Pete Retzlaff

Receptions:	452
Receiving yards:	7,412
Touchdowns:	47

Pete Retzlaff
	Split end; Tight end
Personal information
Born:	August 21, 1931; Ellendale, North Dakota, U.S.
Died:	April 10, 2020 (aged 88); Pottstown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Career information
High school:	Ellendale (Ellendale, North Dakota)
College:	South Dakota State
NFL draft:	1953 / Round: 22 / Pick: 265
Career history
As a player:
	Detroit Lions (1953)*; Philadelphia Eagles (1956–1966);
	* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As an executive:
	Philadelphia Eagles (1969–1972); General manager;
Career highlights and awards
	NFL champion (1960); 2× First-team All-Pro (1958, 1965); 2× Second-team All-Pro (1964, 1966); 5× Pro Bowl (1958, 1960, 1963–1965); NFL receptions co-leader (1958); Bert Bell Award (1965); Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame; Philadelphia Eagles No. 44 retired;
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:
Receptions:	452
Receiving yards:	7,412
Touchdowns:	47
	Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Palmer Edward Retzlaff (August 21, 1931 – April 10, 2020), known as Pete Retzlaff and nicknamed "Pistol Pete" and "the Baron", was an American professional football player and general manager in the National Football League (NFL).

Early life

Retzlaff played football at Ellendale High School in Ellendale, North Dakota, and starred in track and field and football at South Dakota State College. In 1952, he rushed for 1,016 yards, a school record. He was later inducted into the school's athletic Hall of Fame.^[1]

Football career

Retzlaff was selected in the

Novocain

on gameday and not practicing prior to the game.

He was president of the

NFL Players Association. He averaged 16.4 yards per catch and lost only four fumbles in his career. He was the seventh receiver with 450 catches in history.^[3]^[4]

In 2005, he was named to the Professional Football Researchers Association Hall of Very Good in the association's third HOVG class.^[5]

Post-football career

From 1969 to 1972, he was the Eagles' vice president and general manager. He drafted

color analyst for NFL coverage on CBS

television.

Retzlaff's number 44 jersey has been retired by the Eagles. When he retired, he was the alltime leader for receptions and receiving yards for Philadelphia (on his death in 2020, he was still third in receptions and second in yards, having been passed in both by Harold Carmichael).^[6]

Personal life

Retzlaff married his wife Patty in 1954, having four children.

Retzlaff died on April 10, 2020, in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, at the age of 88.^[7]

References

^ Canton cuts Pete Retzlaff
^ "Didinger: An Eagles legend, Pete Retzlaff deserves to be in Canton".
^ Hall of Fame Pete Retzlaff passed away Sports Illustrated
^ "NFL Career Receptions Leaders Through 1966". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
^ "Hall of Very Good". Retrieved July 14, 2016.
^ "Eagles mourn death of Pete Retzlaff, Hall of Fame tight end and leader of 1960 NFL championship team".
^ McPherson, Chris (April 10, 2020). "Eagles mourn the passing of Hall of Famer Pete Retzlaff". Philadelphia Eagles. Retrieved April 10, 2020.

[1] Canton cuts Pete Retzlaff

[2] "Didinger: An Eagles legend, Pete Retzlaff deserves to be in Canton".

[3] Hall of Fame Pete Retzlaff passed away Sports Illustrated

[4] "NFL Career Receptions Leaders Through 1966". Pro-Football-Reference.com.

[5] "Hall of Very Good". Retrieved July 14, 2016.

[6] "Eagles mourn death of Pete Retzlaff, Hall of Fame tight end and leader of 1960 NFL championship team".

[7] McPherson, Chris (April 10, 2020). "Eagles mourn the passing of Hall of Famer Pete Retzlaff". Philadelphia Eagles. Retrieved April 10, 2020.

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