Age: 34 (Sept. 17)
12th season in pro football, 2nd in AFL & with Oilers
College: Kentucky
Height: 6’2” Weight: 210
Prelude:
Blanda was chosen by the Chicago Bears in the 12th round of the 1949 NFL draft and, with a very brief hiatus in Baltimore, played for them for ten years. He led the league in passing attempts (362) and completions (169) in 1953, but otherwise was forced to share the quarterback job while handling the placekicking. After two seasons (1957 & ’58) in which he saw scant action at quarterback, he retired. The creation of the new AFL in 1960 pulled Blanda out of retirement, and he led the Oilers to the first league title while throwing for 2413 yards and 24 touchdowns.
1961 Season Summary
Appeared in all 14 games & started 12
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Passing
Attempts – 362 [4]
Most attempts, game – 36 at Dallas Texans 10/1
Completions – 187 [3]
Most completions, game – 20 vs. NY Titans 11/19, vs. San Diego 12/3
Yards – 3330 [1]
Most yards, game – 464 at Buffalo 10/29
Completion percentage – 51.7 [3]
Yards per attempt – 9.2 [1]
TD passes – 36 [1]
Most TD passes, game – 7 vs. NY Titans 11/19
Interceptions – 22 [3, tied with Jack Kemp & George Herring]
Most interceptions, game – 4 at San Diego 9/24, at Buffalo 10/29
Passer rating – 91.3 [1]
400-yard passing games – 2
300-yard passing games – 4
200-yard passing games – 10
Rushing
Attempts – 7
Most attempts, game - 3 (for -4 yds.) at Dallas Texans 10/1
Yards – 12
Most yards, game – 7 yards (on 1 carry) vs. San Diego 12/3
Yards per attempt – 1.7
TDs – 0
Kicking
Field goals – 16 [2]
Most field goals, game - 2 on 5 occasions
Field goal attempts – 26 [3, tied with George Fleming]
Most field goal attempts, game – 5 vs. Buffalo 10/8
Field goal percentage – 61.5 [1]
PATs – 64 [1]
PAT attempts – 65 [1]
Longest field goal – 55 yards vs. San Diego 12/3
Points
Field goals – 16
PATs - 64
Points – 112 [2]
Postseason: 1 G (AFL Championship at San Diego)
Pass attempts – 40
Pass completions – 18
Passing yards – 160
TD passes – 1
Interceptions – 5
Rushing attempts – 2
Rushing yards – -4
Average gain rushing – -2.0
Rushing TDs – 0
Field goals – 1
Field goal attempts – 1
PATs – 1
PAT attempts – 1
Longest field goal – 46 yards
Awards & Honors:
AFL Player of the Year: AP, UPI, Sporting News
1st team All-AFL: League, AP, UPI, NY Daily News, Sporting News
AFL All-Star Game
Oilers went 10-3-1 to win the AFL Eastern Division. After starting off slowly at 1-3-1 (during which time Blanda was briefly benched in favor of backup Jacky Lee), Head Coach Lou Rymkus was replaced by Wally Lemm and the team won nine straight to close out the regular season. Set records for points scored (513) and touchdowns (66). Defeated San Diego Chargers for AFL Championship (10-3).
Aftermath:
Blanda was an AFL All-Star after each of the next two seasons and led the Oilers back to the AFL Championship game in ’62 despite being intercepted a record 42 times. He led the league in interceptions thrown for four straight years (1962-65), but also in passing yards in 1963 (3003) and both passes and completions from 1963-65. The team’s record had tailed off badly after ’62, however, and young QB Don Trull was drafted to be Blanda’s replacement. At age 39, Blanda was let go by Houston following the 1966 season and signed with the Oakland Raiders. He proved to be a capable backup quarterback – especially in a remarkable 1970 season when he again received MVP consideration – and placekicker for the Raiders through 1975, at age 48. Blanda retired as the all-time NFL leader in scoring (2002 points) and field goals (335), as well as seasons played (26 – the one that still stands), and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1981.
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MVP Profiles feature players who were named MVP or Player of the Year in the NFL, AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, Maxwell Club – Bert Bell Award, or the league itself).
[Updated 2/15/14]