Tom Kennedy (quarterback)

Not to be confused with Tom Kennedy (wide receiver).
Tom Kennedy
No. 18
Position:Quarterback
Personal information
Born:(1938-11-27)November 27, 1938
Maywood, California, U.S.
Died:March 15, 2006(2006-03-15) (aged 67)
Long Beach, California, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school:Pasadena (CA)
College:Los Angeles State
Career history
Stats at Pro Football Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Tom Kennedy (November 27, 1938 – March 15, 2006) was an American football quarterback. He played for the New York Giants in 1966.[1][2]

Pre-NFL career

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After playing high school football at Pasadena High School, and college football at Los Angeles State, Kennedy played quarterback for multiple minor league professional teams. These included the Wheeling Ironmen of the United Football League from 1962–63; the Providence Steamrollers of the ACFL in 1964; the Rhode Island Indians of the Continental Football League in 1965; and the Brooklyn Dodgers, also of the Continental Football League, in 1966. [3] In 1963, he was voted as the quarterback on the All-United Football League team. [4] He was playing for the Dodgers when the Giants, needing quarterback help due to injuries, signed him on November 7, 1966. [5]

NFL career

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Kennedy appeared in 6 games for the New York Giants in 1966, and was one of three quarterbacks who saw playing time for them, along with Gary Wood and Earl Morrall. Kennedy joined the Giants after mid-season injuries to Morrall and Wood. [6] Kennedy's first NFL game came in relief of Wood in a 55–14 road loss to the Los Angeles Rams. [7] Kennedy's only NFL start came in a most memorable contest two weeks later: the highest scoring regular season game in NFL history. It took place in Washington on November 27, 1966, and the Washington Redskins beat the Giants 72–41. Kennedy was pulled by Giants head coach Allie Sherman after losing a fumble (which was returned 62 yards by Brig Owens for a Washington touchdown), and throwing three interceptions, all in the first half. Sherman did put Kennedy back in to the game in the second half. Kennedy's final stats for the game were 13 of 21 passes completed for 165 yards, with one touchdown pass and three interceptions. He also had one 8 yard run and was sacked four times. [8] [9]

The 1966 Giants went 1–12–1, their worst record ever, and sought to improve their quarterback play. Their quarterbacks threw the most interceptions in the NFL in 1966 (31 in just 14 games), completed just under half of their passes, and were sacked 62 times, second only to the Pittsburgh Steelers who took 66 sacks. On March 7, 1967, the Giants traded two first round and two second round draft picks to the Minnesota Vikings for their famously mobile, future Hall of Fame quarterback Fran Tarkenton. [10] [11] Tarkenton became the Giants' starter, with Morrall as his backup.[12] Gary Wood moved on to the expansion New Orleans Saints,[13] but Tom Kennedy never appeared in an NFL game again. [14]

Post-NFL career

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Kennedy continued his pro career in minor league football after his NFL days. He did not play in 1967, but returned to play in the Continental Football League for the Sacramento Capitols in 1968 and the Seattle Rangers in 1969. His pro career ended with the Bridgeport Jets of the Atlantic Coast Football League in 1970. [15]

Life outside of football

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Kennedy served in the United States Marine Corps. [16]

References

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  1. ^ "Tom Kennedy Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  2. ^ "Tom Kennedy, QB". Nfl.com. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
  3. ^ Pro Football Archives, "Tom Kennedy". Available online: https://www.profootballarchives.com/playerk/kenn02800.html . Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  4. ^ Pro Football Archives, ibid.
  5. ^ Wallace, William N. (November 11, 1966). "Wood Still Ailing; Kennedy Expected To Play on Sunday". The New York Times. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  6. ^ Stuart, Chase (April 30, 2014). "Remembering Earl Morrall". FootballPerspective.com. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  7. ^ "New York Giants at Los Angeles Rams – November 13th, 1966". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  8. ^ "New York Giants at Washington Redskins – November 27th, 1966". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  9. ^ Hybl, Dean (September 9, 2009). "Classic Rewind: The Day the Scoring Never Stopped". Bleacher Report. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  10. ^ "1966 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  11. ^ Today in Pro Football History, "1967: Vikings Trade Fran Tarkenton to Giants". Available online: https://fs64sports.blogspot.com/2010/03/1967-vikings-trade-fran-tarkenton-to.html Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  12. ^ "1967 New York Giants Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  13. ^ "Gary Wood Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  14. ^ "Tom Kennedy Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  15. ^ Pro Football Archives, ibid.
  16. ^ Pro Football Archives, ibid.
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