October 25
BLANDA DAY
It all started on this, a fall football day in 1970.
George Blanda, who had played pro football for the Chicago Bears for ten years, retired and then returned to the game as starting quarterback for the Houston Oilers. He led the Oilers to two AFC championships, earning the title of AFC Player of the Year in 1961. By 1966 he was no longer the starter for the team, but was the team’s kicker, leading the league with 116 points. Blanda was then traded to the Oakland Raiders, primarily as a kicker.
That’s when George Blanda became a legend in his own time. As we said, it happened on this day in 1970. That’s when Blanda, 43 years old, replaced Daryle Lamonica, the Raiders injured quarterback. Blanda tossed three touchdown passes (19, 43 and 44 yards), taking the Raiders to an easy victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers (31-14). And that was only the beginning.
The following week, George Blanda kicked a field goal 48 yards to tie the Raiders with Kansas City -- with only three seconds left to play. The next week, Blanda replaced Lamonica in the last quarter. Oakland was down by one touchdown. With one minute and fourteen seconds remaining, Blanda threw a 14-yard touchdown, tied the game, then kicked a 52-yard field goal in the last three seconds.
Another week, another game and another Blanda heroic ending -- with only four minutes left to play. Denver was in the lead over Oakland by two points. Blanda drove for 80 yards, then threw a touchdown pass to Fred Biletnikoff. Oakland won. His heroics continued the following week. With four seconds remaining, the game tied at 17, Blanda kicked a 16-yard field goal and San Diego went home the loser. Oakland won the division championship and Blanda became AFC Player of the Year and AP male athlete of the year.
George Blanda passed away at the age of 83 on September 27, 2010. His sensational story is now enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Those Were the Days, the Today in History service from 440 International
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