How Many Years Did George Blanda Play In The NFL?

George Blanda played 26 seasons in the NFL, from 1949 to 1975, with the Chicago Bears, Baltimore Colts, Houston Oilers, and Oakland Raiders.

George Blanda’s Football Career

George Blanda played football professionally for 26 years–10 more than any other player in NFL history. Blanda was an All-Star quarterback for the Houston Oilers in the 1960s, then switched to kicker in his late 30s and played until he was 48. Let’s take a look at Blanda’s football career in more detail.

George Blanda’s college football career

George Blanda’s college football career began in 1945. He played for the University of Kentucky Wildcats. In his freshman year, he was named the Southeastern Conference’s (SEC) Most Valuable Player (MVP). He led the Wildcats to an undefeated season and a national championship. After his sophomore year, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served during World War II. When he returned from military service, he resumed his football career at Kentucky. He played for the Wildcats for three more seasons and was named SEC MVP again in 1948. He graduated from Kentucky in 1949 with a degree in physical education.

George Blanda’s professional football career

George Blanda’s professional football career spanned 26 years, from 1949 to 1975, with 10 years spent in the National Football League (NFL) and 16 in the American Football League (AFL). In that time, he established himself as one of the most prolific players in both leagues.

Blanda’s career began in 1949 with the Chicago Bears of the NFL. He played quarterback and kicker for them for four seasons, before being traded to the Baltimore Colts in 1953. He spent one season with the Colts, before being drafted by the Houston Texans of the AFL in their inaugural season.

Blanda played quarterback and kicker for the Texans/Oilers for 10 seasons, until they joined the NFL as part of the AFL-NFL merger in 1970. At that time, he was one of only two players (the other being Jim Marshall) to have played in both leagues. He then spent his final six seasons with the Oakland Raiders, retiring at age 48 after 26 years in professional football.

In his time with the Bears, Colts, Texans and Raiders, Blanda accrued many accomplishments: he was named to eight Pro Bowls; he was a four-time All-Pro; he was named AFL Player of the Year twice; and he holds several league records, including most games played (341), most points scored (2,002), and most touchdown passes thrown (236). He was inducted into both the College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981.

George Blanda’s Post-Football Career

George Blanda played 26 seasons in the NFL, from 1949 to 1975. He played for the Chicago Bears, Baltimore Colts, Houston Oilers, and Oakland Raiders. After his football career, Blanda was an assistant coach for the Oakland Raiders and the Chicago Bears. He was also a color commentator for ABC’s Monday Night Football.

George Blanda’s coaching career

Currently, George Blanda is a head coach for the Riverdale Baptist Crusaders. The Crusaders are a football team with a rich tradition of success. Blanda has been with the team for six years and has compiled a record of 63-13. In his first season, the team went undefeated and won the state championship. The following year, they made it to the semi-finals before losing to eventual state champions DeMatha Catholic High School. In his third season, the team once again made it to the state championship game, this time defeating Quince Orchard High School to win the title. They would go on to win two more state championships in his fourth and fifth seasons. In his sixth and final season, the team made it to the state semi-finals before losing to Good Counsel High School.

George Blanda’s broadcasting career

George Blanda’s broadcasting career began in 1960 while he was still playing football. He served as a color analyst for CBS television’s coverage of the American Football League. In 1966, he was hired by ABC to be a commentator on Monday Night Football. He continued in that role until 1972.

After retiring from football, Blanda became a regular on The NFL Today, a pregame show for CBS. He also did commentary for ABC’s Wide World of Sports and Monday Night Baseball. In 1987, he joined CNN to provide analysis of NFL games. He continued to work in broadcasting until his death in 2010.

George Blanda’s Legacy

George Blanda played professionally for 26 seasons, the last 10 years as a placekicker. George Blanda was the oldest player in NFL history, as well as being one of only two players to play in four different decades. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981.

George Blanda’s impact on the game of football

George Blanda’s impact on the game of football is immeasurable. He played 26 seasons in the NFL, touchdown passes, and is the oldest player to ever play in an NFL game. He was an innovator, a tough competitor, and a true leader on and off the field. His legacy will live on forever in the hearts of those who loved him and in the game of football itself.

George Blanda’s impact on the NFL

George Blanda’s impact on the NFL is still felt today, even though he retired from playing in 1976. He was the first true “superstar” of professional football, and his influence can be seen in the way the game is played today.

Blanda was a quarterback and placekicker, and he was one of the most versatile players in NFL history. He played for 26 seasons, longer than any other player in league history. He holds the record for most points scored in a career (2,002), and he is also the oldest player to ever play in an NFL game (48 years, 109 days).

Blanda’s impact on the game went beyond his individual accomplishments. He helped usher in a new era of professional football, one that emphasized speed and athleticism over size and strength. Before Blanda, most quarterbacks were large, slow-moving players who mostly stayed in the pocket and relied on their offensive linemen to protect them. Blanda changed that by using his speed and quickness to run around or even through defenders. This made him much more difficult to defend against, and it opened up the passing game for other players as well.

Blanda’s style of play paved the way for future quarterbacks like Fran Tarkenton, Roger Staubach, Steve Young, and many others. These quarterbacks were able to use their athleticism to make plays that had never been seen before. They also helped make football into the high-scoring affair that it is today. In fact, it’s not hyperbole to say that George Blanda invented modern football as we know it.