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- The son of a steel worker from Beaver Falls, Pa., Joseph William Namath (Joe Willie) came from the rich football tradition that is in Pennsylvania. After starring for Paul 'Bear' Bryant's Alabama Crimson Tide teams in the 1960s, Namath was drafted by both the National Football League's (NFL) St. Louis Cardinals and the rival American Football League's (AFL) New York Jets in 1965. Namath, known as a brash performer in college, signed with the Jets for a then-record $450,000 and gave the upstart, struggling AFL instant credibility in its war with the NFL. Although he didn't turn the Jets into instant winners, he did improve their fortunes his first three years in the league. Namath delivered on his promise as one of the most exciting players in the AFL, by becoming the first quarterback in history to pass for more than 4,000 yards. Namath was also popular off the field, especially with the ladies (which he indulged in, happily) and was known for his love of the New York nightlife. Because of this, he was dubbed "Broadway Joe" by the New York press. Namath gained his legend with not only his performance, but his mouth. After leading the Jets to the AFL championship over the Oakland Raiders, Namath, weary of all the press knocking him and his team and openly favoring the NFL champion Baltimore Colts, boldly lashed out and predicted victory for him and the Jets. He also showed his poise by talking his way out of a potentially explosive situation with Colts' Defensive Tackle, Lou Michaels. Namath and a teammate were in a restaurant talking about how the Jets were a better team than the Colts, when Michaels (who was in earshot) challenged Namath. The cocky QB, instead, bought Michaels dinner, drinks and gave him a ride home. In the game that many felt made the Super Bowl the spectacle it is today, Namath and the Jets were nearly flawless in beating the 17-point favorite Colts, 16-7. Namath became a household name and gave the Jets and the AFL the respectability they were so desperate to have. Namath continued his all-star performances in New York, although he never again played in the Super Bowl. For several years, he was the entertainer of the NFL (the AFL merged with the NFL in 1970) and even dabbled in movies and television (including a memorable performance in pantyhose for a commercial). He was traded to the Los Angeles Rams in 1977, but his failing knees finally gave out and he retired at the end of the season. Namath was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985 and, for a few years, was a member of ABC's NFL Monday Night Football (1970) crew. Namath now lives in Florida.Broadway joe
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Marino was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and attended the University of Pittsburgh, where he became the most prolific and celebrated passer in Pitt Panther history and a first-round draft pick for Don Shula of the Dolphins. Marino has established a record number of records on the All-Time Quarterback list, does charity work, and created the Dan Marino Foundation to benefit the youth charities of South Florida.- Actor
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Hall of Fame wide receiver and three-time Super Bowl champion Jerry Rice is widely regarded as the best wide receiver to ever play in the National Football League, and arguably the greatest player of all time. During his 15-year career with the San Francisco 49ers, Rice won three Super Bowls (Super Bowl XXIII ('88), Super Bowl XXIV ('89) and SB XXIX ('94)) and one Super Bowl MVP. He enjoyed three seasons with the Oakland Raiders, including a Super Bowl appearance and one season with the Seattle Seahawks before retiring in 2005. Rice was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in January 2010, his first year of eligibility.
Rice's meticulous preparation and work ethic during his 20-year NFL career became legendary. He holds 36 NFL records - a record in itself. Has scored the most touchdowns in NFL history (208) and holds virtually every significant career receiving record, including receptions (1,549), yards receiving (22,895), all-purpose yards (23,546), touchdown receptions (197) and consecutive games with at least one catch (274).
After his retirement, Rice's celebrity grew beyond the football field. He finished second in the second season of the ABC hit reality show Dancing with the Stars, led his team to victory on the golf course against other NFL legends on Big Break NFL Puerto Rico and has appeared on numerous other television shows. He has extensive broadcasting experience including as an analyst for ESPN, NBC and is a contributor on 95.7 The Game FM radio in the Bay Area. He co-authored the New York Times Bestseller, Super Bowl 50: 50 years 50 Moments as well as, America's Game: The NFL at 100 with Randy O. Williams and published by Harper Collins.
This success off the field and renowned work ethic has appealed Rice to numerous corporations, including NIKE, Mitchell & Ness and Panini, where he is working as a brand ambassador and spokesperson. He is also an Honorary Chairman for the San Francisco 49ers Foundation, whose mission is to educate and empower Bay Area youth.
In 2020, Rice and his family launched G.O.A.T. Fuel, a privately held lifestyle brand that empowers individual and collective greatness. G.O.A.T. stands for "Greatest of All Time", a nickname that has been widely used when describing Rice. G.O.A.T. Fuel promotes the unstoppable strength of a hopeful mindset through energy infused products, content and experiences.
Born in Crawford, Mississippi, Rice did not start playing football until he was a sophomore in high school. He was not recruited by many major college football programs and attended Mississippi Valley State University, public, historically black university and Division I-AA school. As a senior, he broke NCAA records for receptions, yards and touchdowns and acquired the nickname "World" because there wasn't a ball in the world he couldn't catch. He was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006.
Rice was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers and Hall of Fame coach Bill Walsh as the 16th overall pick in the 1985 NFL Draft. During his career, Rice was selected to the Pro Bowl a record 13 times, won the NFL Most Valuable Player Award in 1987 and was Super Bowl MVP in Super Bowl XXIII. In 1999, he was ranked No. 2 in The Sporting News' list of 100 Greatest Football Players - the highest-ranked active player and receiver - and in 2010, was voted the No. 1 player in the NFL Network's The Top 100: NFL's Greatest Players. In 2019, he was voted Greatest Player in NFL History by USA Today Sports and was also named to the NFL's All Time Team.
Rice resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, Latisha, and has four children.- Rocky Bleier was born on 5 March 1946 in Appleton, Wisconsin, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Fighting Back: The Story of Rocky Bleier (1980), Unsinkable (2024) and The NFL on CBS (1956). He has been married to Jan Gyurina since 13 April 1996. They have two children. He was previously married to Aleta Giacobine Whitaker.He is the reason i went into the army. A true hero
- Emmitt Smith was born on 15 May 1969 in Pensacola, Florida, USA. He is an actor, known for Little Giants (1994), How I Met Your Mother (2005) and CSI: Cyber (2015). He has been married to Pat Smith since 22 April 2000. They have three children.
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Lynn Swann was born on 7 March 1952 in Alcoa, Tennessee, USA. He is an actor, known for The Last Boy Scout (1991), The Waterboy (1998) and The Program (1993). He has been married to Charena Shaffer since 23 June 1991. They have two children. He was previously married to Bernadette Robi.- Considered by many experts to be the greatest quarterback in the history of NFL football, Montana was recruited by the San Francisco 49ers from Notre Dame in 1979 after leading the "Fighting Irish" to a Cotton Bowl victory in 1978. "Joe Cool," as he was known for his ice cool disposition in the heat of the game, led the 49ers on field for twelve seasons and played key roles in the San Francisco 49ers four Super Bowl victories between 1982 and 1990. Montana scooped the Super Bowl MVP Award in 1982, 1985 and 1990, however he suffered an elbow injury in January 1991, and missed all of the 1991 season, and most of the 1992 season.
