Blanda played 26 seasons for the Chicago Bears, Houston Oilers and Oakland Raiders before retiring in 1976 at age 48. Also, read The Plain Dealer game story from Nov. 8, 1970, when Blanda led Oakland to a comeback win over the Browns.
George Blanda at a Houston Oilers practice in 1961. He was named the American Football League Player of the Year that season.Alameda, Calif. (Associated Press) – The Oakland Raiders say Hall of Fame quarterback George Blanda has died. He was 83.
A Raiders' spokesman confirmed the death Monday. The team is expected to release a statement later Monday.
Blanda spent 26 seasons in the NFL as a quarterback and kicker while playing for three different teams. He spent 10 seasons with Chicago, seven with the Houston Oilers and nine with the Raiders before retiring in 1976 at the age of 48.
Blanda was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Aug. 1, 1981.
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Blanda, then 43, led the Raiders to several improbable comeback wins during the 1970 season with his place-kicking and often coming off the bench to play quarterback as starter Daryl Lamonica struggled with injuries.
One of Oakland's dramatic wins was against the Browns, who were in their first season in the American Football Conference as part of the merger between the National Football League and the American Football League.
Plain Dealer game stories on every regular season and playoff game in Browns history can be found at the Browns History Database on The Plain Dealer's cleveland.com website.
The Plain Dealer's renown Browns beat writer, the late Chuck Heaton, was in Oakland on Nov. 8, 1970, and reported on the Browns-Raiders game:
Oakland Raiders 23, Browns 20
At Oakland
November 08, 1970
Plain Dealer Reporter
Oakland, Calif. -"It seems that the Lord's been with us the last few weeks."
George Blanda, aging hero of the Oakland Raiders' 23-20 last-second comeback victory over the Browns, was the speaker but many of the Cleveland contingent must have been in complete agreement yesterday.
The Browns seemed to have a safe lead-or at least be assured of a tie-when Don Cockroft kicked his 32-yard field goal with only 4:24 left in the game. That gave Blanton Collier's team a seven-point bulge.
IT ALSO APPEARED that it was to Cleveland's advantage to have Daryle Lamonica out of the game. Felled by a shoulder injury, he was replaced by the 43-year old Blanda at quarterback.
Even after the veteran took the Raiders 69 yards to a touchdown and kicked the extra point, the deadlock appeared certain. Oakland didn't get the ball back until only 43 seconds remained.
That was time enough for six plays by the wily old-timer, however. Then he calmly booted the 52-yard field goal-longest of his 21 years in the pros-with seven seconds left.
There were three seconds remaining as the Raiders' field goal unit raced triumpha
ntly off the field. The clock ran out as Bob Matheson returned the Oakland kickoff and the Raiders had their 16th straight regular season home victory.
NOW THE BROWNS find themselves in a tie with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Central Division of the American Football Conference. And next Sunday, Cleveland must visit Cincinnati to meet what are sure to be Paul Brown's hopped-up Bengals.
The Browns have four victories and four defeats for the season with six games left. Not since 1956-when the club had the only losing campaign in its history-have the Browns been in this shape at this point in the season.
The Raiders, who lead the Western Division of the AFC with a 4-2-2 record, started out as though this was to be a romp on a perfect afternoon before 54,463 fans.
They led 3-0 at the end of the first quarter and hiked that bulge to 13-0 midway through the second period. Blanda kicked field goals of 43 and nine yards and Charlie Smith scored on a 27-yard pass play with Lamonica on the throwing end.
THE BROWNS couldn't even get a first down up to this point. And the defense was saving his heroics.
Cleveland took advantage of the miss to get a touchdown. A pass to Kelly was good for one first down and then Bo Scott scooted down the sideline for 63 yards and six points.
So it was 17-13 in the Browns' favor at the end of three periods after the defense shut out the Raiders in that third session.
Another Cleveland fourth-quarter threat was stopped when Nemiah Wilson intercepted a pass by Nelsen in the end zone.
THE BROWNS got another chance, however, when Bob Matheson stepped in front of a Blanda pass and returned 11 yards to the Oakland 26. They couldn't get the touchdown but Cockroft was successful with his field goal try.
So the Browns were on top, 20-13, with only 4:11 left when Blanda, who had replaced Lamonica near the start of the quarter, began to get warmed up.
After the Raiders had scored the tying points, the Browns chose to try to work into field goal range rather than settle for a deadlock. They started from their 18-yard line and moved to a pair of first downs.
IT WAS FIRST and 10 on the Cleveland 42 when Nelsen, who had his problems much of the game, threw to Milt Morin. Defensive back Kent McCloughan grabbed the wild throw and the Raiders were in business at the Cleveland 49 with those 34 seconds left.
A Blanda pass to Heweritt Dixon was incomplete. Then there was a pass interference call against Sumner that put the ball on the Browns' 39.
Jack Gregory, however, threw Blanda for a 10-yard loss and a pass by the quarterback was incomplete at the Cleveland 40. Then the Raiders were tossed back another five yards when an illegal procedure penalty was assessed against them.
THAT PUT THE ball on the Oakland 46 but gave the Raiders another down. A pass from Blanda to Dixon picked up nine yards and the receiver got outside to stop the clock.
Then came the 52-yard field goal, which meant deep gloom for the Browns and a great joy for the Raiders.
Nelsen completed only nine of 28 passes for 110 yards with Kelly catching five of those. Lamonica went to the bench after hitting on seven of 20 and Blanda finished his great day with seven of 12 for 102 yards and had, of course, those nine points on field goals.
Bo Scott led the Cleveland ground game with 101 yards and a 7.2 average but most of that came on the one big touchdown jaunt of 63 yards. Charley Smith topped the Raiders with 63 yards.
There were three interceptions of Nelsen's passes.