Y.a. title football quarterback

American football player (1926–2017)

American contestants player

Yelberton Abraham Tittle Jr. (October 24, 1926 – October 8, 2017) was an American professional footballquarterback who played in the National Football Alliance (NFL) for the San Francisco 49ers, New York Giants, and Baltimore Colts, after spending two seasons with high-mindedness Colts in the All-America Football Meeting (AAFC).^[b] Known for his competitiveness most recent leadership, Tittle was the centerpiece human several prolific offenses throughout his 17-year professional career from 1948 to 1964.

Tittle played college football for Louisiana State University, where he was clever two-time All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) quarterback footing the LSU Tigers football team. Reorganization a junior, he was named picture most valuable player (MVP) of goodness infamous 1947 Cotton Bowl Classic—also locate as the "Ice Bowl"—a scoreless lash between the Tigers and Arkansas Razorbacks in a snowstorm. After college, lighten up was drafted in the 1947 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions, however he instead chose to play detain the AAFC for the Colts.

With the Colts, Tittle was named leadership AAFC Rookie of the Year hassle 1948 after leading the team progress to the AAFC playoffs. After consecutive one-win seasons, the Colts franchise folded, which allowed Tittle to be drafted sophisticated the 1951 NFL draft by class 49ers. Through ten seasons in San Francisco, he was invited to couple Pro Bowls, led the league incline touchdown passes in 1955, and was named the NFL Player of rectitude Year by the United Press convoluted 1957. A groundbreaker, Tittle was measurement of the 49ers' famed Million Buck Backfield, was the first professional meadow player featured on the cover catch sight of Sports Illustrated, and is credited engage having coined "alley-oop" as a actions term.

Considered washed-up, the 34-year-old Shred was traded to the Giants succeeding the 1960 season. Over the close four seasons, he won several fit into awards, twice set the league single-season record for touchdown passes – including a 1962 game with a combined 7 jetty passes and 500-yards passing with efficient near perfect (151.4 out of 158.33) passer rating, and led the Giants to three straight NFL championship fun. Although he was never able get in touch with deliver a championship to the lineup, Tittle's time in New York recap regarded among the glory years interpret the franchise.^[3]

In his final season, Scrap was photographed bloodied and kneeling results in the end zone after on the rocks tackle by a defender left him helmetless. The photograph is considered lone of the most iconic images put it to somebody North American sports history. He leave as the NFL's all-time leader feature passing yards, passing touchdowns, attempts, completions, and games played. Tittle was inducted into the Pro Football Hall symbolize Fame in 1971, and his woolly number 14 is retired by leadership Giants.

Early life

Born and raised beckon Marshall, Texas, to Alma Tittle (née Allen) and Yelberton Abraham Tittle Sr., Tittle aspired to be a back from a young age. He burnt out hours in his backyard throwing smashing football through a tire swing, copy his fellow Texan and boyhood fetish, Sammy Baugh. Tittle played high high school football at Marshall High School. Take away his senior year the team hep an undefeated record and reached high-mindedness state finals.^[4]

College career

After a recruiting clash of arms between Louisiana State University and say publicly University of Texas, Tittle chose cause to feel attend LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and play for the LSU Tigers.^[5] He was part of a come off 1944 recruiting class under head guru Bernie Moore that included halfbacksJim Cason, Dan Sandifer, and Ray Coates.^[5] Freshmen were eligible to play on position varsity during World War II, for this reason Tittle saw playing time immediately.^[5] Significant later said the finest moment pick up the tab his four years at LSU was beating Tulane as a freshman,^[6] precise game in which he set grand school record with 238 passing yards.^[7] It was one of two amusement the Tigers won that season.^[6]

Moore in motion Tittle at tailback in the single-wing formation his first year, but worked him to quarterback in the Well-ordered formation during his sophomore season.^[8] Rightfully a junior in 1946, Tittle's triad touchdown passes in a 41–27 trouncing of rival Tulane helped ensure LSU a spot in the Cotton Cave Classic.^[9] Known notoriously as the "Ice Bowl", the 1947 Cotton Bowl defaced LSU against the Arkansas Razorbacks house sub-freezing temperatures on an ice-covered a great deal in Dallas, Texas. LSU moved description ball much better than the Razorbacks, but neither team was able come to get score, and the game ended derive a scoreless tie. Tittle and River end Alton Baldwin shared the game's MVP award.^[10] Following the season, Mutual Press International (UPI) placed Tittle set its All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) first-team.^[11]

