Daryle Lamonica
Encyclopedia
Daryle Pat Lamonica is a former American collegiate and professional football
quarterback
who played in the American Football League
, and later in the NFL.
Lamonica lettered in four sports and was an All-State Quarterback at Clovis High School in Clovis, California
. Clovis High School renamed its football stadium Lamonica Stadium in 1970. After high school, he turned down a professional baseball contract with the Chicago Cubs
. Lamonica spent his collegiate career at the University of Notre Dame
, and was the team's starting quarterback for three seasons.
After a 20-for-28, 349-yard performance in the 1962 East-West Shrine Game
at Kezar Stadium
in San Francisco, Lamonica was named the game's Most Valuable Player
. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills
in the 24th round of the 1963 AFL draft. He was also drafted by the Green Bay Packers
in the 12th round of the 1963 NFL draft. Lamonica played with Buffalo for four seasons, backing up Jack Kemp
on a team that won back-to-back AFL championships in 1964 and 1965. He was known as "the Fireman", coming into games if Kemp was hurt or ineffective, and pulling out victories.
In 1967, Lamonica was traded to the Oakland Raiders
with Glenn Bass for Art Powell
and Tom Flores
, for whom he played until his final year in 1974. In his first year with the Raiders under head coach John Rauch, he threw for 30 touchdowns and ran for four more. He was also efficient during the 1968 season, including the Raiders' win in the Heidi Game
. In 1969, he threw for 34 touchdowns and more than 3,300 yards. It was in Oakland that Lamonica's passing acumen earned him the nickname "the Mad Bomber", though his accuracy was sometimes suspect, as indicated by the fact that as a Raider starter from 1967 to 1972, his best completion average was only 53.0% (in 1972), though it may be argued that was because his passes were so very long.
With Lamonica, the Raiders won four straight Western Division titles (three AFL and one AFC) and one American Football League Championship. The Raiders made one World Championship Game
appearance with Lamonica as quarterback, losing to the Green Bay Packers
, 33-14, in Super Bowl II
, when Lamonica threw for two touchdowns, though completing only 15 out of 34 passes. Lamonica was a 3-time American Football League All-Star
and twice was selected as the American Football League's Most Valuable Player
, in 1967 and 1969. Daryle Lamonica went 66-16-4 as a starter, good for a 78.4% winning percentage, second best in NFL history (Otto Graham
is the highest at 81.0%). In the American Football League, Lamonica's winning percentage as a starter was 90.0%, on 40 wins, 4 losses and 1 tie in 45 games, the best ever in the AFL. Although excellent at man-for-man coverage, he had a hard time reading zone defenses, more prevalent in the 1970s, and his throwing was sometimes inaccurate. Therefore, he was replaced in 1973 by Ken Stabler
, who, despite a weaker arm, was better at both, leading the Raiders to a Super Bowl victory in 1976.
Lamonica played for one season (1975) in the short-lived World Football League
as quarterback of the Southern California Sun
where in limited time he went 9 for 19 and gained 90 yards for 1 touchdown. In recent years, he hosted a national fishing
show on Fox Sports Net
called Outdoors with the Pros.
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Professional football
In the United States and Canada, the term professional football includes the professional forms of American and Canadian gridiron football. In common usage, it refers to former and existing major football leagues in either country...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
who played in the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
, and later in the NFL.
Lamonica lettered in four sports and was an All-State Quarterback at Clovis High School in Clovis, California
Clovis, California
Clovis is a city in Fresno County, California, United States, northeast of Fresno. The population is estimated to be 97,218 as of September, 2011. Clovis is located northeast of downtown Fresno, at an elevation of 361 feet .-History:...
. Clovis High School renamed its football stadium Lamonica Stadium in 1970. After high school, he turned down a professional baseball contract with the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
. Lamonica spent his collegiate career at the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, and was the team's starting quarterback for three seasons.
After a 20-for-28, 349-yard performance in the 1962 East-West Shrine Game
East-West Shrine Game
The East–West Shrine Game is an annual post-season college football all-star game played each January since 1925. The game is sponsored by the fraternal group Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and the net proceeds are earmarked to some of the Shrine's charitable works, most notably the Shriners...
at Kezar Stadium
Kezar Stadium
Kezar Stadium is a stadium located adjacent to Kezar Pavilion in the southeastern corner of Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California. It is the former home of the Oakland Raiders and the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL, and of the San Francisco Dragons of MLL. It also served as the home of the...
in San Francisco, Lamonica was named the game's Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the 24th round of the 1963 AFL draft. He was also drafted by the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
in the 12th round of the 1963 NFL draft. Lamonica played with Buffalo for four seasons, backing up Jack Kemp
Jack Kemp
Jack French Kemp was an American politician and a collegiate and professional football player. A Republican, he served as Housing Secretary in the administration of President George H. W. Bush from 1989 to 1993, having previously served nine terms as a congressman for Western New York's 31st...
on a team that won back-to-back AFL championships in 1964 and 1965. He was known as "the Fireman", coming into games if Kemp was hurt or ineffective, and pulling out victories.
