 Wood playing for the New York Giants | |||||||||
| No. 19, 10 | |||||||||
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| Position | Quarterback | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | (1942-02-05)February 5, 1942 Taylor, New York, U.S. | ||||||||
| Died | March 2, 1994(1994-03-02) (aged 52) Dix Hills, New York, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||
| Weight | 192 lb (87 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | Cortland (Cortland, New York) | ||||||||
| College | Cornell (1960-1963) | ||||||||
| NFL draft | 1964: 8th round, 109th overall pick | ||||||||
| AFL draft | 1964: 17th round, 132nd overall pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Awards and highlights | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Gary Fay Wood (July 9, 1942 – March 3, 1994) was an American professionalfootballquarterback who played 63 games in theNational Football League (NFL), for theNew York Giants andNew Orleans Saints, from 1964 until 1969.
The 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) quarterback wasdrafted fromCornell University in the1964 NFL draft by theNew York Giants in the eighth round. In his time in the NFL, Wood had a career completion percentage of 46.5%, as well as apasser rating of 54.5.[1]
On March 24, 1996, Wood was inducted into theNational Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
Wood was born inTaylor, New York, grew up inCortland, New York, and was Jewish.[2][3][4]
He played football for Cortland High School in Cortland, New York, at which he never played in a losing game.[5]
Wood played as a three-yearstartingquarterback atCornell University, beginning in his sophomore season in 1961. Wood was the leading rusher and passer for theBig Red every year in which he was the starter. In 1962, Wood led the nation in all-purpose yards, with 1,395 (155.0 yards per game). That season, he also set anIvy League total offense record in a game against Penn with 387 yards (207 rushing, 106 throwing), and was named first-team All-Ivy and to the AP All-East Team.[5][4][6] He also lettered as acenter fielder-second baseman-pitcher on the 1962 Cornell baseball team, batting .277 in 17 games, with a six-inningERA of 1.49.[6]
In 1963 during his senior year, Wood was electedteam captain, had 545 yards passing and 818 yards rushing (8th in the nation), was again named first-team All-Ivy, and was named to theAssociated Press All-East team, and was elected to theNational Honor Society.[5][6] He was first in the country in kickoff return yardage (618 yards on 19 returns, for a 32.5 average).[6] He was named Ivy League Player of the Week five times in his career, a two-time All-American honorable mention, set five Ivy League career and single-season offensive records (career total offense (3,457 yards); career rushing (1867); single-season total offense (1,616 yards in '62); single-season rushing (813 yards in '62); single-game total offense (387 yards vs. Penn in '62)), and is the only Ivy League player to rush for 2,000 yards and pass for 1,000 more (he rushed for more yards (2,156) than he passed (1,891)).[2][5][6] He also set Cornell records for career total offense, single season total offense; career rushing; single season rushing; and single game total offense.[6]
In 1964, Wood was selected in the eighth round (109th overall) of theNFL draft by theNew York Giants.[3] He turned down offers from the American Football League and from Canada to play in the NFL.[2] In hisrookie season for the Giants he backed-up and frequently replaced injured starterY. A. Tittle,[2] including famously in the September 20, 1964 game at Pittsburgh. Tittle was knocked out with a concussion and cracked sternum on a hit which led to an interception for a touchdown; Tittle's reaction, kneeling, bloodied and without his helmet, was photographed by Morris Bowman of thePittsburgh Post-Gazette and became an award-winning photograph, one of the most famous football photographs of all time. Ward, however, could not break through the Steeler defense, and was held to 107 yards passing on 7-of-18 pass attempts and one interception. The Steelers won, 27-24.[7]
Wood appeared in an episode ofTo Tell The Truth on July 12, 1965.[8]
In 1967, Wood was picked up in theexpansion draft for theNew Orleans Saints.[3] After playing two games for the Saints in the 1967 season, Wood was demoted to third string behindBilly Kilmer andGary Cuozzo. Following this season, Wood was then traded back to New York for a draft pick.
Wood spent the remainder of his NFL career in New York backing upFran Tarkenton, and ended his NFL career in 1969 after having played 63 games.[2][3] In six NFL seasons, he completed 186 of 400 passes for 2,575 yards and 14 touchdowns, with 18 interceptions.[2]
After retiring from the NFL, Wood played in theCanadian Football League from 1970 to 1971 for theOttawa Rough Riders.[9]
He was inducted into the Cornell Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989, as well as the New York Sports Hall of Fame and theNational Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.[5][10][11]
Following his stint in the Canadian Football League, Wood opened an insurance firm in New York City.[2]
He helped found Temple Beth Torah inMelville, New York.[5]
Wood died in March 1994 at the age of 52 of a heart attack at his home inDix Hills, Long Island.[12]
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