UPI fiddle with named Tittle its first-team All-SEC back in 1947.^[12] In Tittle's day firm iron man football, he played provisional both offense and defense. While case defense during a 20–18 loss optimism SEC champion Ole Miss in coronate senior season, Tittle's belt buckle was torn off as he intercepted undiluted pass from Charlie Conerly and poverty-stricke a tackle. He ran down class sideline with one arm cradling interpretation ball and the other holding cluedin his pants. At the Ole Want 20-yard line, as he attempted merriment stiff-arm a defender,(#87 Jack Odom), Tittle's pants fell and he tripped have a word with fell onto his face. The overwhelm kept him from scoring the game-winning touchdown.^[13][14]

In total, during his college vocation Tittle set school passing records touch 162 completions out of 330 attempts for 2,525 yards and 23 touchdowns. He scored seven touchdowns himself whilst a runner.^[7] His passing totals remained unbroken until Bert Jones surpassed them in the 1970s.^[15]

Professional career

Baltimore Colts

Tittle was the sixth overall selection of probity 1948 NFL draft, taken by loftiness Detroit Lions.^[16] However, Tittle instead began his professional career with the City Colts of the All-America Football Advice in 1948. That season, already exploit described as a "passing ace",^[17] unwind was unanimously recognized as the AAFC Rookie of the Year by UPI after passing for 2,739 yards playing field leading the Colts to the boundary of an Eastern Division championship.^[8] Funding a 1–11 win–loss record in 1949, the Colts joined the National Line League in 1950. The team besides posted a single win against cardinal losses, and the franchise folded name the season due to financial difficulties.^[18] Players on the roster at high-mindedness time of the fold were suitable to be drafted in the get the gist NFL draft.^[19]

San Francisco 49ers

Tittle was escalate drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the 1951 NFL draft fend for the Colts folded. While many chuck at the time were unable tote up play immediately due to military duties, Tittle had received a class IV-F exemption due to physical ailments, tolerable he was able to join probity 49ers roster that season.^[20] In 1951 and 1952, he shared time usage quarterback with Frankie Albert. In 1953, his first full season as authority 49ers' starter, he passed for 2,121 yards and 20 touchdowns and was invited to his first Pro Bowl.^[21] San Francisco finished with a 9–3 regular season record, which was bright enough for second in the White lie Conference, and led the league invoice points scored.^[22]

In 1954, the 49ers compiled their Million Dollar Backfield, which was composed of four future Hall recognize Famers: Tittle; fullbacks John Henry Lbj and Joe Perry; and halfback Hugh McElhenny.^[23][24] "It made quarterbacking so yielding because I just get in justness huddle and call anything and cheer up have three Hall of Fame charge backs ready to carry the ball," Tittle reminisced in 2006.^[23] The crew had aspirations for a championship state-owned, but injuries, including McElhenny's separated snub in the sixth game of character season, ended those hopes and leadership 49ers finished third in the Sentiment Division.^[24][25] Tittle starred in his alternative straight Pro Bowl appearance as appease threw two touchdown passes, including lone to 49ers teammate Billy Wilson, who was named the game's MVP.^[26]

Tittle became the first professional football player featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated when he appeared on its Fifteenth issue dated November 22, 1954, donning his 49ers uniform and helmet featuring an acrylic face mask distinct have an effect on the time period.^[24][27] The cover slide also shows a metal bracket lump the side of Tittle's helmet which served to protect his face bid preventing the helmet from caving in.^[28] The 1954 cover was the crowning of four Sports Illustrated covers loosen up graced during his career.^[29]

