BLANDA, GEORGE (FREDERICK)

born Sept. 17, 1927, Youngwood, Pa., U.S. American professional football player, who first as a quarterback and later as a kicker established records for most seasons played (26), most games played (340), most points scored (2,002), most points after touchdowns (943 of 959 attempted), and most field goals (335 of 638 attempted; broken in 1983). Blanda played football at the University of Kentucky (Lexington; B.S., 1949) before he joined the National Football League (NFL) Chicago Bears in 1949. In 1953 he became starting quarterback and led the league in pass completions. After an injury in 1954, he was mainly a placekicker through 1958. He was inactive in 1959 and joined the Houston Oilers of the American Football League (AFL) in 1960. He led them to league championships as a quarterback (196061) and led the league in touchdown passes (36) in 1961 (tied in 1963 by Y.A. Tittle), a record until 1984. He was traded to the AFL Oakland Raiders (NFL from 1970) in 1967 and retired in 1976. He was elected to the football Hall of Fame in 1981.