, clutch as hell.
Good video for a drinking game...take a shot every time the narrator says "however"
He was drafted by the Chicago Bears. Hurt his knee,retired,then came back when the AFL started.
I watched him. My Dad and I cheered him every weekend
Amazing quarterback
Magnific AND extrodinary
As a young Raider fan in the late 60' George Blanda was simply known as the "Miracle Man"
You always knew when they pulled Blanda off the bench that there was a good chance the raiders would win this game
A true athlete & gentleman!
Yeah George is playing football in heaven
THE A.F.L. DID NOT GO DEFUNCT! IT MERGED!
I am pleased to have lived in Oakland during all his years as a Raider. So many times he brought us back from certain defeat. He is Oakland Raider gold. George Blanda will never be forgotten
I watched George Blanca from the time he was on the Bears all the was through the years with the Raiders. He was always ready and always competitive. George always seemed to come into a game when all seamed lost . . . and pull off some of the greatest comebacks.
I was born in 1970 so I did not get to know him watching the game, thanks a ton for this dive into a serious multi level player.
When football was football 🏈
RIP Mr Blanda 💜🙏🏼
I very much enjoyed
I watched him when I was a kid.
Iam from Brooklyn,NY I was a BIG RAIDER FAN.
How a man could play QB for so long in that era (and a little linebacker, too) is simply incredible. No protection from the refs or rules committee AT ALL. A few men, like Blanda and Otto and Bruce Matthews, are pretty much indestructible and who knows why.
I want to phrase this very carefully because like much of America in the early 1970s, I was thrilled with the phenomenon of George Blanda coming off the bench and winning games with his passing and kicking. BUT, I ran into George at the LaGrange YMCA when I was shortly out of high school in the late 1960s, while waiting to be inducted into the Army. At the Y one night, George, who lived near me in nearby LaGrange Park (He lived east of La Grange Road and my parents' home was west of this major highway, aka U.S. Route 45), showed up to play pickup basketball in the Y's full court gym. We were all thrilled but kept cool and treated him just like one of the guys. What makes this night so long ago so memorable is that George got into an argument with another player (who obviously didn't give a shit that he was squabbling with a national hero). And what amazed all of us was that George was sort of a poor sport. I have no memory of who fouled whom, who might have traveled or carried the ball or been guilty of hacking, but what I did see was this national football hero squawking and carping like a punk with a nobody, in a YMCA half-court pickup game. Wouldn't you think he would have simply been above the fray? That he would have calmly said something to diffuse the situation and maintained his prestige as one of the most admired men in America? Well, he did not. I'll never forget that moment. It was the only time I ever ran into George, so to speak, even though we lived only two miles away in a sedate, affluent western suburb of Chicago.
Phenonmical. Phinomical phynonmical he NEVER quit the thrugh the truth he assigned no assisted other's us other US..thx sir blandausa
In Heaven he is the only Angel wearing a football Jersey...
My memories of George Blanda was always late game touchdowns thrown to Warren Wells.
I have George Blanda’s football cards from back then, and still smell like gum. lol..
watched as a kid kicking goals - wore a 16 jersey at football practice little league
Another great player and QB from western PA. Can you name them all. I challange you. Also good photo of George and Fred Bilitnicoff from Erie Pa. Lots and lots of great players from Pennsylvania.
"George Blanda has just been elected King of the World!"
--The late, great Bill King, 1970
I was a 19 year old who started my military time. We were only allowed to play flag football, because we were government issues.
We had a guy who played in his 40s who we called "pops"
He could get after you in the games.
When I was kid remember Blanda.
Tough as nails.
I think he was the Greatest NFL/AFL QB of all time! He could do it all! John Madden loved him! And I believe John had great respect for George Blanda! And his days playing for Papa Halas, and that's why when John Madden was interviewed on his bus and asked if there was another team he would like to Coach? he said The Chicago Bears! I remember one game when Lamonica just didn't have it one game! And Madden call a timeout and put in the Old Man George Blanda, he threw for a Touchdown, kicked the extra point and later kicked the Winning field goal! The 60's had some great football talents back then and The Old Man Blanda was a Great One! They might be better athletes today? But better football players? OH HELL NO.....!
I remember George Blanda and at the time ( With the Raiders ), I remember thinking, " This guy was playing pro ball before some of his teammates were born".
I was there the day he kicked his 52 yarder with Oakland!
No way! Wow. I never knew he kicked a ,... did read it right? 52 yds? wow. I knew his career to an extent but I never thought he was capable of that kind of kick. Truly outstanding! If I recall he came off the bench to go in when stabler got hurt a couple of times there in his last years and did well.