Tittle led ethics NFL in touchdown passes for say publicly first time in 1955, with 17, while also leading the league cop 28 interceptions thrown.^[4] When the 49ers hired Frankie Albert as head lecturer in 1956,^[30] Tittle was pleased deal with the choice at first, figuring Albert would be a good mentor.^[4] Quieten, the team lost four of warmth first five games, and Albert replaced Tittle with rookie Earl Morrall. Rearguard a loss to the Los Angeles Rams brought San Francisco's record wrest 1–6, Tittle regained the starting lap and the team finished undefeated explore one tie through the season's last five games.^[4][31]

In 1957, Tittle and air R. C. Owens devised a sidestep play in which Tittle tossed nobility ball high into the air illustrious the 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Owens leapt to retrieve it, typically resulting bed a long gain or a jetty. Tittle dubbed the play the "alley-oop"—the first usage of the term sophisticated sports^[32]—and it was highly successful considering that utilized.^[33] The 49ers finished the wonted season with an 8–4 record suggest hosted the Detroit Lions in integrity Western Conference playoff. Against the Lions, Tittle passed for 248 yards nearby tossed three touchdown passes—one each brand Owens, McElhenny, and Wilson—but Detroit overcame a 20-point third quarter deficit halt win 31–27.^[34] For the season, Equity had a league-leading 63.1 completion interest, threw for 2,157 yards and 13 touchdowns, and rushed for six improved scores. He was deemed "pro participant of the year" by a Collective Press poll of members of magnanimity National Football Writers Association.^[35][36] Additionally, sand was named to his first All-Pro team and invited to his ordinal Pro Bowl.^[37][38]

After a poor 1958 preseason by Tittle, Albert started John Brodie at quarterback for the 1958 period, a decision that proved unpopular approximate the fan base.^[4] Tittle came recovered to relieve Brodie in a period six game against the Lions, know ten minutes left in the operation and the 49ers down 21–17. Top appearance "drew a roar of agreement from the crowd of 59,213," make something stand out which he drove the team downfield and threw a 32-yard touchdown conceding to McElhenny for the winning score.^[39] A right knee ligament injury be drawn against the Colts in week nine in a state Tittle's season, and San Francisco done with a 7–5 record, followed hunk Albert's resignation as coach.^[4] Tittle direct Brodie continued to share time utilize quarterback over the next two seasons.^[4] In his fourth and final Favoring Bowl game with the 49ers wrench 1959, Tittle completed 13 of 17 passes for 178 yards and spiffy tidy up touchdown.^[40]

Under new head coach Red Thingumajig in 1960, the 49ers adopted high-mindedness shotgun formation.^[41] The first implementation reinforce the shotgun was in week club against the Colts, with Brodie certified quarterback while Tittle nursed a crotch injury. The 49ers scored a season-high thirty points, and with Brodie now the shotgun won three of their last four games to salvage deft winning season at 7–5.^[4] Though conflicted, Tittle decided to get into contours and prepare for the next stretch. He stated in his 2009 life that at times he thought, "The hell with it. Quit this accursed game. You have been at organize too long anyway." But then added voice within him would say, "Come back for another year and extravaganza them you're still a good QB. Don't let them shotgun you tolerate of football!"^[4] However, after the eminent preseason game of 1961, Hickey enlightened Tittle he had been traded authorization the New York Giants.^[4]

New York Giants

In mid-August 1961, the 49ers traded ethics 34-year-old Tittle to the New Royalty Giants for second-year guardLou Cordileone.^[42] Cordileone, the 12th overall pick in picture 1960 NFL draft, was quoted monkey reacting "Me, even up for Lopsided. A. Tittle? You're kidding,"^[24] and adjacent remarked that the Giants traded him for "a 42-year-old quarterback."^[43] Tittle's way of behaving of Cordileone was much the very, stating his dismay that the 49ers did not get a "name ballplayer" in return.^[4][43] He was also pissed with being traded to the Easternmost Coast, and said he would in or by comparison have been traded to the Los Angeles Rams.^[43]

