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| Position: | Quarterback | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born: | (1947-05-31)May 31, 1947 (age 77) Everett, Massachusetts, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 198 lb (90 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school: | Revere (MA) | ||||||||||||||
| College: | Tampa | ||||||||||||||
| Undrafted: | 1970 | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
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| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||||
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Jim Del Gaizo (born May 31, 1947) is a former professionalAmerican footballquarterback for theMiami Dolphins,Green Bay Packers, andNew York Giants. His career in theNational Football League (NFL) lasted five seasons(1971–1975).[1]
Born inEverett, Massachusetts, and raised inRevere, Del Gaizo was the star quarterback forRevere High School, and still holds the Patriots' most notable passing records.
After playingcollege football at bothSyracuse[2] andTampa, Del Gaizo went unselected in the1971 NFL draft, which had only three quarterbacks taken in the first six rounds and only seventeen selected over the entire seventeen rounds. He is one of only two quarterbacks ever to play at Tampa who appeared in the NFL. Del Gaizo made the Dolphins' roster as anundrafted free agent in1971 and spent the season as the third-string quarterback and was not activated the entire season.
In Del Gaizo's rookie season (his second season although his first one on an active roster), he was the backup quarterback in four appearances during the Dolphins' undefeated17–0 season in1972 that culminated in a victory inSuper Bowl VII. Del Gaizo completed 5 of 9 passes for twotouchdowns and oneinterception; he also lost one fumble.
The Dolphins did not retain Del Gaizo's services for the1973 season; however, his stock had risen after two good preseasons coupled with his game performances in the 1972 season, and he was traded to thePackers for two second round picks (one in 1974 and one in 1975). Green Bay is where he saw his most extensive game action, appearing in eight games while starting three. He suffered a separated shoulder early, and his final statistics were: 27 completions in 69 passing attempts with two touchdowns, six interceptions, and one fumble. In the strike season of1974, he was traded to theGiants for a third round draft pick.
Del Gaizo's final season in1975 was spent with the Giants, where he appeared in four games (one start), completing 12 of 32 passes with no touchdowns and three interceptions. The Giants released him and Del Gaizo never appeared in another NFL regular season game. However, he was re-signed by the Dolphins for the second half of the1975 season after injuries had sidelined bothBob Griese andEarl Morrall, and was on the roster for the final three games of the season, but did not play.
He was invited to camp the following season, and played in the 1976 pre-season for the Dolphins, where he completed 25 passes out of 40 attempts, for 372 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions; however, he was cut by the Dolphins. Del Gaizo entertained starting job offers from theAtlanta Falcons andBuffalo Bills, as well as a back-up offer from thePittsburgh Steelers (which he was quoted as saying later he should have probably accepted); however, disillusioned with both pro football and the Miami Dolphins (where he felt he had earned his spot), he decided to retire at the age of 29.
After the NFL career, Del Gaizo worked as a mortgage broker.[citation needed]