George Burman

George Robert Burman (born December 1, 1942 in Chicago, Illinois) is a former American football offensive lineman and long snapper in the National Football League for the Chicago Bears, the Los Angeles Rams, and the Washington Redskins, and is credited as the NFL's first specialized long snapper — someone whose roster spot was based on the long snap, and not other positions. [1]

He played college football at Northwestern University and was drafted in the 15th round of the 1964 NFL Draft.[2] George Allen, then the head of scouting for the Chicago Bears, selected Burman, and proceeded to bring him to the Los Angeles Rams in 1966 and the Washington Redskins in 1971.

Burman began his long snapping with the Rams, working on the punts, but was still considered a backup offensive lineman. When Allen coaxed him out of retirement in the 1971 preseason to join Washington, Burman's roster spot was based on his long snap, not his offensive line play.[3] His final game was Super Bowl VII; he missed the entire 1973 season with an injury, and then retired.