Ed Flanagan (American football)
No. 54 | |||||||
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Position: | Center | ||||||
Personal information | |||||||
Born: | San Bernardino, California, U.S. | February 23, 1944||||||
Died: | May 10, 2023 Altoona, Pennsylvania, U.S. | (aged 79)||||||
Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||
Weight: | 245 lb (111 kg) | ||||||
Career information | |||||||
High school: | Altoona (Altoona, Pennsylvania) | ||||||
College: | Purdue | ||||||
NFL draft: | 1965 / Round: 5 / Pick: 64 | ||||||
Career history | |||||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||
Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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Player stats at NFL.com · PFR |
Edward Joseph Flanagan (February 23, 1944 – May 10, 2023) was an American professional
Early years
Flanagan was born on February 23, 1944, in San Bernardino, California.[1] His family moved to Altoona, Pennsylvania, where he played football under coach Earl Strohm at Altoona High School.[1][2] When inducted into the Blair County Sports Hall of Fame in 1987, Flanagan noted that he had not been a star player in high school and was not a starter until his senior year.[3]
College career
Flanagan played college football at Purdue University from 1962 to 1964. He grew from 190 to 230 pounds (86 to 104 kg) between his freshman and sophomore year.[3] During his sophomore and junior years, he played center on offense and linebacker on defense.[3] As a senior, he was the starting center for the 1964 Boilermakers team that featured Bob Griese at quarterback and compiled a 6–3 record and finished in third place in the Big Ten Conference. Flanagan was selected by the conference coaches for the United Press International as the second-team center on the 1964 All-Big Ten team.[4] He also played in the Blue-Gray Game and the Senior Bowl after his senior year.[3]
Professional playing career
Flanagan was selected by the
Flanagan took over as the Lions' starting center as a rookie in 1965 and held the position for the next ten years.[3] From 1965 to 1974, he started 139 games for the Lions, including a streak of 129 consecutive games.[2] He was selected to play in the Pro Bowl four times, in 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1973.[1] He was also selected as a second-team All-NFL player by the Newspaper Enterprise Association in 1969 and Pro Football Writers of America in 1970.[5]
Flanagan developed a rivalry with Chicago Bears linebacker Dick Butkus, and recalled Butkus as his "greatest challenge".[3] He was quoted in 1973 calling Butkus "a wild man on defense . . . one of the most foul-mouthed guys in the league . . . he insults you, your mother, and the team."[3] Flanagan also claimed that Butkus "would spit down the back of his neck".[6]
In May 1975, Flanagan signed with the San Diego Chargers. At the time, he said he was "happy to be back home in my native state", but emphasized that he had been treated well by the Lions and was leaving under "happy circumstances".[7] He was the Chargers' starting center in 1975 and 1976, starting in 25 of the 26 games he played.[1][8]
In July 1977, Flanagan was traded by the Chargers to the
Coaching career
In 1984, Flanagan was hired as the offensive line coach for the
Personal life
Flanagan had four children; Edward, Meghan, Ryan and Dan. He was married to his wife Tina for 32 year's and had one child(Dan Flanagan). [14]
Flanagan was hospitalized in Altoona with heart problems on May 8, 2023, and died on May 10, aged 79.[14]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Ed Flanagan". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
- ^ a b "Blair County's Top Ten Athletes of the 1900s". Altoona Mirror. January 2, 2000. p. C1, C3.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Sargent, Jim (2003). "Ed Flanagan: All Pro Center for the Detroit Lions" (PDF). Coffin Corner. Pro Football Researchers Association.
- ^ "Butkus, Yearby, Timberlake Head Coaches' Big Ten Stars". The Daily Register (Harrisburg, Illinois). November 27, 1964. p. 11.
- .
- ^ Puscas, George (October 17, 1983). "Field goal foul-up rekindles old fire". Detroit Free Press.
- ^ "Veteran Center Ed Flanagan Signs With San Diego". The Cumberland News. May 30, 1975. p. 19.
- ^ Birkett, Dave (May 10, 2023). "Ex-Detroit Lions OL Ed Flanagan, a 4-time Pro Bowler in the 1970s, dies at 79". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- ^ "Rams acquire Ed Flanagan". Progress Bulletin. July 16, 1977. p. 9.
- ^ "Former Lion Ed Flanagan Cut". Detroit Free Press. September 8, 1977. p. 7D.
- The San Bernardino County Sun. June 15, 1984. p. 42.
- ^ "Transactions". Indiana (PA) Gazette. October 23, 1985. p. 40.
- ^ "Titans Ready for 2013 Season". Our Sports Central. February 3, 2013. Retrieved March 7, 2013.
- ^ a b "Ed Flanagan, Altoona native and NFL all-pro, dies at 79". Altoona Mirror. May 10, 2023. Retrieved May 10, 2023.