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Bob Mischak

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Bob Mischak
No. 62, 67, 87
Position:Guard
Tight end
Personal information
Born:(1932-10-25)October 25, 1932
Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Died:June 26, 2014(2014-06-26) (aged 81)
Orinda, California, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:255 lb (116 kg)
Career information
High school:Union (NJ)
College:Army
NFL draft:1954 / round: 23 / pick: 276
Career history
As a player:
As a coach:
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Robert Michael Mischak (Pronounced: MIH-shak) (October 25, 1932 – June 26, 2014) was a college and professional American football guard and tight end who played six seasons in the American Football League (AFL), from 1960 to 1965. He was selected by his peers as a Sporting News AFL All-League guard in 1960 and 1961. He was an AFL Eastern Division All-Star in 1962. He also played in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Giants and was a starting guard in the famed 1958 "Greatest Game Ever Played". In addition, Mischak was a 3-time Super Bowl champion coach with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders.

In an October 1953 game against Duke at the Polo Grounds in New York City, Mischak made an improbable play to seal a 14–13 Army victory that was chronicled in David Maraniss' biography of Vince Lombardi, When Pride Still Mattered.[1] Late in the fourth quarter, Duke running back Red Smith ran a double reverse for what would have been a go-ahead touchdown, but was pursued by Mischak from 73 yards behind. As Smith neared the endzone, Mischak caught up to him and made a touchdown-saving tackle short of the goal line. Two subsequent stops by the Army defense yielded a historic victory for head coach Red Blaik. Col Blaik was later to write “In somehow catching and collaring (Smith), Mischak displayed heart and a pursuit that for one single play I have never seen matched."

In 2017, Mischak was posthumously enshrined into the Army/West Point Sports Hall of Fame,[2] and was named no. 7 on NFL.com's list of Top Ten All Time NFL Players from service academies.[3]

After his playing career Mischak served as a coach of tight ends for the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders from 1973 to 1987 and 1994.[4] He died on June 26, 2014, at the age of 81.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ David Maraniss (1999). When Pride Still Mattered: A Life of Vince Lombardi. ISBN 9780684844183. Retrieved June 27, 2014 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ "2017 Army Sports Hall of Fame Plaque Unveiling Ceremony". GoArmyWestPoint.com. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.
  3. ^ "Top Ten All Time NFL Players from service academies". NFL.com.
  4. ^ Randy Lange. "Titans G Bob Mischak, 'AFL Original,' Dies". Newyorkjets.com. Archived from the original on June 28, 2014. Retrieved June 27, 2014.