Jerry Tagge
No. 8, 14, 17 | |
Born: | Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. | April 12, 1950
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Career information | |
CFL status | American |
Position(s) | QB |
Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) |
Weight | 215 lb (98 kg) |
College | Nebraska |
High school | Green Bay West (Green Bay, Wisconsin) |
NFL draft | 1972, Round: 1, Pick: 11 |
Drafted by | Green Bay Packers |
Career history | |
As player | |
1972–1974 | Green Bay Packers |
1975 | San Antonio Wings |
1977–1979 | BC Lions |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
CFL All-Star | 1977 |
CFL West All-Star | 1977 |
Career stats | |
Cmp–Att | 136–281 |
Passing Yards | 1,583 |
Touchdowns | 3 |
Interceptions | 17 |
Jerry Lee Tagge (born April 12, 1950) is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL), World Football League (WFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, leading them to consecutive national championships in 1970 and 1971. Tagge played professionally with the Green Bay Packers of the NFL from 1972 to 1974, the San Antonio Wings of the WFL in 1975, and the BC Lions of the CFL from 1977 to 1979.
Early life
Tagge was born at Offutt Air Force Base south of Omaha, Nebraska, the third child and second son of William Robert (Billy) Tagge and Lois Jurczyk Tagge.
As a teenager in the mid-1960s in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Tagge sold concessions at Lambeau Field, the home of the Green Bay Packers, then coached by Vince Lombardi. He graduated from Green Bay West High School in 1968.[1]
College career
Tagge played college football at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln under head coach Bob Devaney. In his sophomore year in 1969, Tagge rose to second-string quarterback for the Cornhuskers. His playing time increased until midway through his junior year when he took over the starting position from Van Brownson, leading the team to a 10–0–1 season and a matchup with LSU in the 1971 Orange Bowl. Tagge scored the game-winning touchdown in a 17–12 victory over the Tigers on a quarterback sneak, earning himself Most Valuable Player honors, and the Huskers the AP national championship for 1970. Both #1 Texas and #2 Ohio State lost their bowl games on New Year's Day. (Through the 1973 season, the final UPI coaches' poll was released in December, before the bowls.)
In his senior season in
Tagge was the first of three Nebraska Cornhuskers selected in the first round of the
. The eleventh overall pick, Tagge was the first quarterback selected.Professional career
Tagge's performance earned the notice of
Tagge signed with the San Antonio Wings of the short-lived World Football League. He started in the Wings' final game on October 19, 1975 and was intercepted five times; he ran for two touchdowns and threw for another.[4] The Wings folded three days later with the rest of the WFL on October 22.[5]
Tagge then moved north to Canada to the CFL, joining the BC Lions in 1977. He finally saw plenty of playing time as a starter, and was awarded the Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy in his first season. He played three seasons with BC, until a knee injury ended his career in 1979.
Post-football career and life
In 1981, Tagge moved to
Career highlights
As the
At Nebraska, Tagge threw for 5,071 yards, completing 377 of 637 passes (59.2%), 32 for touchdowns. He was a first-round draft choice, 11th overall, of the
In three years with the Packers, Tagge played 17 games completing 136 of 281 passes for 1583 yards,3 TDs, and 17 interceptions. In 1975, he played briefly for the Wings in the WFL, where completed 18 of 34 passes for 265 yards, 1 TD, and 5 interceptions.
In 1977, he moved north to Canada, where he was named a CFL all-star and winner of the Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy and runner-up for the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award. In 1977, he completed 232 of 405 passes for 2787 yards, and in 1978, he hit 243 of 430 passes for 3134 yards. He played part of the 1979 season before injuries forced him to retire.
As a professional quarterback, Tagge had 718 completions in 1,304 attempts for 9,277 yards and 38 TDs.
See also
References
- ^ Hendricks, Martin (October 7, 2009). "Years later, Tagge is finally at peace". Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
- ^ "Tagge cut by Packers". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. September 5, 1975. p. 17.
- ^ Hofmann, Dale (September 6, 1975). "Packers cut Tagge, but he won't give up". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 1, part 2.
- ^ "Steamer, 41-31". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. October 20, 1975. p. 6C.
- ^ "WFL finally drowns in its own red ink". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. October 23, 1975. p. 6C.
- Buechler, August F., History of Hall County, Nebraska. Western Publishing and Engraving, Lincoln, Nebraska, 1920.
- Kelly, Michael, "Tagge Finds Peace Off Field," Omaha World-Herald, October 3, 2004.
- Rodgers, Johnny, An Era of Greatness. Champion Publishing, Inc., 2006.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Pro Football Reference ·