Erik Affholter

He was born in Detroit, Michigan, to Conrad (a salesman) and Ruth Affholter, and is Jewish.[1][2] In the early 1970s, the family moved to Agoura, California.[3] He later lived in Anthem, Arizona.[4][5]

Affholter played football at Oak Park High School in Ventura County, California.[5] As a 16-year-old place kicker during his junior season he broke a national record with a 64-yard (59 meter) field goal in 1982, which at the time was the longest field goal kicked at any level.[6][3][4][7][8][9] A sportswriter at the game estimated it could have gone 74 yards (68 meters).[10] Asked about his kick, Affholter said: "I'd much rather catch touchdown passes."[1] At the time, as a wide receiver he had caught more touchdown passes than any player in his high school conference.[1]

In addition to kicking field goals and extra points, he played tailback, wide receiver, defensive back, and linebacker.[11] In 1983 he was a USA Today All-USA high school football first team All-American, All-California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), and All-State; he was also an LA Times running back of the year.[9][12]

He played college football at the University of Southern California (USC; class of 1989) for the Trojans as a wide receiver, though he had initially received a scholarship as a kicker.[11][13][14][15][16] He was athletic, with a 36-inch (910 mm) vertical jump.[11]

On November 21, 1987, he made a controversial memorable fourth quarter winning end zone juggling touchdown catch for a 17-13 upset over Troy Aikman's No. 5-ranked UCLA Bruins that sent the unranked 1988 USC Trojans football team to the 1988 Rose Bowl.[5][17][18][19][9] He was named a member of the 1988 College Football All-America Team, and a Pac-10 All-Academic selection.[20][8][21][9] In 1988 as a senior he led USC with 68 catches for 952 yards and eight touchdowns.[22] He established USC records for most receptions in a season, and in a career (123).[16][23] Upon graduation, he became a member of the USC Skull and Dagger Society.[9]

He was drafted in the fourth round of the 1989 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins.[24] On April 23, 1989, the Redskins then immediately traded him and two draft picks to the Green Bay Packers for quarterback Jeff Graham.[25][9] About a month later he broke his ankle in a pick-up basketball game in New York City, shortly before reporting to Packers training camp.[5] He spent the entire season on injured reserve.[23] He played the 1991 season in the NFL for the Packers.[7]

In 1992, he signed with the San Diego Chargers as a free agent.[26] He retired in 1995 due to a career-ending knee injury.[9]

Since retiring, he has coached high school and youth football.[9][27]

In 2016 he was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.[28][2][4]

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• The Pro Football Archives
• databaseFootball