Gary_Knafelc
Gary Knafelc
American football player (1932–2022)
Gary Knafelc (/ˈknæfəl/ KNAF-əl;[1] January 2, 1932 – December 19, 2022) was an American professional football player who was a wide receiver and a tight end in the National Football League (NFL) for ten seasons, primarily with the Green Bay Packers.[2] 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: | (1932-01-02)January 2, 1932 Pueblo, Colorado, U.S. |
| Died: | December 19, 2022(2022-12-19) (aged 90) Clermont, Florida, U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Weight: | 217 lb (98 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Central (Pueblo, Colorado) |
| College: | Colorado |
| NFL draft: | 1954 / Round: 2 / Pick: 14 |
| Career history | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Career NFL statistics | |
| Player stats at NFL.com · 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.[3]
Knafelc 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 signed with the Packers as a free agent two games into the 1954 season. 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.[2][3][4][5][6]
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.[7] He was the public address announcer for Packers games at Lambeau Field from 1964 until 2004,[8][9] when he was succeeded by Bill Jartz of WBAY-TV.
His Legacy lives on through his great nephew (Niklas Gerard) who is a stud for the South Bend Saint Joe Indian's Football Team.
Knafelc died at his home in Clermont, Florida, on December 19, 2022, at the age of 90.[10]
- "The Maino Project: Gary Knafelc", WGBA-TV, June 27, 2013.
- 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.
- Christl, Cliff. "Gary Knaflec". Packers.com. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
- Christl, Cliff (December 19, 2022). "Former Packers star and stadium PA announcer, Gary Knafelc, dies at 90". www.packers.com.
- "Lombardi-era player Gary Knafelc, longtime Packers announcer, dies at age 90". wbay.com. December 29, 2022.
- Ryman, Richard. "Gary Knafelc, longtime Green Bay Packers player, announcer, dead at 90", Green Bay Press-Gazette, December 19, 2022.
- Packers.com – An Oral History – Gary Knafelc
- Greater Pueblo Sports Association Hall of Fame – Gary Knafelc