He was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs in April 1993, and spent his final two years with the Chiefs before finally retiring at the end of 1994.
Well remembered for his amazing plays with fleet-footed wide receiver Jerry Rice, and high-stepping running back Roger Craig. - Joe Greene was born on 24 September 1946 in Temple, Texas, USA. He is an actor, known for Smokey and the Bandit II (1980), The Black 6 (1973) and Lady Cocoa (1975). He has been married to Agnes Craft since 28 January 1968. They have three children.Mean joe
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The athletically gifted 6' 7" Charles Aaron "Bubba" Smith played defensive end / defensive tackle for the National Football League's Baltimore Colts (1967-1971), Oakland Raiders (1973-1974), and Houston Oilers (1975-1976). After the conclusion of his football career, Smith moved into a TV & film career, with initial guest appearances on prime time TV shows including Wonder Woman (1975), Charlie's Angels (1976) and Eight Is Enough (1977).
Smith is best known to international film audiences as the softly spoken police officer "Moses Hightower" from the Police Academy (1984) series of comedies, in which he has appeared in all but one of the numerous sequels.- Walter Payton, nicknamed "Sweetness, " is 2nd on the NFL's All time rushing list. His playing career lasted from 1975 to 1987. In those years, he amassed 16,026 rushing yards. He made a few appearances on television (as a guest star), but he was known as a profoundly personal man.Sweetness
- Drew Bledsoe was a standout quarterback at Washington State University in Pullman, Wash., then became the top pick in the 1993 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. New head coach Bill Parcells drafted Bledsoe with the top pick, and Bledsoe assumed the starting quarterback job almost immediately. During his nine years in Foxborough, Mass., Bledsoe led the Patriots to four playoff appearances (and was there for a fifth but not as a starter). In a 1994 overtime game against Minnesota, he set NFL records for most passes completed (45)and attempted (70) in a game as the Patriots rallied from down 20-0 to win, 26-20. Three times in his career he has exceeded 4,000 passing yards in a season.
Bledsoe's career took a permanent turn on September 23, 2001. He suffered a devastating hit by NY Jet linebacker "Mo Lewis", a hit which sheared a blood vessel deep inside Bledsoe's chest. He played in one more series before being lifted in favor of Tom Brady. Brady then embarked on an unbelievable career of his own, leading the Patriots to the Super Bowl championship that year and denying Bledsoe his old starting job back when he became healthy. Bledsoe did play briefly in the AFC Championship game that year when Brady went down with an ankle sprain, and helped the Patriots gain entry into Super Bowl XXXVI with a 24-17 win at Pittsburgh.
Following that Super Bowl win which Bledsoe had to watch on the sidelines, the Patriots traded Bledsoe to the Buffalo Bills for a 2003 first-round draft pick. Bledsoe had a tremendous 2002 season where he had his second-highest passing yardage total (4,359 passing yards) and second-best passer rating (86.0). But in three seasons with Buffalo, Bledsoe saw his career take a downturn, partially brought on by a decline in his pass blockers and questionable personnel decisions. Bledsoe was released after the 2004 season. He will play in 2005 in Dallas, reunited with his first head coach, Parcells. He currently (as of the end of the 2004 season) is 192 yards shy of 40,000 career passing yards.
Wherever he has played, Bledsoe has been a solid citizen and community figure. He and his wife Maura have given lectures on good parenting skills. He has always conducted himself with class and dignity, especially during the most difficult times. He remains a well respected professional, and one of the great NFL quarterbacks of his time. - Doug Flutie was born on 23 October 1962 in Manchester, Maryland, USA. He is an actor, known for Arli$$ (1996), Listen Up (2004) and Second String (2002). He has been married to Laurie Flutie since 10 August 1985. They have two children.
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Randy Moss was born on 13 February 1977 in Rand, West Virginia, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for NFL Turning Point (2011), Arli$$ (1996) and Sunday NFL Countdown (1985).- Jason Taylor was born on 1 September 1974 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. He is an actor, known for Ballers (2015), Holby City (1999) and The NFL on CBS (1956). He was previously married to Katina Thomas.
- Mark Clayton was born on 8 April 1961 in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
- Shaun Alexander was born on 30 August 1977 in Florence, Kentucky, USA. He is an actor, known for NFL Monday Night Football (1970), Up & Adams (2022) and The NFL on CBS (1956). He has been married to Valerie Boyd Alexander since 18 May 2002. They have four children.
- Barry Sanders is an American former professional football player who was a running back for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). A Pro Bowl invitee in each of his ten NFL seasons and two-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year, Sanders led the league in rushing yards four times and established himself as one of the most elusive runners in pro football with his quickness and agility. In 2007, he was ranked by NFL Network's NFL Top 10 series as the most elusive runner in NFL history, and topped its list of greatest players never to play in a Super Bowl. He is often regarded as one of the greatest running backs in NFL history.
Barry Sanders played college football for the Oklahoma State Cowboys football team, where, as a junior in 1988 he compiled what is considered one of the greatest individual seasons in college football history, rushing for 2,850 yards and 42 touchdowns in 12 games. He was awarded the Heisman Trophy as the most outstanding college player in the nation and was unanimously recognized as an All-American. Sanders was first inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in 1998. He then was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003 and in that same year inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.
Barry Sanders joined the Lions in 1989 and had an immediate impact, winning the NFL's Rookie of the Year award. Through ten seasons in Detroit, he averaged over 1,500 rushing yards per season and just under 100 rushing yards per game. In 1997, he became the third player to rush for over 2,000 yards in a season and was named the NFL Most Valuable Player. Still seemingly in his prime, Sanders unexpectedly retired from football after the 1998 season, 1,457 yards short of breaking the then NFL's all-time rushing record. His number 20 jersey was retired by the Lions, and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004. A year later Barry Sanders was also inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame. - Actor
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Tall, charismatic ex-star quarterback for the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers football team. During the 1970s, Bradshaw led the Steelers to four Super Bowl wins over six seasons, and was noted Super Bowl MVP on two occasions. After retiring in 1983, he became a key media commentator on NFL football, and has worked for both the CBS and FOX networks.
Has cropped up in minor roles in three Burt Reynolds movies, Hooper (1978), Smokey and the Bandit II (1980) and The Cannonball Run (1981).- Actor
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he would have been 6 in 1956 when it said he was on NFL on CBS. he played in the nfl much later than that. without checking all the other data, this can't be an accurate date for him to have been on the show as the show didn't exist yet.- Mark Duper was born on 25 January 1959 in Pineville, Louisiana, USA.
- Ricky Williams was born on 21 May 1977 in San Diego, California, USA. He is an actor, known for Stuck on You (2003), Disjointed (2017) and The NFL on CBS (1956). He has been married to Kristin Barnes since 4 September 2009. They have three children.
