RIP "The Old Grand Man"

[reno]

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Pro Football Hall of Famer George Blanda has died, according to multiple reports.

 

Details of his death weren't immediately available, but Raiders official John Herrera confirmed with the San Jose Mercury News of Blanda's passing Monday.

 

The Raiders released this statement mourning Blanda's passing: "We are deeply saddened by the passing of the great George Blanda. George was a brave Raider and a close personal friend of Raiders owner Al Davis."

 

Blanda, who was 83, was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981. He played 26 seasons of professional football with the Chicago Bears, Houston Oilers and Oakland Raiders.

 

After playing for Bear Bryant at the University of Kentucky, the Pennsylvania-born Blanda spent 10 seasons with George Halas and the Chicago Bears, helping lead them to the NFL title game in 1956.

 

He won AFL titles with the Oilers in 1960 and 1961.

 

He spent seven seasons with the Oilers and nine with the Raiders before retiring in 1976 at the age of 48.

 

Upon his retirement in 1976, the quarterback/place-kicker was the NFL's all-time leader scorer.

 

 

Read more: http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/feed/2010-09/george-blanda-dies/story/nfl-hall-of-famer-george-blanda-dies#ixzz10lOSwvPn

 

 

 

 

Blanda finished his 26 Professional Football seasons having completed 1,911 of 4,007 pass attempts for 26,920 yards and 236 touchdowns. Blanda also held the NFL record for most interceptions thrown with 277, until Brett Favre broke it on October 14, 2007. He rushed for 344 yards and 9 touchdowns on the ground, kicked 335 of 641 field goals, and 943 of 959 extra points, giving him 2,002 total points. Additional stats include 1 interception, 2 kickoff returns for 19 yards, 22 punts for 809 yards, and 23 fumble recoveries.

 

 

Blanda holds the following Professional Football records:

 

* Passing TD's in a game: 7 (Tied with 4 others) November 19, 1961 vs. New York Titans[1]

* Most seasons played: 26 (1949-58, 1960-75)

* Most seasons scoring a point: 26

* One of two players to play in 4 different decades: (40s, 50s, 60s, 70s) - Jeff Feagles being the other

* Most PATs made (943) and attempted (959)

* Most interceptions thrown, single season: 42 (1962)

* Held record of most pass attempts in a single game: 68 (37 completions, vs. New York Titans on 11/1/1961) until 1994 when Drew Bledsoe had 70

* Oldest person to play in an NFL game:48 years 109 days

* First player ever to score over 2,000 points

* Oldest quarterback to start a title game

* 3rd Fewest receiving yards in a career: -16

* Most total points accounted for (including TD passes) in a career: 3,418 (not an official stat)

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Blanda