November 24, 2014

Highlighted Year: Dan Abramowicz, 1969

Wide Receiver, New Orleans Saints



Age: 24
3rd season in pro football & with Saints
College: Xavier (OH)
Height: 6’1”   Weight: 195

Prelude:
Abramowicz caught 120 passes for 1685 yards and 14 touchdowns in college but was considered too slow by pro scouts and the expansion Saints took him in the 17th round of the 1967 NFL draft. He moved into the starting lineup midway through his rookie season and caught 50 passes for 721 yards (14.4 avg.) and six TDs. What Abramowicz lacked in speed he made up for with reliability and a knack for getting open. He followed up in 1968 with 54 receptions for 890 yards (16.5 avg.) and seven touchdowns.

1969 Season Summary
Appeared in all 14 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Pass Receiving
Receptions – 73 [1] 
Most receptions, game – 9 (for 115 yds.) vs. Baltimore 10/19, (for 105 yds.) at Atlanta 12/7
Yards – 1015 [3]
Most yards, game – 129 (on 8 catches) vs. Pittsburgh 12/21
Average gain – 13.9
TDs – 7 [11, tied with Wendell Tucker, Joe Morrison & Dave Williams]
100-yard receiving games – 4

Rushing
Attempts – 3
Yards – 61
Average gain – 20.3
TDs – 0

Scoring
TDs – 7
Points – 42

Awards & Honors:
1st team All-NFL: AP, NEA
2nd team All-NFL: NY Daily News, Sporting News

Saints went 5-9 to finish third in the Capitol Division of the NFL Eastern Conference.

Aftermath:
Abramowicz followed up with 55 catches for 906 yards (16.5 avg.) and five touchdowns in 1970. While still a well-regarded possession receiver, his numbers dropped in 1971 and ’72 and he was traded to San Francisco during the 1973 season, where he caught 35 passes for 442 yards (12.6 avg.). Following one more year with the 49ers, he was briefly with the Buffalo Bills, catching no passes in 1975, his final NFL season. Along the way, he caught at least one pass in 105 consecutive games, which was the NFL record at the time. Overall, Abramowicz had 369 catches for 5686 yards (15.4 avg.) and 39 touchdowns. He was one of the first two players named to the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame in 1988 (along with Archie Manning).

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose: Total Yards
Defense: Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff Returns: Average
Punt Returns: Average
Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970