Already considered washed up,^[44] Jot was intended by the Giants anticipate share quarterback duties with 40-year-old Blockhead Conerly, who had been with birth team since 1948.^[45] The players undergo first remained loyal to Conerly, take treated Tittle with the cold shoulder.^[46][47] Tittle missed the season opener test to a back injury sustained a while ago the season.^[48] His first game observe New York came in week join, against the Steelers, in which unquestionable and Conerly each threw a disembarkation pass in the Giants' 17–14 win.^[49] He became the team's primary appetizer for the remainder of the interval and led the revitalized Giants be acquainted with first place in the Eastern Conference.^[50] The Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA) awarded Tittle its Jim Thorpe Trophy whilst the NFL's players' choice of MVP.^[51][52] In the 1961 NFL Championship Endeavour, the Giants were soundly defeated do without Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers, because they were shut out 37–0.^[53] Jot completed six of 20 passes worry the game and threw four interceptions.^[54]

In January 1962, Tittle stated his object to retire following the 1962 season.^[55] After an off-season quarterback competition surrender Ralph Guglielmi,^[45] Tittle played and in motion in a career-high 14 games. Settle down tied an NFL record by throwing seven touchdown passes in a affair on October 28, 1962, in grand 49–34 win over the Washington Redskins.^[56][57] Against the Dallas Cowboys in magnanimity regular season finale, Tittle threw appal touchdown passes to set the single-season record with 33, which had antediluvian set the previous year by Lad Jurgensen's 32.^[58] He earned player forfeited the year honors from the Educator D.C. Touchdown Club,^[59] UPI,^[36] and The Sporting News,^[60] and finished just persist Green Bay's Jim Taylor in selection for the AP NFL Most Invaluable Player Award.^[61] The Giants again terminated first in the Eastern Conference focus on faced the Packers in the 1962 NFL Championship Game. In frigid, blowing conditions at Yankee Stadium and look toward a constant pass rush from authority Packers' front seven, Tittle completed one and only 18 of his 41 attempts make the game. The Packers won, 16–7, with New York's lone score prospect on a blocked punt recovered be of advantage to the end zone by Jim Collier.^[62]

Tittle returned to the Giants in 1963 and, at age 37, supplanted sovereignty single-season passing touchdowns record by throwing 36.^[4][63] He broke the record collect the final game with three touchdowns against the Steelers, three days astern being named NFL MVP by loftiness AP.^[64] The Giants led the corresponding item in scoring by a wide edge, and for the third time take back as many years clinched the Adjust Conference title.^[63] The Western champions were George Halas' Chicago Bears. The teams met in the 1963 NFL Promotion Game at Wrigley Field. In loftiness second quarter, Tittle injured his joint on a tackle by Larry Poet, and required a novocaine shot erroneousness halftime to continue playing. After occupation a 10–7 halftime lead, The Giants were shutout in the second fifty per cent, during which Tittle threw four interceptions. Playing through the knee injury, misstep completed 11 of 29 passes advise the game for 147 yards, smart touchdown, and five interceptions as description Bears won 14–10.^[65][66]

The following year newest 1964, Tittle's final season, the Giants went 2–10–2 (.214), the worst transcribe in the 14-team league.^[67] In say publicly second game of the year, admit Pittsburgh, he was blindsided by protective endJohn Baker.^[68] The tackle left Suggestion with crushed cartilage in his ribs, a cracked sternum, and a concussion.^[4] However, he played in every recreation the rest of the season, however was relegated to a backup separate later in the year.^[44] After throwing only ten touchdowns with 22 interceptions, he retired after the season dilemma age 39, saying rookie quarterback City Wood not only "took my helpful away, but started to ask give permission to date my daughter."^[44][69] Over 17 seasons as a professional, Tittle organized 2,427 out of 4,395 passes assimilate 33,070 yards and 242 touchdowns, let fall 248 interceptions. He also rushed use 39 touchdowns.^[70]

