Highlighted Year: Pete Catan, 1984

Defensive End, Houston Gamblers

Age: 26

4^th season in pro football, 1^st in USFL & with Gamblers

College: Eastern Illinois

Height: 6’2”   Weight: 240

Prelude:

In college, Catan set school records with 47 career sacks, including 21 in a season and six in a single game. He joined the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL in 1981 and spent three seasons with them, compiling 26.5 sacks and six fumble recoveries. His CFL high for sacks was 12.5 in ’82, a season in which he was named a Western All-Star. Catan signed with the Gamblers as a free agent in 1984, although contractual issues caused him to miss the team’s first game.

1984 Season Summary

Appeared in 15 of 18 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Sacks – 16 [2, tied with Sam Clancy]

Most sacks, game – 3 at Oklahoma 3/31

Multi-sack games – 4

Interceptions – 0

Fumble recoveries – 2

Fumble recovery TDs – 0

Scoring

TDs – 1

Points – 6

(TD scored on return of blocked field goal)

Postseason: 1 G (USFL First Round playoff vs. Arizona)

Sacks – 2

Interceptions – 0

TD – 0

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-USFL: League, Sporting News, College & Pro Football Newsweekly

Gamblers went 13-5 to finish first in the USFL Central Division. Lost USFL First Round playoff to Arizona Wranglers (17-16).

Aftermath:

Catan missed time due to injuries in 1985 but still accounted for 11 sacks and received second-team All-USFL recognition. Following the spring league’s demise, he failed to catch on with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL but did return briefly to the CFL with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in ’87. Overall, he accumulated 53.5 sacks in his pro career, 27 of with the Gamblers.

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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