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Deion Sanders is an American former professional football and baseball player who is a sports analyst.
He played 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, The Washington Redskins, and the Baltimore Ravens. He had a part-time career in baseball as an outfielder for nine seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), where he played professionally for the New York Yankees, the Atlanta Braves, the Cincinnati Reds, and the San Francisco Giants. Sanders won two Super Bowl titles and made one World Series appearance in 1992, making him the only individual to appear in both a Super Bowl and a World Series.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.- Actor
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Former College Football standout at San Diego State University where he played Defensive End. Was a first round Draft Pick of the New York Giants in 1969 where he played for 3 seasons before finishing his 13 year career with the Los Angeles Rams.
Actor John Frederick Dryer was born in Hawthorne, California, on July 6, 1946, son of Charles F. Dryer and Genevieve Nell Clark. Raised in Lawndale, California, he attended Lawndale High School and El Camino College. Before acting, he played football for 14 years. In college, Dryer played for the Aztecs of San Diego State University, under Head Coach Don Coryell, for the seasons 1967-1968. The 6' 6", 225-pound defensive end # 77 was named First Team All-American in 1968 and played in the College All-Star Game, East-West Shrine Game and Hula Bowl in 1969. A two-year letterman and starter, Dryer received the Chase Memorial Trophy as the school's top defensive lineman in 1968.
On September 15, 1967, he was among those players who first stepped onto the brand-new San Diego Stadium (Qualcomm Stadium), when the Aztecs defeated Tennessee State 16-8 in front of 45,822 fans. In 1988, Fred was inducted into the Aztec Hall of Fame. On May 28, 1997, he was named to the College Football Hall of Fame. He was considered among the most dominant pass rushers in college football history. The induction ceremony happened on August 16, in South Bend, Indiana. On November 8, he returned to San Diego to be honored during night's Homecoming game against the Spartans of San Jose State University. Dryer started his professional career on the football field in 1969, when he was drafted by the New York Giants in the first round (the 13th pick overall). But as he didn't like New York very much, he left the Giants after three seasons and returned to California to play for the Los Angeles Rams, which he did from 1972 to 1981, when he retired. On October 21, 1973, the defensive end # 89 set an NFL record by registering 2 safeties in a single game, against Green Bay Packers.
With the Rams, Fred made the Pro Bowl in 1970 and 1975 and played in Super Bowl XIV in 1980, when the L.A. team was defeated by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Dryer was considered a maverick due to his playing style - and was one in his own life. He loved birds because he heard a song of freedom in the sound of flapping wings. For three years, while playing for the New York Giants, he lived in a Volkswagen van. And he was a joker - on and off the football field. During the drills (and games), Fred played the role of stand-up comic. One of his talents was to do Tommy Prothro's voice, his head coach in 1972. After stopping playing, Fred did sportscasting on CBS, quitting after 10 games because he felt he had no freedom in that job; besides, he was tired of traveling. In the 80s, he started acting. In 1979, he began studying with actress and acting coach Nina Foch. With the movies Gus and Prime Time, he got his Screen Actors Guild card. His first important role was in The Starmaker, where he played Melanie Griffith's stepfather. In 1982, Fred auditioned for Cheers. One of 3 finalists, he lost the male lead to actor Ted Danson. Later, he made several guest appearances on the show as Dave Richards, Sam's former Boston Red Sox teammate turned sportscaster.
In 1984, Fred was chosen to play the leading role of the TV series Hunter: LAPD Homicide Detective Sergeant Richard Hunter, a mobster's son turned cop. Hunter, created by Frank Lupo and produced by Stephen J. Cannell, is TV's version of Clint Eastwood's violent big screen cop Dirty Harry. Hunter's partner is Sergeant DeeDee McCall, a beautiful and tough widow, known around the squad as "The Brass Cupcake", played by Stepfanie Kramer. Hunter ran on NBC from 1984 to 1991. Besides running in the USA, Hunter was sold to many countries: Brazil, Japan, Canada, England, France, Australia, Italy, Germany, Spain, Philippines, Korea, China, Thailand, Indonesia, Dubai, Brunei, Iceland, Bangladesh, Kuwait, Paraguay, Israel - 88 overall. In many of these places, the show goes on running till today. Fred is the biggest star in China - millions of Chineses watch Hunter every week. But, although being a worldwide hit, Hunter didn't get much recognition by the Hollywood industry and the critics. Fred directed several Hunter episodes: A Child is Born, The Jade Woman, The Girl on the Beach, Ring of Honor, The Incident as well as produced 44 of them (6th and 7th seasons). After Hunter, through his own company (Fred Dryer Productions), Fred returned to his popular role from TV on The Return of Hunter: Everyone Walks in L.A. (1995). In the same year, he produced and starred on a new TV series: Land's End, shot entirely in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Since Land's End ended, Fred has been making movies and guest appearances on TV shows, as well as returned to play Hunter. Dryer enjoys playing golf and working out. When he was a football player, he used to surf and dive for abalone. Since those times, Fred has neither eaten red meat nor drunk soda; his diet is composed of vegetables and chicken. Another thing he very much likes is construction - he says if he wasn't in acting and producing, he would be in construction. Fred and his brother Charlie helped their father Charles build his house. In 1993, Fred built a 5-million mansion in Los Angeles, which was sold few years ago, because he didn't get used to living in such a luxurious place. His father died on September 14, 1963, and his mother in 1994. Fred got married in May of 1983 to actress and Playboy centerfold Tracy Vaccaro, who worked with him on Hunter and Land's End. Fred still lives in Los Angeles.- Actor
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John Elway is an American former professional football quarterback who is general manager and president of football operations for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL).
John Elway played college football at Stanford and his entire 16-year professional career with the Denver Broncos. At the time of his retirement in early 1999, Elway had recorded the most victories by a starting quarterback and statistically was the second most prolific passer in NFL history. He was also a prolific rusher of the ball, being one of only two players ever to score a rushing touchdown in four different Super Bowls (the other being Thurman Thomas) and the only quarterback to do so.
John Elway set several career records for passing attempts and completions while at Stanford and also received All-American honors. He was the first selection in the 1983 NFL Draft, famously known as the quarterback class of 1983, where he was taken by the Baltimore Colts before being traded to the Denver Broncos. In January 1987, Elway embarked on one of the most notable performances in sports and in NFL history, helping engineer a 98-yard, game-tying touchdown drive in the AFC Championship Game against the Cleveland Browns. Following that game in Cleveland, Elway and the Broncos lost in Super Bowl XXI to the New York Giants Football Team.
After two more Super Bowl losses, the Broncos entered a period of decline; however, that ended during the 1997 season, as Elway and Denver won their first Super Bowl title by defeating the Green Bay Packers 31-24 in Super Bowl XXXII. The Broncos repeated as champions the following season in Super Bowl XXXIII by defeating the Atlanta Falcons 34-19. Elway was voted MVP of that Super Bowl, which was the last game of his career, and in doing so Elway set a then-record five Super Bowl starts which was broken in February 2015 when Tom Brady of New England Patriots started Super Bowl XLIX. As Denver's quarterback, Elway led his teams to six AFC Championship Games and five Super Bowls, winning two. After his retirement as a player, he served as general manager and executive vice president of football operations of the Broncos, which won four division titles, two AFC Championships, and Super Bowl 50 during his tenure. Elway has been a member of the Broncos organization for all three of their Super Bowl victories, two as a player and one as an executive.
