Kyle Rote
Encyclopedia
William Kyle Rote, Sr. was an American football
player and sports announcer.
, where he was an all-state basketball and football player.
winner Doak Walker
at Southern Methodist University
in 1948 and 1949. When Walker was forced to miss the 1949 game against the University of Notre Dame
because of an injury, Rote replaced him as tailback
in SMU's single wing and turned in a great triple-threat
performance despite a 27-20 loss. He rushed for 115 yards, scored all three touchdowns, passed for 146 yards, and punted for a 48-yard average. After Walker graduated, Rote became a starter
in 1950 and was a consensus All-America
n. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
in 1964.
selected Rote with the first pick in the 1951 NFL Draft
. During an 11-year NFL career spent entirely with the Giants, Rote played running back
and flanker
. He caught 300 passes for 4,797 yards for 48 TDs, gained 871 yards in 231 rushing attempts with 4 TDs, and was a member of New York's 1956 NFL Championship
team.
, Pat Summerall
, and Thomas Conlin, went on to enjoy a second career as a sportscaster
, working for NBC
in the '60s and early '70s. He also appeared in several television commercials as a paid spokesmen for Anderson-Little, a clothing retailer.
, was one of the first notable soccer stars from the United States
, and a three-time winner of the Superstars
made-for-television sports competition. He also fathered two other sons, Chris and Gary, as well as a daughter, Elizabeth. Additionally, Kyle Rote is the cousin of Tobin Rote
a multi-championship winning and record holding AFL and NFL quarterback.
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 and sports announcer.
Early life
Rote attended Thomas Jefferson High School in San Antonio, TexasSan Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
, where he was an all-state basketball and football player.
Collegiate career
In college, Rote played behind Heisman TrophyHeisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
winner Doak Walker
Doak Walker
Ewell Doak Walker, Jr. was an American football player who is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was a teammate of Bobby Layne in high school and the NFL.-Early life:...
at Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
in 1948 and 1949. When Walker was forced to miss the 1949 game against 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...
because of an injury, Rote replaced him as tailback
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
in SMU's single wing and turned in a great triple-threat
Triple threat man
In gridiron football, the phrase triple-threat man refers to a player who excels at all three of the skills of running, passing, and kicking. In modern usage, such a player would be referred to as a utility player....
performance despite a 27-20 loss. He rushed for 115 yards, scored all three touchdowns, passed for 146 yards, and punted for a 48-yard average. After Walker graduated, Rote became a starter
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
in 1950 and was a consensus All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in 1964.
National Football League career
The New York GiantsNew York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
selected Rote with the first pick in the 1951 NFL Draft
1951 NFL Draft
The 1951 National Football League Draft was held on January 18–January 19, 1951. The Baltimore Colts folded after the 1950 season. The NFL placed their players in the 1951 NFL draft.-Player selections:-Round one:...
. During an 11-year NFL career spent entirely with the Giants, Rote played running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
and flanker
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
. He caught 300 passes for 4,797 yards for 48 TDs, gained 871 yards in 231 rushing attempts with 4 TDs, and was a member of New York's 1956 NFL Championship
NFL Championship Game, 1956
In the 1956 National Football League Championship Game played at Yankee Stadium in New York City on 30 December 1956, the New York Giants defeated the Chicago Bears 47-7. It was the 24th annual NFL championship game....
team.
Sportscasting career
He retired as player in 1961 and like his former New York Giant teammates Frank GiffordFrank Gifford
Francis Newton "Frank" Gifford is a Hall of Fame former American football player and American sportscaster.-Early life:Gifford was born in Santa Monica, California, the son of Lola Mae and Weldon Gifford, an oil driller....
, Pat Summerall
Pat Summerall
George Allen "Pat" Summerall is a former American football player and television sportscaster, having worked at CBS, Fox, and ESPN.Summerall is best known for his work with John Madden on NFL telecasts for CBS and Fox.-High school:...
, and Thomas Conlin, went on to enjoy a second career as a sportscaster
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
, working for NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
in the '60s and early '70s. He also appeared in several television commercials as a paid spokesmen for Anderson-Little, a clothing retailer.
Personal
Rote's son, Kyle Rote, Jr.Kyle Rote, Jr.
Kyle Rote, Jr. is a retired American soccer forward who played seven seasons in the North American Soccer League and earned five caps with the United States men's national soccer team between 1973 and 1975. He led the NASL in scoring in 1973. He later coached the Memphis Americans of the Major...
, was one of the first notable soccer stars from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and a three-time winner of the Superstars
Superstars
Superstars is an all-around sports competition that pits elite athletes from different sports against one another in a series of athletic events resembling a decathlon....
made-for-television sports competition. He also fathered two other sons, Chris and Gary, as well as a daughter, Elizabeth. Additionally, Kyle Rote is the cousin of Tobin Rote
Tobin Rote
Tobin Cornelius Rote was an American college and professional football player who played quarterback for the NFL's Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions, the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts, and the American Football League's San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos.-Early life:Rote...
a multi-championship winning and record holding AFL and NFL quarterback.