Gary Knafelc
Gary Knafelc (born January 2, 1932) is a former American football player, a wide receiver / tight end in the National Football League for ten seasons, primarily with the Green Bay Packers.[1] He played one game at the start of his career with the Chicago Cardinals and his final season was with the San Francisco 49ers.
No. 84 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Position: | Wide Receiver / Tight End | ||
Personal information | |||
Born: | Pueblo, Colorado | January 2, 1932||
Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||
Weight: | 217 lb (98 kg) | ||
Career information | |||
High school: | Pueblo (CO) Central | ||
College: | Colorado | ||
NFL Draft: | 1954 / Round: 2 / Pick: 14 | ||
Career history | |||
Career highlights and awards | |||
| |||
Career NFL statistics | |||
| |||
Player stats at PFR |
Born and raised in Pueblo, Colorado, Knafelc graduated from its Central High School in 1950 and played college football at the University of Colorado in Boulder under head coach Dal Ward.[2]
He was the 14th overall selection of the 1954 NFL draft, taken by the Chicago Cardinals, who traded him early that season to the Green Bay Packers. Knafelc is the only player to ever be carried off the City Stadium or Lambeau Field turf by fans. That happened after he caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from Tobin Rote in the final minute to beat the Detroit Lions, 20–17, in the 1955 season opener on September 25.[1][2][3][4][5]
Knafelc was a member of Vince Lombardi's first two NFL title teams in 1961 and 1962, and was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 1976. He was the public address announcer for Packers games at Lambeau Field from 1964 until 2004, when he was succeeded by Bill Jartz of WBAY-TV.
References
- Hendricks, Martin (October 15, 2013). "Former tight end Gary Knafelc also worked as the PA announcer at Lambeau Field". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
- Moss, Irv (July 24, 2013). "Colorado Classics: Gary Knafelc, former CU Buffs star". Denver Post. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
- Lea, Bud (September 26, 1955). "Packers surprise Lions, 20-17". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 3, part 2.
- Johnson, Chuck (September 26, 1955). "Packers upset Detroit, 20-17, on last minute touchdown". Milwaukee Journal. p. 13, part 2.
- "Packers upset Detroit, 20-17, on last minute touchdown". Packer History. September 25, 1955. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference ·
- Packers.com – An Oral History – Gary Knafelc
- Greater Pueblo Sports Association Hall of Fame – Gary Knafelc