Elway was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004 in his first year of eligibility and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000.- Actor
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Troy was born in West Covina, California, but before the age of twelve his family moved to Henryetta, OK. After high school he was offered a position with the New York Mets, but turned it down for college at the University of Oklahoma. Troy left the Oklahoma and transfered to UCLA, where he studied Sociology. Troy was a the number one draft pick in 1989. He is now #8 for the World Champion Dallas Cowboys. His favorite sports hero is Larry Bird and he enjoys playing golf and water sports.- Johnny Unitas played his collegiate career at the University of Louisville (1951-54), passing for 3,007 yards and 27 touchdowns. Unitas, who wore No. 19 as a professional, had his No. 16 collegiate uniform retired at Louisville, the only number retired by the Cardinals.
Known as "The Golden Arm", Unitas had anything but a golden introduction to the NFL. A late round draft pick of the Pittsburg Steelers, he was cut in his rookie year. He signed with the Baltimore Colts a year later and began to change the future of pro football. Unitas quarterbacked the Colts in the NFL title in 1958, beating the New York Giants in the league's first overtime championship, known forever more as the greatest game ever played.
Unitas' legend grew through the 60s and 70s. His record for throwing a touchdown in 47 consecutive games continues to stand. He became the first NFL quarterback to pass for more than 40,000 yards. In January 1971, Unitas won his last championship, leading the Colts against the Cowboys in Super Bowl V.
The persona of "Johnny U" exceeds even his numbers. His bow-legged gait and crew cut became his trademarks. His flair for leading the Colts to come from behind wins became his signature. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979.
In Baltimore, Unitas will be remembered as much for his personal touch as for his professional greatness. Ever willing to stop for an autograph or to give of his time, Unitas helped christen Towson University's new stadium last week - with a pass.
No one could have known that would have been the last pass from his golden arm. Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley said, "This is a particularly painful day for Baltimore, because Johnny Unitas was Baltimore -- guts and grit." He played in 10 Pro Bowls, was named MVP three times, and was named the NFL's all-time greatest quarterback at the league's 50th anniversary. He retired in 1973 after one year with the San Diego Chargers. At that time, he held nearly every passing mark in the league record book. - John Stallworth was born on 15 July 1952 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. He is an actor, known for Fighting Back: The Story of Rocky Bleier (1980), The NFL on NBC (1965) and NFL Monday Night Football (1970). He has been married to Flora Stein since 25 May 1974. They have two children.
- Richard J. Butkus, "Dick", was born in Chicago, Illinois, December 9, 1942. He graduated from the University of Illinois where he was a two time All- American line backer. A first round draft pick of the Chicago Bears, Dick played for them from 1965-1973, and was named All-Pro linebacker seven times. Mr. Butkus was elected into the NFL "Football Hall of Fame" at Canton, Ohio. Many football gurus consider Dick Butkus the finest linebacker in the history of football.
- Peter Stoyanovich was born on 28 April 1967 in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, USA. He is an actor, known for Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994), The NFL on CBS (1956) and NFL Monday Night Football (1970).
- Jack Lambert was born on 8 July 1952 in Mantua, Ohio, USA. He has been married to Lisa Harbison since May 1987. They have four children.
- Jack Ham was born on 23 December 1948 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA. He has been married to JoAnn Fell since 1975.
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Mercury Morris was born on 5 January 1947 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Teamwork Baby, The Black 6 (1973) and The NFL on NBC (1965).- Larry Csonka was born on 25 December 1946 in Stow, Ohio, USA. He is an actor, known for The Six Million Dollar Man (1974), Ballers (2015) and Snake Eater (1989). He was previously married to Pamela.
- Bob Griese was born on 3 February 1945 in Evansville, Indiana, USA. He is an actor, known for Coach (1989), The NFL on CBS (1956) and The NFL on NBC (1965). He has been married to Shay Whitney since July 1994. He was previously married to Judi Lassus.
- Bo Jackson was born on Nov. 30, 1962, in Bessemer, Alabama He was a 6' 1", 222 pounds tailback. He graduated from McAdory High School in McCalla, Ala., and attended Auburn from 1982-85. He went on to play football for the Los Angeles Raiders and baseball for the Kansas City Royals, the Chicago White Sox, and the California Angels. Jackson made a name for himself as a two sport star. A serious hip injury in early 90s ended his football career. Jackson managed to return to baseball until his retirement.
- Marvin Harrison was born on 25 August 1972 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He is an actor, known for The Jersey (1999), The NFL on CBS (1956) and NFL Monday Night Football (1970).
- Devin Hester was born on 4 November 1982 in Riviera Beach, Florida, USA. He is an actor, known for The Gentlemen's League (2010), The NFL on CBS (1956) and NFL Monday Night Football (1970).
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Often mentioned as the greatest player in NFL history, this ruggedly handsome African American fullback for the Cleveland Browns first appeared on movie screens in the western Rio Conchos (1964), followed by a strong supporting role as convict commando "Jefferson" in the terrific WWII action film The Dirty Dozen (1967). He was kept busy with additional on screen appearances in other fast paced films including Ice Station Zebra (1968), 100 Rifles (1969) and El Condor (1970).
Brown's popularity grew during the boom of "blaxploitation" cinema in the early 1970s portraying tough "no nonsense" characters in Slaughter (1972), Black Gunn (1972) and Three the Hard Way (1974). His on-screen work in the latter part of the 1970s and 1980s was primarily centered around guest spots on popular TV shows such as CHiPs (1977) and Knight Rider (1982). However, Brown then resurfaced in better quality films beginning with his role as a fiery assassin in The Running Man (1987), he parodied the blaxploitation genre along with many other African-American actors in the comedy I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988), played an ex-heavyweight boxer in the sci-fi comedy Mars Attacks! (1996) and ironically played an ex-football legend in the Oliver Stone directed sports film Any Given Sunday (1999).
Additionally, Jim Brown was a ringside commentator for the first six events of the Ultimate Fighting Championships from 1993 through to 1996. A bona fide legend in American sports and a successful actor, he continues to remain busy in front of the camera with recent appearances in various sports shows & TV productions.- Mike Ditka is an American former football player, coach, and television commentator. A member of both the College Football (1986) and Pro Football Hall of Fame (1988), he was the 1961 UPI NFL Rookie of Year, a five-time Pro Bowl selection and five-time All-Pro tight end with the Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles, and Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL).
He was an NFL champion with the 1963 Bears, and is a three-time Super Bowl champion, playing on the Cowboys Super Bowl VI team as well as winning as an assistant coach for the Cowboys in Super Bowl XII, and coaching the Bears to victory in Super Bowl XX. He was named to the NFL's 50th, 75th and 100th Anniversary All-Time Teams.
