Fred Arbanas
Encyclopedia
Frederick Vincent Arbanas (born January 14, 1939, in Detroit, Michigan
) is an American
former college and professional football
player. Drafted out of Michigan State
by the American Football League
's Dallas Texans
(later the Kansas City Chiefs
) in 1961, he missed the 1961 season with injuries. Arbanas was selected by his peers as The Sporting News' All-AFL
tight end in 1963, 1964, and 1966. He was an American Football League Western Division All-Star
in 1962, 1963, and 1964. He received a blow to his left eye in December 1964, and lost sight in the eye in January 1965, causing him to miss the All-Star game. He was again a Western All-Star in 1965, 1966 (when he did not play due to injury), and 1967. Because of his heart and perseverance, he was a driving force behind one of the greatest teams in the history of the American Football League. Arbanas retired from Pro Football after the 1970 season.
He was the AFL's prototype tight end. His 198 receptions and 3,101 receiving yards were Chiefs records for a tight end until they were broken by Tony Gonzalez.
Arbanas starred for two Chiefs Super Bowl teams, and one World Championship
team, and used the playing field to write a legacy for the AFL. "I remember when the Chiefs played the Chicago Bears
the summer after the loss to Green Bay in the first Super Bowl," team owner Lamar Hunt
said. "We won the pre-season game 66-24, but there was a lot at stake in that game. I heard Fred say that was his most memorable game, and I feel the same way."
His talents would eventually earn a spot on the All-time All-AFL Team
.
Fred currently lives with his wife Sharon Arbanas in Lee's Summit, Missouri
. He has four children and eight grandchildren. Fred serves on the Jackson County
Legislature in Kansas City, Missouri
. He has also had a golf course named after him. The Fred Arbanas Golf Course at Longview Lake
is a favorite for many Kansas City golfers.
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former college and professional football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player. Drafted out of Michigan State
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
by 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...
's Dallas Texans
History of the Kansas City Chiefs
The following is a detailed history of the Kansas City Chiefs, a professional American football franchise that began play in 1960 as the Dallas Texans...
(later the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
) in 1961, he missed the 1961 season with injuries. Arbanas was selected by his peers as The Sporting News' All-AFL
American Football League 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...
tight end in 1963, 1964, and 1966. He was an American Football League Western Division 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...
in 1962, 1963, and 1964. He received a blow to his left eye in December 1964, and lost sight in the eye in January 1965, causing him to miss the All-Star game. He was again a Western All-Star in 1965, 1966 (when he did not play due to injury), and 1967. Because of his heart and perseverance, he was a driving force behind one of the greatest teams in the history of the American Football League. Arbanas retired from Pro Football after the 1970 season.
He was the AFL's prototype tight end. His 198 receptions and 3,101 receiving yards were Chiefs records for a tight end until they were broken by Tony Gonzalez.
Arbanas starred for two Chiefs Super Bowl teams, and one World Championship
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 ;...
team, and used the playing field to write a legacy for the AFL. "I remember when the Chiefs played the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
the summer after the loss to Green Bay in the first Super Bowl," team owner Lamar Hunt
Lamar Hunt
Lamar Hunt was an American sportsman and promoter of American football, soccer, basketball, and ice hockey in the United States and an inductee into three sports' halls of fame. He was one of the founders of the American Football League and Major League Soccer , as well as MLS predecessor the...
said. "We won the pre-season game 66-24, but there was a lot at stake in that game. I heard Fred say that was his most memorable game, and I feel the same way."
His talents would eventually earn a spot on the All-time All-AFL Team
American Football League All-Time Team
The American Football League All- Time Team was selected on January 14, 1970. The first and second teams would be determined by a panel of members of the AFL's Hall of Fame Board of Selectors: Since the First team included two halfbacks, rather than a halfback and a fullback, Cookie Gilchrist, a...
.
Fred currently lives with his wife Sharon Arbanas in Lee's Summit, Missouri
Lee's Summit, Missouri
Lee's Summit is a city in the U.S. state of Missouri, and is contained within the counties of Jackson and Cass. As of the 2010 census found the population at 91,364 making it the sixth-largest city in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area and the sixth-largest city in Missouri...
. He has four children and eight grandchildren. Fred serves on the Jackson County
Jackson County, Missouri
Jackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. With a population of 674,158 in the 2010 census, Jackson County is the second most populous of Missouri's counties, after St. Louis County. Kansas City, the state's most populous city and focus city of the Kansas City Metropolitan...
Legislature in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
. He has also had a golf course named after him. The Fred Arbanas Golf Course at Longview Lake
Longview Lake
Longview Lake is a freshwater reservoir in parts of Kansas City, Lee's Summit, and Grandview, all in Jackson County, Missouri. The reservoir is part of U.S...
is a favorite for many Kansas City golfers.