In 1967, Lamonica was traded to the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
with Glenn Bass for Art Powell
Art Powell
-Early career:Powell attended and played high school football at San Diego High School and played college football at San José State University.-Professional career:...
and Tom Flores
Tom Flores
Thomas R. "Tom" Flores is a retired American football quarterback and coach. Flores and Mike Ditka are the only two people in the National Football League history to win a Super Bowl as a player, as an assistant coach, and as a head coach...
, for whom he played until his final year in 1974. In his first year with the Raiders under head coach John Rauch, he threw for 30 touchdowns and ran for four more. He was also efficient during the 1968 season, including the Raiders' win in the Heidi Game
Heidi Game
The Heidi Game or Heidi Bowl was an American football game played on November 17, 1968. The home team, the Oakland Raiders, defeated the New York Jets, 43–32. The game is remembered for its exciting finish, as Oakland scored two touchdowns in the final minute to overcome a 32–29 New York lead...
. In 1969, he threw for 34 touchdowns and more than 3,300 yards. It was in Oakland that Lamonica's passing acumen earned him the nickname "the Mad Bomber", though his accuracy was sometimes suspect, as indicated by the fact that as a Raider starter from 1967 to 1972, his best completion average was only 53.0% (in 1972), though it may be argued that was because his passes were so very long.
With Lamonica, the Raiders won four straight Western Division titles (three AFL and one AFC) and one American Football League Championship. The Raiders made one World Championship Game
Professional American football championship games
Below is a list of professional football championship games in the United States, involving:* the informal Pittsburgh circuit of professional football teams ;...
appearance with Lamonica as quarterback, losing to the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
, 33-14, in Super Bowl II
Super Bowl II
The second AFL-NFL World Championship Game in professional American football, later to be known as Super Bowl II, was played on January 14, 1968 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida....
, when Lamonica threw for two touchdowns, though completing only 15 out of 34 passes. Lamonica was a 3-time American Football League All-Star
American Football League All-Star games
-All-League Teams:The Sporting News published American Football League All-League Teams for each season played by the American Football League, 1960 through 1969...
and twice was selected as the American Football League's Most Valuable Player
American Football League Most Valuable Players
During its ten-year existence , the American Football League's best player for each year was called the Most Valuable Player by some sports-news sources and the Player of the Year by others...
, in 1967 and 1969. Daryle Lamonica went 66-16-4 as a starter, good for a 78.4% winning percentage, second best in NFL history (Otto Graham
Otto Graham
Otto Everett Graham, Jr. was a professional American football and basketball player who played for the Cleveland Browns in both the All-America Football Conference and National Football League, as well as the Rochester Royals in the National Basketball League.-Early life:Born in Waukegan,...
is the highest at 81.0%). In the American Football League, Lamonica's winning percentage as a starter was 90.0%, on 40 wins, 4 losses and 1 tie in 45 games, the best ever in the AFL. Although excellent at man-for-man coverage, he had a hard time reading zone defenses, more prevalent in the 1970s, and his throwing was sometimes inaccurate. Therefore, he was replaced in 1973 by Ken Stabler
Ken Stabler
Kenneth "Kenny" Michael Stabler , is a former American football quarterback in the NFL for the Oakland Raiders , the Houston Oilers , and the New Orleans Saints...
, who, despite a weaker arm, was better at both, leading the Raiders to a Super Bowl victory in 1976.
Lamonica played for one season (1975) in the short-lived World Football League
World Football League
The World Football League was a short-lived gridiron football league that played in 1974 and part of 1975. Although the league's proclaimed ambition was to bring American football onto a worldwide stage, the farthest the WFL reached was placing a team – the Hawaiians – in Honolulu, Hawaii. The...
as quarterback of the Southern California Sun
Southern California Sun
The Southern California Sun were an American football team based out of Anaheim, California that played in the World Football League in 1974 and 1975. Their records were 13-7 in 1974 and 7-5 in 1975. Their home stadium was Anaheim Stadium...
where in limited time he went 9 for 19 and gained 90 yards for 1 touchdown. In recent years, he hosted a national fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
show on Fox Sports Net
Fox Sports Net
The Fox Sports Regional Networks, or simply Fox Sports Net , are a collection of cable TV regional sports networks in the United States owned and operated by News Corporation.- Beginnings :...
called Outdoors with the Pros.
See also
- Other American Football League players
- Gunslinger
External links
- Lamonica's 1965 Topps football card
- Lamonica profile at the Official Site of the Buffalo Bills
- Daryle Lamonica stats and bio from Raidersonline.org
- Raider starters
- Gallery of Daryle Lamonica football cards
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