As a coach for the Bears for 11 years he was twice both the AP and UPI NFL Coach of Year (1985 and 1988). He also coached the New Orleans Saints for three years.
Ditka and Tom Flores are the only people to win an NFL title as a player, an assistant coach, and a head coach. Ditka, Flores, Gary Kubiak, and Doug Pederson are also the only people in modern NFL history to win a championship as head coach of a team he played for previously. Ditka is the only person to participate in both of the last two Chicago Bears' league championships, as a player in 1963 and as head coach in 1985.
Mike Ditka is known by the nickname 'Iron Mike', which he has said comes from his being born and raised in a steel town in Pennsylvania. - Actor
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Former star player with the Los Angeles Rams during the 1960s, this impressively built African-American athlete broke into acting via appearances in TV shows including The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964), The Wild Wild West (1965) and I Dream of Jeannie (1965).
Grier received positive reviews for his role in the TV movie The Desperate Mission (1969) and then landed a recurring role alongside Fess Parker in the hugely popular children's TV series Daniel Boone (1964). This led to a short-lived stint as host of his own variety show The Rosey Grier Show (1968) which only ran the one season. He kept busy with work in other TV shows and appeared in several feature films including Skyjacked (1972), The Thing with Two Heads (1972) and The Timber Tramps (1973).
He continued to turn up in a handful of minor roles throughout the 1970s, but arguably did not possess the acting skill of other prominent African-American athletes-turned-actors such as Fred Williamson, Jim Brown and Jim Kelly.
He became an ordained minister in 1983, and has continued to champion the causes of those less fortunate, and to guide inner city teens from poor backgrounds.Rosey- Actor
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Fran Tarkenton was born on 3 February 1940 in Richmond, Virginia, USA. He is an actor, known for Hill Street Blues (1981), 1st & Ten (1984) and Saturday Night Live (1975). He is married to Linda. They have one child. He was previously married to Anna Elaine Merrell.- Actor
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Marcus Allen was born on 26 March 1960 in San Diego, California, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Hustlers (2019), Searching for Angela Shelton (2004) and Arli$$ (1996). He was previously married to Kathryn Edwards.- Actor
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Tony Dorsett was born on 7 April 1954 in Rochester, Pennsylvania, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Kill Zone (1993), Necessary Roughness (1991) and The Big Bounce (2004). He has been married to Janet Dorsett since 3 June 2000. They have three children. He was previously married to Julie Simon.- From day one, LaDainian Tomlinson showed that he had the talent to be a successful running back in the National Football League. Not only is he the San Diego Chargers' most valuable player, he is also considered by many to be the NFL's most valuable player, and is well on his way to a Hall of Fame career.
In many ways, Tomlinson's high school years on the football field at University High School in Waco, Texas were a sign of things to come. He earned Most Valuable Player for his district, and Offensive Player of the Year honors and even played against future Charger teammate Drew Brees in high school all-star games.
Tomlinson played college football for the Horned Frogs of Texas Christian University, where he set several school records: 21 games with 100 yards rushing, 54 touchdowns and 6,337 all-purpose yards. Although he was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy following the 2000 season, Tomlinson finished fourth in the voting behind Chris Weinke, Josh Heuppel and high school all-star rival Drew Brees.
Although he was snubbed in the Heisman voting, Tomlinson was definitely not snubbed by the San Diego Chargers in the 2001 NFL draft. San Diego had the first pick in the draft, but decided to trade down to the fifth pick and get more picks, allowing the Atlanta Falcons to draft the highly athletic Michael Vick. It seemed like the hand of fate was at work as the Chargers picked Tomlinson and Brees for their first two picks.
So far, Tomlinson has accomplished a great deal in his brief NFL career. He has set team records with 1,683 yards rushing and 2,370 all-purpose yards and is the first player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards and catch 100 passes in the same season. It will be interesting to see how far he can go before his NFL career is over. - Producer
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Tom Brady was born on August 3, 1977 in San Mateo, California, to Galynn Patricia (Johnson) and Thomas Edward Brady, who owns a financial planning business. His father is of Irish descent and his mother is of Norwegian-Swedish and Polish ancestry. He attended Junipero Serra High School, the same high school which produced Barry Bonds of the SF Giants. He attended the University of Michigan from 1995 to 1999. He was a backup to Brian Griese when the Wolverines went 12-0 and won the national championship in 1997. Brady shared the starting quarterback job with Drew Henson in 1998 and 1999, but managed to compile a 20-5 record over those two years, including a 2-0 record in bowl games. The New England Patriots made him a sixth round draft choice in 2000, the 199th player selected overall in the draft. He spent 2000 as a fourth string quarterback behind Drew Bledsoe, John Friesz and Michael Bishop. In 2001, Brady was elevated to second string quarterback behind Bledsoe as training camp broke. The fortunes for both Brady and the Patriots changed forever on September 23, 2001, as Bledsoe was hit hard by New York Jet linebacker "Mo Lewis", suffering a near life-threatening injury. Brady replaced Bledsoe in the contest, and has started every Patriot game at quarterback since. Bledsoe was never able to regain his starting job, as Brady led the Patriots on an 11-3 run to close the 2001 regular season, then led the Patriots through the playoffs and an improbable 20-17 win over the St. Louis Rams, a 14-point favorite, in Super Bowl XXXVI. After an ordinary 2002 season, Brady skippered the Patriots to one of the greatest seasons in NFL history in 2003. The Patriots began the season 2-2, then won every remaining regular season and playoff game, capped off by a 32-29 win over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII. Brady followed that up with a second consecutive Super Bowl appearance in 2004, as the Patriots once again went 14-2 in the regular season and defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, 24-21 in Super Bowl XXXIX. Brady is 9-0 all-time in the playoffs in his career following Super Bowl XXXIX. In the first two Super Bowls he has played in, Brady was named the Super Bowl MVP, becoming one of only four players in NFL history to win this award more than once. Brady is 48-14 as a starting Patriot quarterback going into the 2005 season. His poise as well as his penchant for playing with incredible cool and precision in big games is drawing comparisons with the great Joe Montana, former SF 49ers quarterback.
Brady is married to model Gisele Bündchen, and the couple has two children. His brother-in-law is baseball player Kevin Youkilis, who is married to Tom's sister, Julie.- Deion Branch was born on 18 July 1979 in Albany, Georgia, USA. He has been married to Shola Branch since 2007. They have three children.
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Tony Dungy was born on 6 October 1955 in Jackson, Michigan, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Sparks - The Ken Sparks Story (2022), Football Night in America (2006) and NFL Head Coach (2006). He has been married to Lauren Dungy since 19 June 1982. They have seven children.- Mel Blount was born on 10 April 1948 in Vidalia, Georgia, USA.
