Bob_Talamini References

Bob Talamini
No. 61
Position:	Guard
Personal information
Born:	January 8, 1939; Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Died:	May 30, 2022 (aged 83); Las Cruces, New Mexico, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:	255 lb (116 kg)
Career information
College:	Kentucky
AFL draft:	1960 / Round: Second Selections; (by the Houston Oilers)
Career history
	Houston Oilers ( 1960– 1967); New York Jets ( 1968);
Career highlights and awards
	Super Bowl champion ( III); 3× AFL champion ( 1960, 1961, 1968); 3× First-team All-AFL ( 1963, 1965, 1967); 4× Second-team All-AFL (1961, 1962, 1964, 1966); AFL All-Time 2nd Team; 6× AFL All-Star (1962–1967);
Career NFL statistics
Games played:
Games played:	126
	Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Robert Guy Talamini (January 8, 1939 – May 30, 2022) was an American professional football player who was a guard in the American Football League (AFL). He played college football for the Kentucky Wildcats, earning third-team All-SEC honors. He was selected by the Houston Oilers of the American Football League (AFL).^[1] His professional career began with the AFL's first training camp in 1960, and was capped the day the New York Jets stunned the NFL's Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III on January 12, 1969.

Hall of Famers George Blanda and Billy Cannon benefited from his blocking as the Oilers won the first two AFL Championships. Talamini made first-team All-AFL in 1962 and was a regular at AFL All-Star games, selected to six straight, through 1967. He anchored an offensive line that gave Blanda time to set passing records that would last for decades and opened holes for the likes of Cannon, Charlie Tolar, Sid Blanks and Hoyle Granger to run through. Talamini, Don Floyd and Jim Norton were the last of the original Oilers.

After two AFL crowns and three Eastern Division titles, Talamini watched the club rebuild and win the division again in 1967. The Oilers fell one game short in 1967, but Talamini got to realize his dream the following year when he was released and picked up by the New York Jets. Opening holes for Matt Snell and blocking defenders away from Joe Namath. Talamini was selected to the All-Time All-AFL second-team.

In 2011, he was inducted in the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame.^[2]^[3]

Talamini died on May 30, 2022, at the age of 83.^[4]

References

^ "Crazy Canton Cuts = Bob Talamini". Bleacher Report. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
^ "Hall of Fame Members – Where Kentucky's Greatest Pro Football Players Live!!!".
^ http://www.ukathletics.com/news/sports_m-footbl_spec-rel_062311aaa_html^{[
permanent dead link]}
^ Lange, Randy (June 4, 2022). "LG Bob Talamini, 'The Missing Piece' to the Jets' Super Bowl III Puzzle, Has Died". New York Jets. Retrieved June 6, 2022.

v t e New York Jets Super Bowl III champions
11 Jim Turner 12 Joe Namath ( MVP) 13 Don Maynard 15 Babe Parilli 22 Jim Hudson 23 Bill Rademacher 24 Johnny Sample 26 Jim Richards 29 Bake Turner 30 Mark Smolinski 31 Bill Mathis 32 Emerson Boozer 33 Curley Johnson 34 Lee White 35 Billy Joe 41 Matt Snell 42 Randy Beverly 43 John Dockery 45 Earl Christy 46 Bill Baird 47 Mike D'Amato 48 Cornell Gordon 50 Carl McAdams 51 Ralph Baker 52 John Schmitt 56 Paul Crane 60 Larry Grantham 61 Bob Talamini 62 Al Atkinson 63 John Neidert 66 Randy Rasmussen 67 Dave Herman 68 Michael Stromberg 70 Karl Henke 71 Sam Walton 72 Paul Rochester 74 Jeff Richardson 75 Winston Hill 80 John Elliott 81 Gerry Philbin 83 George Sauer 85 Steve Thompson 86 Verlon Biggs 87 Pete Lammons
Head coach: Weeb Ewbank
Coaches: Walt Michaels Clive Rush Buddy Ryan Joe Spencer

References

See also