Bob Mischak

Bob Mischak
No. 62, 67, 87
Position:	Guard; Tight end
Personal information
Born:	October 25, 1932; Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Died:	June 26, 2014 (aged 81); Orinda, California, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:	255 lb (116 kg)
Career information
High school:	Union (NJ)
College:	Army
NFL draft:	1954 / round: 23 / pick: 276
Career history
As a player:
	New York Giants (1958); New York Titans (1960–1962); Oakland Raiders (1963–1965);
As a coach:
	Army "B Squad" (1956); (Offense); Army (1966–1972) (OL); Oakland Raiders (1973–1981); (TE/Player Personnel); Los Angeles Raiders (1982–1987, 1994) (TE/S&C); Los Angeles Cobras 1988 (OL); Maryland Commandos 1989 (OL); Munich Falcons 1990 (HC); Atlanta Falcons 1991; (Player Personnel); London Monarchs 1992, 1996 (DB, OL); Ravenna Chiefs 1995 (HC);
Career highlights and awards
	3× Super Bowl champion (XI, XV, XVIII); 2× All-AFL (1960, 1961); 2× AFL All-Star (1961, 1962);
	Stats at Pro Football Reference

Robert Michael Mischak (Pronounced: MIH-shak) (October 25, 1932 – June 26, 2014) was a college and professional American football guard and tight end who played six seasons in the American Football League (AFL), from 1960 to 1965. He was selected by his peers as a Sporting News AFL All-League guard in 1960 and 1961. He was an AFL Eastern Division All-Star in 1962. He also played in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Giants and was a starting guard in the famed 1958 "Greatest Game Ever Played". In addition, Mischak was a 3-time Super Bowl champion coach with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders.

In an October 1953 game against Duke at the Polo Grounds in New York City, Mischak made an improbable play to seal a 14–13 Army victory that was chronicled in David Maraniss' biography of Vince Lombardi, When Pride Still Mattered.^[1] Late in the fourth quarter, Duke running back Red Smith ran a double reverse for what would have been a go-ahead touchdown, but was pursued by Mischak from 73 yards behind. As Smith neared the endzone, Mischak caught up to him and made a touchdown-saving tackle short of the goal line. Two subsequent stops by the Army defense yielded a historic victory for head coach Red Blaik. Col Blaik was later to write “In somehow catching and collaring (Smith), Mischak displayed heart and a pursuit that for one single play I have never seen matched."

In 2017, Mischak was posthumously enshrined into the Army/West Point Sports Hall of Fame,^[2] and was named no. 7 on NFL.com's list of Top Ten All Time NFL Players from service academies.^[3]

After his playing career Mischak served as a coach of tight ends for the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders from 1973 to 1987 and 1994.^[4] He died on June 26, 2014, at the age of 81.

References

^ David Maraniss (1999). When Pride Still Mattered: A Life of Vince Lombardi. ISBN 9780684844183. Retrieved June 27, 2014 – via Google Books.
^ "2017 Army Sports Hall of Fame Plaque Unveiling Ceremony". GoArmyWestPoint.com. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.
^ "Top Ten All Time NFL Players from service academies". NFL.com.
^ Randy Lange. "Titans G Bob Mischak, 'AFL Original,' Dies". Newyorkjets.com. Archived from the original on June 28, 2014. Retrieved June 27, 2014.

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[1] David Maraniss (1999). When Pride Still Mattered: A Life of Vince Lombardi. ISBN 9780684844183. Retrieved June 27, 2014 – via Google Books.

[2] "2017 Army Sports Hall of Fame Plaque Unveiling Ceremony". GoArmyWestPoint.com. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.

[3] "Top Ten All Time NFL Players from service academies". NFL.com.

[4] Randy Lange. "Titans G Bob Mischak, 'AFL Original,' Dies". Newyorkjets.com. Archived from the original on June 28, 2014. Retrieved June 27, 2014.

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See also

References