- Dwight White was born on 30 July 1949 in Hampton, Virginia, USA. He was an actor, known for Fighting Back: The Story of Rocky Bleier (1980), The NFL on CBS (1956) and The NFL on NBC (1965). He died on 6 June 2008 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
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Earl Campbell was born on 29 March 1955 in Tyler, Texas, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Necessary Roughness (1991), The Perfect 10 (2023) and The NFL on CBS (1956). He has been married to Reuna Smith since 30 May 1980. They have two children.- Actor
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Kurt Warner was born on 22 June 1971 in Burlington, Iowa, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for American Underdog (2021), The Moment (2013) and Life in Pieces (2015). He has been married to Brenda Warner since 11 October 1997. They have seven children.- Editor
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Height: 6'3 / Weight: 218 / College: Pittsburgh / Hometown: Minneapolis, MN / DOB: August 31, 1983 / Pro Bowl Selection: 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Two-time All-State and prep All-America receiver at Academy of the Holy Angels (Minneapolis, MN), High School Larry Fitzgerald recorded 73 receptions for 1,254 yards (17.2 yard avg.) and 17 TDs as a senior, and had 54 catches for 1,347 yards (24.9 yard avg.) with 12 TDs and 10 consecutive 100-yard receiving games as a junior. Also a three-year defensive starter, playing free safety as a senior and OLB as a junior and sophomore while also lettering twice in basketball and once in track. Fitzgerald studied in the College of Arts and Sciences at Pittsburgh and his father, Larry Sr., played football at Indiana State from 1975-77 and is the sports editor for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. Larry's mother, Carol, passed away in April of 2003 after a seven-year bout with cancer; Larry keeps her driver's license in his wallet next to his own. His younger brother, Marcus, played WR at Marshall from 2004-07 and following the 2013 season, was named to the USA Football All-Fundamentals Teams, one of 26 players (11 offense, 11 defense, 4 special teams) honored for exemplary football techniques for youth players to emulate.
Selected in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft; Larry was the first receiver taken and the third player overall behind QB Eli Manning (San Diego) and Robert Gallery (Oakland). Agreed to new contracts with Arizona on 3/11/08, 8/20/11 and a two-year contract on 2/18/15 that will keep him in a Cardinals uniform through the 2016 season. In his 11 seasons with the Cardinals, has established franchise records for receptions (909), receiving yards (12,151), receiving TDs (89), total TDs (89), 100-yard receiving games (38) and 1,000-yard receiving seasons (six). Has also been voted to the Pro Bowl eight times, including appearances in seven seasons (2007-13).
Originally selected by the Cardinals in the first round (third overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft and has started 168 of the 170 games in which he has appeared. His eight career Pro Bowl selections are tied with Hall of Fame safety Larry Wilson for the most in franchise history. Larry earned MVP honors in the 2008 Pro Bowl, and his eight career TDs represent a Pro Bowl record. Following the 2014 season, he was named the inaugural winner of the Art Rooney NFL sportsmanship Award, presented to an NFL player who demonstrates on the field qualities of great sportsmanship, including fair play, respect for opponents and integrity in competition. Fitzgerald was also selected as the Cardinals nominee for the Salute To Service award in '14. In 2012, was named one of three finalists for the "Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year" Award and was also named the recipient of the 14th Annual Arthur S. Arkush Humanitarian Award by Pro Football Weekly, which is given to the NFL player whose contributions to the community and charitable organizations are especially outstanding.- Dan Fouts was born on 10 June 1951 in San Francisco, California, USA. He is an actor, known for The Waterboy (1998), The Fall Guy (1981) and The NFL on CBS (1956). He has been married to Jeri Martin since 23 July 1994. They have two children. He was previously married to Julianne Mehl.
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Warren Moon was born on 18 November 1956 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Jerry Maguire (1996), Any Given Sunday (1999) and Warriors of Virtue (1997). He has been married to Mandy Ritter since 2005. They have one child. He was previously married to Felicia Moon.- Producer
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Shannon Goad Sharpe was born on June 26, 1968 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is a writer and producer, known for Skip and Shannon: Undisputed (2016), NFL Monday Night Football (1970) and The NFL on CBS (1956). After fourteen seasons in the National Football League, Sharpe became an analyst for CBS. He now works as co-host for FS1's Skip and Shannon: Undisputed.- Roger Staubach was born on 5 February 1942 in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. He is a producer and writer, known for Hail Mary: The Drew Pearson Roger Staubach Story, SLANT 45: The Movie (2011) and The Perfect 10 (2023). He has been married to Marianne Staubach since 4 September 1965. They have five children.
- Tom Dempsey was born on 12 January 1947 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. He was married to Carlene Baker. He died on 4 April 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.The punter w/clubfoot who set a record in distance in kicking
- Tiki Barber was born on 7 April 1975 in Blacksburg, Virginia, USA. He is an actor, known for Knight Rider (2008), Orange Is the New Black (2013) and Lack of Will (2016). He has been married to Traci Lynn Johnson since 19 July 2012. They have two children. He was previously married to Ginny Barber.
- Ronde Barber was born on 7 April 1975 in Blacksburg, Virginia, USA. He is an actor, known for Bones (2005), Fox Football Daily (2013) and Fox NFL Kickoff (2013). He has been married to Claudia Patron since 24 February 2001. They have two children.
- Priest Holmes was born on 7 October 1973 in Fort Smith, Arkansas, USA.
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Michael Strahan was born on 21 November 1971 in Houston, Texas, USA. He is a producer and actor, known for The Lego Ninjago Movie (2017), Charlie's Angels (2019) and Ice Age: Collision Course (2016). He was previously married to Jean Marie Muggli and Wanda Nicole Hutchins.- Throughout his 16-year NFL career, Romanowski was mired in controversy as he was notorious for having numerous altercations with opponents as well as teammates which made him widely considered as the dirtiest player in NFL history. His career effectively ended in 2003 when he fought fellow Oakland Raider Marcus Williams which involved a punch in the face that was hard enough to crush one of his eye sockets. This ended Williams' career prematurely due to poor vision from Romanowski's punch.
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Simeon Rice was born on 24 February 1974 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Unsullied (2014), When I Was King (2011) and The Gold Rush Boogie.- Actor
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Herschel Walker was born on 3 March 1962 in Wrightsville, Georgia, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for One Nation Under God (2020), Superfights (1995) and Necessary Roughness (1991). He has been married to Julie Blanchard since May 2021. He was previously married to Cindy DeAngelis.- Actor
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Michael Irvin was born on 5 March 1966 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Jack and Jill (2011), The Longest Yard (2005) and Criminal Minds (2005). He has been married to Sandy Harrell since 23 June 1990. They have four children.- Producer
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Peyton Manning is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback for 18 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Considered to be one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time due to his numerous career achievements, Peyton spent 14 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and was a member of the Denver Broncos in his last four seasons. Manning played college football for the University of Tennessee, leading the Tennessee Volunteers to the 1997 SEC Championship in his senior season. He is the second son of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning and older brother of New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning.