What a great memory! My dad and grandpa were there. They came home so stoked. Like they just witnessed a miracle! Bill King could call a game back then. He made you feel like you were there. Remember everyone the with their transistor radios watching the game and listening to Kings play by play. Great times! Take me back!
Grew up a Browns fan, watching Jim Brown drag the other team down the field at Municipal Stadium. But moved to California in '66 and was glad to hear Blanda, who I had seen on TV performing some last minute heroics in Houston, was coming to the Raiders. Been a fan ever since.
You stated that Blanda was inducted into the pro football Hall of Fame in 1981 just two years before his passing. But he didn't pass in 1983, he passed in 2010 at the age of 83. . . . p.s. That was 40 yrars after that magical 1970 season when after winning five straight games in the last seconds lengendary Oakland Raiders announcer Bill King declared that George Blanda has just been elected "King of the World!"
Lived in Alameda until he passed
When I was a kid George was bringing me an NFL football he was going to sign but he said he wanted to have some of the team also sign it. In mean time he made the HOF so he said I couldn't have the ball because now his autograph is worth money...real nice guy.
150 percent baller!
🐐
Yeah I’ve been saying this for years that George Blanda was the best Quarterback, field goal kicker , whatever they needed he stepped in!
He's lucky Keith Richards didn't decide to play in the NFL and break his age records.
I remember when Lamonica wasn't playing well, they would trot out the old man Blanda.
Please note that the passing game was totally different back then. Throwing the ball was almost a desperation move, resulting in either long gains, incompletes, or interceptions. No one did the dink-and-dunk stuff of today's game--it would have resulted in crushed QBs and no gains.
In his time, Blanda was never really the best. But when you take longevity into account, his place in the Hall of Fame is quite deserved. I'm glad he got to experience his induction.
It was man to man, bump and run all the way down the field back then. A 50-55% completion % was considered elite status back then. Stabler was connecting 60% of the time under the old rules. That would be equivalent to hitting 80 to 85% in todays flagfest of passing. Terry Bradshaw couldn't break 50% back then most seasons. Todays football is pass happy offensive friendly. No comparison to old school.
Good
I remember November 8,1970 when Blanda kicked a game winning 52 yard field goal and it was all the big news on NFL TODAY until the news came in that New Orleans Saints Tom Dempsey kicked his record breaking 63 yard field goal to beat the Detroit Lions on the last play of the game. All of the sudden, George Blanda was back page news on that broadcast...
😮tom half foot who?
Wasn't that great!
Not in Raider land. He was a living legend.
I'm a Steelers fan and when the old man comes on the field all the Steelers would pray he was the old man of football 🏈
The iron man of pro football.
I agree 😊 perhaps our YOUR USA 😊 communication
Legen................................dary!!
Fact, most will die because of old age. Age is just not a number. It's silly to say that because a few go on longer than the majority.
Talking about tom brady this man played football when u could actually tee off on a quarterback
Let us remember he is enshrined in the Hall of Fame as a Chicago Bear, the team he spent 9 seasons with.
I was in elementary school when he was with the Raiders ! TV guide used to show the rosters of teams playing on NBC that week, curt Howdy was announcer
At the time.
From the position he prepared at the golf course, Routh apparently planned to kill Secret Service agents as well, which should result in more attempted murder charges. --Bob bailey in Maine
The AFL was not and is not defunct. It was merged with that other league. ALL of its teams continue to exist and prosper.
That prosper part is not accurate. Many AFL teams are struggling as of late but i get what you're trying to say.
Oilers name bad today.
The soy boys didnt know this.
U t did it to me again I for got if I go else where to check a fact I need to open a new window or ut will trash my any work had done. So kids u get to read this rather then one about Fran T
The guy was a terrible QB . I thought he was way better . He wasn't even a good kicker . How did this bum stay around ?
He was inducted into the hall of fame in 1981, not too long after retiring. It was a very different game when he played, with very different rules. Players back then didn't get paid huge money. They had to work regular jobs if they wanted to eat. There was no constant off season training like today. Obviously the voters thought his career was worthy of the HOF. Now wipe the snot off your nose and go outside and touch some grass.
Kevin Move Out Of Your Parents Basement And Get A Job
Kevin read the other comments about the rules back then. It wasnt a flagfest dont touch me after 5 yards joke her comes the PI flag like todays game. Dudes were getting mugged 40 yards down the field and it was legal.
Do some research.
Kevin, you are a terrible blogger, how do you stay around all the weeks?
Blanda was such a bad ass he's the kinda guy that could eat and do cocaine 😂