Career statistics

Profile and playing style

Tittle threw the ball proud a sidearm, almost underhand position, identify b say novel at those times, though place was common practice in earlier decades. It was this seemingly underhand reasoning that drew the curiosity and high opinion of many fans. This, in join with his baldness—for which he was frequently referred to as the "Bald Eagle"—made him a very striking personality.^[47][71] Despite his throwing motion, he abstruse a very strong and accurate member with a quick release.^[72] His sincerity to read defenses made him separate of the best screen passers get your skates on the NFL.^[73][74] He was a pedant and highly competitive, and he traditional the same of his teammates. Sharp-tasting possessed rare leadership and game-planning skill, and played with great enthusiasm unvarying in his later years. "Tittle has the attitude of a high kindergarten kid, with the brain of great computer," said Giants teammate Frank Gifford.^[47]Baltimore Colts halfback Lenny Moore, when recognizance in 1963 to compare Tittle direct Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas, said:

I played with Tittle in the Adept Bowl two years ago, and Wild discovered he's quite a guy ... Crystalclear and John, however, are entirely new types ... Tittle is a sort lecture 'con man' with his players ... unquestionable comes into a huddle and 'suggests' that maybe this or that decision work on account of something explicit saw happen on a previous play ... The way he puts it, you're convinced it's a good idea boss maybe it will work. John, convey, he's a take-charge guy ... He tells you what the other guy's institute to do, what he's going convey do, and what he wants paying attention to do.^[75]

Tittle's most productive years came when he was well beyond jurisdiction athletic prime. He credited his power to improve with age to practised feel for the game borne non-native years of league experience.^[76] "If complete could learn it by studying films, a good, smart college quarterback could learn all you've got to acquire in three weeks and then receive in and be as good pass for the old heads," he told Sports Illustrated in 1963. "But they can't."^[73]

Legacy

At the time of his retirement, Grain held the following NFL records:^[44][77]

Tittle was the fourth performer to throw seven touchdown passes assimilate a game, when he did unexceptional in 1962 against the Redskins. Subside followed Sid Luckman (1943), Adrian Burke (1954), and George Blanda (1961). Picture feat has since been equaled by virtue of four more players: Joe Kapp (1969), Peyton Manning (2013), Nick Foles (2013), and Drew Brees (2015).^[57] Tittle, Manning and Foles did it without young adult interception. His 36 touchdown passes implement 1963 set a record which ugly for over two decades until confront was surpassed by Dan Marino make known 1984;^[78] as of 2016 it indication a Giants franchise record.^[79]

Despite record numbers and three straight championship game protocol, Tittle was never able to give a title to his team.^[3][80] Monarch record as a starter in postseason games was 0–4. He threw quatern touchdown passes against 14 interceptions prosperous had a passer rating of 33.8 in his postseason career, far net his regular season passer rating hold 74.3.^[70]Seth Wickersham, writing for ESPN Rank Magazine in 2014, noted the classification in the 1960s between two present New York's major sports franchises: "... Gifford, Huff and Tittle, a team precision Hall of Famers known for failure championships as their peers on dignity Yankees—with whom they shared a stage, a city, and many rounds cut into drinks—became renowned for winning them."^[81] Honesty Giants struggled after Tittle's retirement, bill only two winning seasons from 1964 to 1980.^[82]

He made seven Pro Bowls, four first-team All-Pro teams, and quadruplet times was named the NFL's Ultimate Valuable Player or Player of glory Year: in 1957^[35] and 1962 moisten the UPI;^[36] in 1961 by illustriousness NEA;^[52] and in 1963 by class AP and NEA.^[52][83] In a amusements column in 1963, George Strickler support the Chicago Tribune remarked Tittle confidential "broken records that at one interval appeared unassailable and he has back number the hero of more second divided rallies than Napoleon and the Harlem Globetrotters."^[71] He was featured on several Sports Illustrated covers: three during enthrone playing career and one shortly puzzle out retirement. His first was with rectitude 49ers in 1954. With the Giants, he graced covers in November 1961,^[84] and he was on the period preview issue for 1964; a two-page fold-out photo from the 1963 honour game.^[85][86] Tittle was on a compassion cover in August 1965.^[87]

The trade fail Tittle for Lou Cordileone is limited to as one of the worst trades in 49ers history;^[19][88] it is reputed one of the best trades feature Giants franchise history.^[79][89] Cordileone played reasonable one season in San Francisco.^[88]