Peyton Manning was selected by the Colts as the first overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft. From 1998 to 2010, he improved the fortunes of the struggling Colts franchise and helped transform them into consistent playoff contenders. During his tenure as starting quarterback, Manning led the team to eight division championships, two AFC championships, and one Super Bowl title, the franchise's first in over three decades, as well as their first since relocating to Indianapolis.
After undergoing neck surgery that forced him to miss the entire 2011 season, Manning was released by the Colts and signed with the Broncos. Serving as the team's starting quarterback from 2012 to 2015, he contributed to the Broncos reaching the top of their division each year and his playing career concluded with a victory in Super Bowl 50.
Peyton Manning holds many NFL records, including AP MVP awards (5), Pro Bowl appearances (14), 4,000-yard passing seasons (14), single-season passing yards (5,477 in 2013), single-season passing touchdowns (55 in 2013). He tied for most First-Team All Pros for a quarterback with 7, and is second in career passing yards (71,940) and passing TD (539). At 39 years of age, Manning was the oldest quarterback to start in and win a Super Bowl until Tom Brady surpassed him by winning a Super Bowl at 41.- Producer
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Tedy Bruschi was born on 9 June 1973 in San Francisco, California, USA. He is a producer and writer, known for NFL Live (1991), Sunday NFL Countdown (1985) and The NFL on CBS (1956). He has been married to Heidi Bomberger since 27 June 1997. They have two children.- Actor
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Reggie Bush was born on 2 March 1985 in Spring Valley, California, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Walking on Dead Fish (2008), The Reggie Bush Project (2006) and Sighrens. He has been married to Lilit Avagyan since 12 July 2014. They have three children.- Jeremy Shockey was born on 18 August 1980 in Ada, Oklahoma, USA. He is an actor, known for Ballers (2015), NFL Monday Night Football (1970) and The NFL on CBS (1956). He has been married to Daniela Cortazar since 19 May 2012.
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Howie Long was born on 6 January 1960 in Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Broken Arrow (1996), 3000 Miles to Graceland (2001) and Firestorm (1998). He has been married to Diane Addonizio since 27 June 1982. They have three children.- Actor
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Michael Vick is a former professional American football quarterback who played 13 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football at Virginia Tech and was selected by the Falcons as the first overall pick in the 2001 NFL Draft. During his six years with the Falcons, Vick was regarded as having transformed the quarterback position with his rushing abilities and was named to three Pro Bowls. He was the first NFL quarterback to rush for 1,000 yards in a season and holds the record for the most career rushing yards by a quarterback (6,109).
In 2009 Vick signed with the Eagles. As a member of the Eagles for five years, he enjoyed the greatest statistical season of his career and was named to a fourth Pro Bowl in 2010. In his final two seasons in the NFL, Vick played for the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers for one year each, primarily as a backup. He officially retired from professional football in 2017 after spending the entirety of the 2016 season in free agency.- Steve Smith Sr. was born on 12 May 1979 in Lynwood, California, USA. He is married to Angie. They have four children.
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Until the start of the 2008 Season, Brett Favre was the Green Bay Packers' starting Quarterback since joining the team in 1992. He joins Joe Montana in being the only players to win back-to-back MVP awards. Favre led the Packers to three consecutive playoff appearances (for the first time since the 1960s) including a Superbowl win in 1996. Raised in Kiln, Mississippi, Favre was both a baseball and a football star, lettering in both sports. On July 14, 1996, Favre married long-time girlfriend Deanna Tynes after a 12-year courtship.- Writer
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Adrian Peterson was born on 1 July 1979 in Gainesville, Florida, USA. He is a writer and producer, known for The Run: The Adrian Peterson Story, The NFL on CBS (1956) and NFL Monday Night Football (1970).- Drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers as the heir apparent to Tommy Maddox, Ben Rothelisberger wound up taking the NFL by storm in the 2004 season. When Maddox went down with an injury in Pittsburgh's 2nd week loss of 2004 to the Baltimore Ravens, Rothelisberger was elevated to starting quarterback, and the Steelers' season was never the same. Nicknamed Big Ben due to an imposing build that was unusual for quarterbacks, Rothelisberger won in his first official start in week three of 2004, and won again in week four. He and the Steelers kept winning in subsequent games, and suddenly the Steelers, a year removed from a poor 2003 season, were becoming an AFC force.
It was during the 2004 Halloween weekend that Rothelisberger officially "arrived" when Pittsburgh hosted the defending Superbowl champion New England Patriots, who had compiled an NFL-record 21 consecutive victories. This streak came crashing to a half as Rothelisberger led the Steelers to a 34-20 triumph, giving Pittsburgh the edge in the AFC. The following Sunday Rothelisberger handed the visiting Philidelphia Eagles a 27-3 pounding, the Eagles' first loss of the year and which led to the infamous Terrell Owens-Donovan McNabb sideline incident. Now Pittsburgh was listed a Superbowl contender, and opposing defenses were forced to pay far more attention to Rothelisberger than they could ever have anticipated. Big Ben began to be tested more as the 2004 season wound down, notably in a dramatic shootout with the Eli Manning-led New York Giants, but Rothelisberger continued to triumph, and led the Steelers to a spectacular 15-1 2004 season.
Entering the playoffs, however, Rothelisberger was now a target of opposing defensive schemes, and facing the New York Jets Rothelisberger committed several ill-fated plays, notably a pair of 4th-quarter interceptions. But two botched New York Jet field goal tries allowed Rothelisberger to lead the Steelers to a field goal triumph, and left Big Ben with a 16-0 record as a starter. His winning streak, however, came to an end in the AFC Championship Game to the revenge-minded New England Patriots, who picked off Rothelisberger three times; a 2nd-quarter pick was returned by Rodney Harison for a back-breaking touchdown. Rothelisberger threw two touchdown passes but could not overcome the Superbowl-bound Patriots in a 41-27 drilling of the Steelers.
It was his first career loss as a pro, and his second loss would come some nine months later in a suspenseful 23-20 loss to the Patriots. He would bounce back, leading the Steelers to a 11-5 record in 2005. As a wild card, the Steelers went on to defeat the division champion Cincinatti Bengals, heavily-favored Indianapolis Colts, and the re-energized Denver Broncos to earn a berth in Super Bowl XL against the Seattle Seahawks.
Although he struggled in the Super Bowl, Ben was able to do just enough to help the Steelers to their first NFL championship since the 1979 season. At age 23, he became the youngest quarterback to lead his team to a Super Bowl win.
However, the celebration was short-lived as Rothlisberger was seriously injured in a near-fatal off-season motorcycle accident, to which he was not wearing a helmet. He was able to recover and now shows no signs of injury.Big ben - Hines Ward was born on 8 March 1976 in Seoul, South Korea. He is an actor, known for Dynasty (2017), The NFL on CBS (1956) and NFL Monday Night Football (1970). He has been married to Lindsey Georgalas since 27 July 2014. He was previously married to Simone.
