Ray Abruzzese
Encyclopedia
Raymond Lewis Abruzzese, Jr. (October 27, 1937 – August 22, 2011), was an American college and professional football
player.
Abruzzese was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. A defensive back
, he played college football
at the University of Alabama
, and played professionally in the American Football League
for the Buffalo Bills
from 1962 through 1964, when the Bills won the AFL Championship game, 20–7, over the defending AFL champion San Diego Chargers
. He also played for the AFL's New York Jets
in 1965 and 1966.
Though it is little-known by today's Professional Football
fans, Ray Abruzzese had a major impact on the growth of modern Professional Football. He roomed with Joe Namath
when both were at Alabama
. When Namath was deciding between signing with the NFL's Cardinals or the AFL's Jets, he told Jets owner Sonny Werblin
that he would lean toward the Jets if they would acquire Ray Abruzzese. Bills owner Ralph Wilson cooperated and, for the good of the league, traded Abruzzese to the Jets, who under Namath's leadership went on to defeat the NFL's over-rated Baltimore Colts in the third AFL-NFL World Championship game.
Abruzzese died in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
, aged 73.
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...
player.
Abruzzese was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. A defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
, he played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
, and played professionally 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...
for the Buffalo Bills
History of the Buffalo Bills
This article details the history of the Buffalo Bills American Football Club. The team began play in 1960 as a charter member of the American Football League and won two consecutive AFL titles in 1964 and 1965. The club joined the National Football League as part of the 1970 AFL-NFL Merger...
from 1962 through 1964, when the Bills won the AFL Championship game, 20–7, over the defending AFL champion San Diego Chargers
History of the San Diego Chargers
This article details the history of the San Diego Chargers American Football Club.-The AFL era :The San Diego Chargers were established in 1959 with seven other American Football League teams: the Denver Broncos, Dallas Texans, Oakland Raiders, New York Titans, Houston Oilers, Buffalo Bills, and...
. He also played for the AFL's New York Jets
History of the New York Jets
The history of the New York Jets American football team began in 1959 with the founding of the Titans of New York, an original member of the American Football League. The team had little success in its early years . After playing three seasons at the Polo Grounds, the team changed its name to the...
in 1965 and 1966.
Though it is little-known by today's Professional Football
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...
fans, Ray Abruzzese had a major impact on the growth of modern Professional Football. He roomed with Joe Namath
Joe Namath
Joseph William "Joe" Namath , nicknamed "Broadway Joe" or "Joe Willie", is a former American football quarterback. He played college football for the University of Alabama under coach Paul "Bear" Bryant and his assistant, Howard Schnellenberger, from 1962–1964, and professional football in the...
when both were at Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
. When Namath was deciding between signing with the NFL's Cardinals or the AFL's Jets, he told Jets owner Sonny Werblin
Sonny Werblin
David Abraham "Sonny" Werblin was a prominent entertainment industry executive and sports impresario who was an owner of the New York Jets, Chairman of Madison Square Gardens, and who built and managed the Meadowlands Sports Complex.A graduate of Rutgers University, Werblin went to work for Music...
that he would lean toward the Jets if they would acquire Ray Abruzzese. Bills owner Ralph Wilson cooperated and, for the good of the league, traded Abruzzese to the Jets, who under Namath's leadership went on to defeat the NFL's over-rated Baltimore Colts in the third AFL-NFL World Championship game.
Abruzzese died in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale is a city in the U.S. state of Florida, on the Atlantic coast. It is the county seat of Broward County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,521. It is a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010...
, aged 73.