Pete Retzlaff
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| No. 44 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Halfback / split end / tight end | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | August 21, 1931 Ellendale, North Dakota | ||||||||
| Died: | April 10, 2020 (aged 88) Pottstown, Pennsylvania | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Ellendale (ND) | ||||||||
| College: | South Dakota State | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1953 / round: 22 / pick: 265 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Palmer Edward Retzlaff (August 21, 1931 – April 10, 2020), known as Pete Retzlaff and nicknamed "Pistol Pete" and "The Baron", was a professional American football player and general manager.
Early life
Retzlaff played football at Ellendale High School in Ellendale, North Dakota and starred in track and field and football at South Dakota State College. In 1952, he rushed for 1,016 yards.
Pro-football career
Retzlaff was selected in the 1953 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions of the National Football League but he did not make the team. After two years in the U.S. Army he was sold to the Philadelphia Eagles, where he played running back, wide receiver and tight end for 11 seasons. In 1958, despite having never caught a pass in college, he led the NFL with 56 pass receptions. He went to the Pro Bowl five times, and he won the Bert Bell Award for NFL player of the year in 1965, when he caught 66 passes including ten touchdowns. He also served as president of the NFL Players Association. In 2005, he was named to the Professional Football Researchers Association Hall of Very Good in the association's third HOVG class.[1]
From 1969 to 1972, he served as the Eagles' vice president and general manager. In 1973 and 1974, he worked as a color analyst for NFL coverage on CBS television.
Retzlaff's number 44 jersey has been retired by the Eagles.
Retzlaff died on April 10, 2020 in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, at the age of 88.[2]
References
- ^ "Hall of Very Good". Retrieved July 14, 2016.
- ^ McPherson, Chris (April 10, 2020). "Eagles mourn the passing of Hall of Famer Pete Retzlaff". Philadelphia Eagles. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
- 1931 births
- 2020 deaths
- American football ends
- American football halfbacks
- American football tight ends
- Philadelphia Eagles executives
- Philadelphia Eagles players
- South Dakota State Jackrabbits football players
- National Football League announcers
- National Football League general managers
- Eastern Conference Pro Bowl players
- People from Ellendale, North Dakota
- Players of American football from North Dakota
- Presidents of the National Football League Players Association
- Military personnel from North Dakota
- Trade unionists from North Dakota