- Troy Polamalu was born on 19 April 1981 in Garden Grove, California, USA. He is an actor, known for Moana (2016), The NFL on CBS (1956) and NFL Monday Night Football (1970). He has been married to Theodora Holmes since 27 January 2005. They have two children.
- Jerome Bettis was born on 16 February 1972 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. He is an actor, known for Chuck (2007), The Office (2005) and Arli$$ (1996). He has been married to Trameka Bettis since 8 July 2006. They have two children.
- T.J. Houshmandzadeh was born on 26 September 1977 in Victorville, California, USA. He is an actor, known for The NFL on CBS (1956), NFL Monday Night Football (1970) and NFL on FOX (1994).
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Drew Brees was born on 15 January 1979 in Austin, Texas, USA. He is a producer and actor, known for Untitled Movie Based on the Last Ridge, Bride and Doom and Selah and the Spades (2019). He has been married to Brittany Brees since 8 February 2003. They have four children.- Bart Starr was born on 9 January 1934 in Montgomery, Alabama, USA. He was an actor, known for Run to Daylight (1964), Gentle Ben (1967) and The NFL on CBS (1956). He was married to Cherry Starr. He died on 26 May 2019 in Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
- Julius Peppers attended Southern Nash High School in Bailey, N.C. He went on to attend the University of North Carolina where he majored in Afro-American studies. Aside from football, Peppers played basketball for the Tar Heels in 1999 as a freshman and in 2000 as a sophomore. He was named the nation's top two-sport athlete by The Sporting News in 2001 in a vote of Division I basketball coaches. Peppers started 33 of the 34 games played in three seasons for North Carolina football and finished his career ranked second all-time in Tar Heels history with 30.5 sacks. He won the Lombardi Award, given to the nation's top lineman, and the Chuck Bednarik Award, given to the nation's best overall defensive player as a junior. Peppers was a finalist for the Nagurski Award, awarded by the Football Writers Association to college football's best defensive player and was unanimous All-America and All-ACC first team choice. In 1999, he was a Freshman All-America choice by The Sporting News. Peppers was selected in the first round (second overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft by Carolina (4/20/02). He went on to set numerous records over his long, brilliant career. He tallied one sack vs. Philadelphia (10/12/17), marking his 150th career sack, becoming the only player in NFL history with at least 150 sacks and 10 interceptions. Julius Peppers, Bruce Smith, Reggie White and Kevin Greene as the only players in NFL history with 10 10-sack seasons. Peppers was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year by AP in 2002 after recording 12 sacks in his debut season. He currently ranks fourth in NFL history with 159.5 career sacks. Peppers was also named AP First Team All-Pro 3x (2010, 2006, 2004) and was voted to the Pro Bowl 9x (2015, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2006, 2005, 2004). He played 17 NFL seasons (10 with Carolina)."
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Santana Moss was born on 1 June 1979 in Miami, Florida, USA. He is a producer, known for The Safety, The NFL on CBS (1956) and NFL Monday Night Football (1970).- Actor
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Boomer Esiason was born on 17 April 1961 in West Islip, New York, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for The Game Plan (2007), 1st & Ten (1984) and American Underdog (2021). He has been married to Cheryl Inez Hyde since 24 May 1986. They have two children.- Actor
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Ahmad Rashad was born on 19 November 1949 in Portland, Oregon, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Space Jam (1996), Best of the Best (1989) and Monsters (1988). He has been married to Ana Luz Rodriguez-Paz since 30 April 2016. He was previously married to Sale Johnson, Phylicia Rashad, Matilda Johnson and Deidre Waters.- Writer
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Rod Woodson was born on 10 March 1965 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA. He is a writer and producer, known for The NFL on CBS (1956), NFL Monday Night Football (1970) and The NFL on NBC (1965). He has been married to Nickie Theede since 1992. They have five children.- Santonio Holmes was born on 3 March 1984 in Belle Glade, Florida, USA.
- Charles Haley was born on 6 January 1964 in Gladys, Virginia, USA.
- Junior Seau, was a native of Oceanside, CA. He attended Oceanside High School where he lettered in football, basketball, and track. Parade magazine named him to its High School All-American team simply as an athlete and refused to specify a particular sport. In 2010, Junior was inducted into the Oceanside High School Hall of Fame. Upon graduation, Junior accepted a football scholarship to the University of Southern California, where he was named unanimous first-team All-American before being drafted fifth over all in the 1990 N.F.L. draft by the Chargers, who played 40 miles south of his hometown. A 12-time Pro Bowler, Seau played 13 seasons with the Chargers and was one of the team's most popular players. In the 1994 season, he led the team to the Super Bowl, where they lost to the San Francisco 49ers, 49-26. The Pro Football Hall of Fame selected him for the 1990s All-Decade Team. Seau was traded to the Dolphins in 2003, and after three injury-plagued seasons he was released. He signed a one-day contract with the Chargers in August 2006 to announce his retirement. But four days later, he signed with the New England Patriots and was a member of the 2007 team that went undefeated in the regular season, losing to the Giants in the Super Bowl. His last season in the N.F.L was 2009. He finished his career with 1,524 tackles, 56 ½ sacks and 18 interceptions. The circumstances of Seau's death raised comparisons to the former Chicago Bears star Dave Duerson. In February 2011, Duerson shot himself in the chest, saying in a note that he wanted his brain donated to the study of football head injuries. Though remembered as a hard-hitting, inspirational linebacker, Seau did not have a documented history of concussions. He missed several games in his career with leg and chest injuries. In October 2010, he sustained minor injuries when he drove his S.U.V. off a 30-foot bluff after being arrested on suspicion of domestic assault. The police said he fell asleep at the wheel.
- Olindo Mare was born on 6 June 1973 in Hollywood, Florida, USA.
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Ronnie Lott was born on 8 May 1959 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. He is a producer and actor, known for Sew Torn (2024), Adventures with Kanga Roddy (1998) and Hawkeye (1988). He has been married to Karen Lott since 2 March 1991. They have three children.- Orenthal James Simpson, was an American former football running back, broadcaster, actor, advertising spokesman.
Simpson attended the University of Southern California, where he played football for the USC Trojans and won the Heisman Trophy in 1968. He played professionally as a running back in the NFL for 11 seasons, primarily with the Buffalo Bills from 1969 to 1977. He also played for the San Francisco 49ers from 1978 to 1979. In 1973, he became the first NFL player to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season. He holds the record for the single season yards-per-game average, which stands at 143.1. He was the only player to ever rush for over 2,000 yards in the 14-game regular season NFL format.
Simpson was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985. After retiring from football, he began new careers in acting and football broadcasting. - Randy Grossman was born on 20 September 1952 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He is an actor, known for Yaya (2018), The NFL on CBS (1956) and NFL Monday Night Football (1970).
- Bennie Cunningham was born on 23 December 1954 in Laurens, South Carolina, USA. He is an actor, known for Fighting Back: The Story of Rocky Bleier (1980), The NFL on CBS (1956) and NFL Monday Night Football (1970).