We share Mr Blanda with the Bears (1949, 1950-58), the Colts (1950), and the Oilers (1960-1967). But the final nine years of his career were as a Raider (1967-1975), and that's really all I remember.
Mr Blanda was The Grand Old Man, playing 26 seasons in the NFL until finally retiring at the age of 49. As a quarterback and kicker, he held the all time scoring record at 2,002 points until it was surpassed by Morten Andersen and Gary Anderson. He also held the all time interception record of 277, a dubious distinction he finally relinquished to Brett Favre. He still holds the following NFL records:
- Passing TD's in a game (7, tied with 4 others)
- Most seasons played (26)
- One of two players to play in 4 different decades (Jeff Feagles has also done it)
- Most PATs made (943) and attempted (959)
- Most interceptions thrown in a single season (42)
- Oldest person to play in an NFL game (48 yrs, 109 days)
- First player ever to score 2,000 points
- Oldest QB to start a title game
Mr Blanda was elected to the NFL Hall of Fame in 1981.
The Grand Old Man
George Frederick Blanda, 17 September 1927 - 27 September 2010