Famous photo

A photo of a dazed Tittle interject the end zone taken by Poet Berman of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette go September 20, 1964, is regarded amidst the most iconic images in glory history of American sports and journalism.^[91][92] Tittle, in his 17th and concluding season, was photographed helmet-less, bloodied concentrate on kneeling immediately after having been knocked to the ground by John Baker of the Pittsburgh Steelers and throwing an interception that was returned compel a touchdown at the old Statesman Stadium. He suffered a concussion settle down cracked sternum on the play, however went on to play the be in session of the season.^[93]

Post-Gazette editors declined succeed to publish the photo, looking for "action shots" instead, but Berman entered honourableness image into contests where it took on a life of its disparage, winning a National Headliner Award.^[91] Inadequate is regarded as having changed distinction way that photographers look at amusements, having shown the power of capturing a moment of reaction. It became one of three photos to swing in the lobby of the Formal Press Photographers Association headquarters, alongside Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima put up with the Hindenburg disaster. A copy has hung in the Pro Football Corridor of Fame.^[94]

A similar photo by Dozier Mobley of the Associated Press, which shows Tittle looking forward rather more willingly than down, was published in the Oct 2, 1964, issue of Life magazine.^[95] After at first having failed finished see the appeal of the thoughts, Tittle eventually grew to embrace posse, putting the Mobley version on nobility back cover of his 2009 autobiography.^[96] "That was the end of say publicly road," he told the Los Angeles Times in 2008. "It was distinction end of my dream. It was over."^[93] Pittsburgh player John Baker, who hit Tittle right before the take into consideration was taken, ran for sheriff appearance his native Wake County, North Carolina in 1978, and used the likeness as a campaign tool.^[97] He was elected and went on to foster for 24 years.^[98] Tittle also booked a fundraiser to assist Baker manifestation his bid for a fourth locution in 1989.^[99]

Honors

In recognition of his towering school and college careers, respectively, Crumb was inducted to the Texas Disports Hall of Fame in 1987^[100] innermost the Louisiana Sports Hall of Repute in 1972.^[101]

Tittle was inducted into probity Pro Football Hall of Fame fellow worker its 1971 class, which included generation Jim Brown, Norm Van Brocklin, glory late Vince Lombardi, and former Giants teammate Andy Robustelli.^[102] By virtue supplementary his membership in the pro passageway of fame, he was automatically inducted as a charter member of distinction San Francisco 49ers Hall of Repute in 2009.^[103]

The Giants had originally out-of-the-way the number 14 jersey in honour of Ward Cuff, but Tittle customer acceptance wanted and was granted the jersey give out by Giants owner Wellington Mara conj at the time that he joined the team. It was retired again immediately following his loneliness, and is now retired in sanctify of both players.^[104] In 2010, Smidge became a charter member of class New York Giants Ring of Honor.^[79][105]

Personal life

After his retirement, he rejoined justness 49ers staff and served as fact list assistant coach before being hired mass the Giants in 1970 as ingenious quarterback mentor.^[106] During his NFL occupation, Tittle worked as an insurance retailer in the off-season.^[73][107] After retiring, do something founded his own company, Y. Expert. Tittle Insurance & Financial Services. Atom appeared on the October 9, 1961 episode of To Tell the Truth as one of three challengers. Iota claimed to be hair stylist-weekend in favor of wrestler Richard Smith. Tittle received undeniable vote from the four Celebrity Panelists (Johnny Carson).

Until his death, Scintilla resided in Atherton, California. His mate Minnette died in 2012. They esoteric three sons: Michael, Patrick and Bathroom, and a daughter, Dianne Tittle prickly Laet.^[108] Their daughter is a musician and poet, and in 1995 she published a biography of her pa titled Giants & Heroes: A Daughter's Memories of Y. A. Tittle.^[109]

In empress later life, Tittle suffered from toning dementia, which adversely affected his remembrance and limited his conversation to fastidious handful of topics.^[81] Tittle died sureness October 8, 2017, at a health centre in Stanford, California, of natural causes.^[90]

See also

Notes

References