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| Position | Quarterback | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born | (1928-01-18)January 18, 1928 San Antonio, Texas, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Died | June 27, 2000(2000-06-27) (aged 72) Saginaw, Michigan, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight | 211 lb (96 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school | Harlandale(San Antonio) | ||||||||||||||
| College | Rice | ||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 1950: 2nd round, 17th overall pick | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||||
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| Career CFL statistics | |||||||||||||||
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Tobin Cornelius Rote (January 18, 1928 – June 27, 2000) was an American professionalfootball player who was aquarterback for theGreen Bay Packers andDetroit Lions of theNational Football League (NFL), theToronto Argonauts of theCanadian Football League (CFL), and theSan Diego Chargers andDenver Broncos of theAmerican Football League (AFL).[1] He playedcollege football for theRice Owls.
He was arguably the firstdual-threat quarterback in NFL history.[2][3][4]
Born inSan Antonio, to William Pemberton Rote Jr. (1891–1950) and Augusta Marie (Tietschert) Rote (1896–1969). Rote attendedHarlandale High School in San Antonio and graduated in 1946. He was named "most athletic boy" by his classmates.
He is the cousin of formerNew York Giants receiver and sportscasterKyle Rote, sharing paternal grandparents.
Rote playedcollege football atRice Institute inHouston, quarterbacking theOwls under head coachJess Neely. As a senior in1949, Rote led the Owls to a 10–1 season, capped by a 27–13 win overNorth Carolina in theCotton Bowl inDallas on January 2.[5]
During the fourth game of the season in mid-October against rivalSMU (that featured cousinKyle Rote), he led the Owls back from a 14–0 deficit to a 41–27 win at the Cotton Bowl.[6] The next week saw Rote lead a comeback againstTexas, turning a 9–0 halftime deficit into a 17–15 win atAustin.[7] With a flawless conference record, the Owls were outrightSouthwest Conference champions for the third time.
TheGreen Bay Packers selected Rote in the second round of the1950 NFL draft, the 17th overall pick. He spent a total of seven seasons inGreen Bay under head coachesGene Ronzani andLisle Blackbourn, leading the hapless Packers' offense while the defense annually ranked among the league's worst. On November 18, 1951, he set a record for rushing yards in one game by a quarterback (150) against theChicago Bears that wasn't surpassed until 2002.[8] Besides his passing duties, Rote led the Packers in rushing yards three times and rushing touchdowns five times. During the span of his Green Bay career, Rote ranked third in theNFL in passing touchdowns, trailing onlyBobby Layne andNorm Van Brocklin. He also ranked first in the league in rushing yards by a quarterback and second in touchdowns. He was inducted into theGreen Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1974.[9]
Rote's1956 season ranks among the greatest in NFL history. On a 4–8 team, he led the league in passing yards (by 294) and passing touchdowns (18 toTed Marchibroda's 12). In addition, his 11 rushing touchdowns were second in the league behind only those ofChicago Bears'Rick Casares. His 29 total touchdowns were the highest single-season total of his career, and the highest total in the era of the twelve-game schedule. The entire Packers' offense outside of Rote accounted for just five touchdowns.
Among quarterbacks, he led the league in pass completions, pass attempts, passing yards, passing touchdowns, rushing attempts, rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns.
In late July1957, Rote and defensive backVal Joe Walker were traded to theDetroit Lions for four players (halfbackDon McIlhenny, offensive tacklesOllie Spencer andNorm Masters, and offensive guardJim Salsbury).[10][11]
Rote split time in1957 withhall of famerBobby Layne, although it was Rote who ended up with more passing touchdowns, fewer interceptions, more rushing yards, more rushing touchdowns, and a better won-lost record as a starter. Layne broke his ankle midway through the eleventh game, leaving Rote to guide the team to anNFL title. Detroit tiedSan Francisco for the division title, forcing a one-game playoff. Facing a 27–7 deficit in the third quarter, Rote led the Lions to a 31–27 comeback win and a date with theCleveland Browns.[12] In one of the greatest playoff performances in history, Rote led Detroit to a 59–14 thumping of the Browns.[13][14][15] He completed 12 of 19 passes for 280 yards and 4 touchdowns, adding another touchdown on the ground.
As for the 1957 Green Bay Packers, they averaged four points per game fewer than the year before in spite of the addition of future hall of famersBart Starr andPaul Hornung. Fourth-year head coach Blackbourn was replaced withScooter McLean for1958, the Packers' worst-ever season.
Layne was traded to thePittsburgh Steelers after the second game of the1958 season,[16][17] leaving Rote to guide the aging and rapidly declining Lions. Rote led the team in rushing, making it the fourth time in his career that he did so (an NFL record for quarterbacks). After a disastrous1959 season (3–8–1), the Lions informed Rote that he would be released.[18] Rather than retire, the ten-year veteran headed north of the border to theToronto Argonauts of theCanadian Football League (CFL).[19]
Rote's three seasons in theCanadian Football League with theToronto Argonauts were quite eventful.[20] He completed 662 of 1,187 passes for 9,872 yards and 62 TDs. His 38 TD passes in1960 was an all-time CFL record. In Rote's first season with the Argos he became the CFL's second quarterback to exceed 4,000 yards passing in a season with 4,247. He also threw 38 touchdowns that season which was then a league record. Thanks to Rote's leadership the 10–4 Argonauts in 1960 accomplished something they had not done since 1937: finish in first place. However, they lost the conference final series toOttawa Rough Riders who went on to win theGrey Cup. Rote's 108 yard pass toJim Rountree in1961 is still a team record, and in 1960 he threw seven touchdown passes in a game twice, a CFL record at the time. After the 1962 season, the Argonauts traded for future hall-of-fame QBJackie Parker and Rote moved to the fledgling AFL.
| Season | Att | Comp | Comp % | Yds | Yds/Comp | TD | INT |
| 1960 | 450 | 256 | 56.9 | 4,247 | 16.6 | 38 | 25 |
| 1961 | 389 | 220 | 56.6 | 3,093 | 14.1 | 16 | 16 |
| 1962 | 348 | 187 | 53.7 | 2,532 | 13.5 | 12 | 17 |
Looking for a quarterback to lead the team in1963 while a youngJohn Hadl developed, theSan Diego Chargers of theAmerican Football League (AFL) came calling. Rote was in his 14th pro season at age 35, but led the Chargers to an 11–3 record and the Western division title. For his part in directing the league's top offense, Rote was named first-team All-AFL and captured theAssociated Press Player of the Year award. Proving that his 1957 NFL title performance was no fluke, he led the Chargers to a 51–10 win over theBoston Patriots in the1963 AFL championship game.[21][22][23] Individually, he accounted for 173 yards and 2 touchdowns on 10/15 passing, plus another 15 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground.
In1964, Hadl began receiving more playing time. The Chargers won the West again but with an 8–5–1 record, and the offense fell from first in the AFL to fourth; and lost three of four to finish the regular season. Rote was the starter for theAFL championship game on the road against theBuffalo Bills, but neither he nor Hadl could do much against the swarming defense without Hall of Fame receiverLance Alworth (knee hyperextension) and running backKeith Lincoln, injured in the first quarter with a broken rib.[24] Buffalo won 20–7, and Rote announced his retirement.[25][26][27]
In1966, Rote briefly came out of retirement to play for theDenver Broncos. Signed in late September after the winless Broncos lost their third game,[28] he appeared in three games for a total of five minutes, completing three of eight passes; he was waived by the team after three games in mid-October.[29]
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Won the league championship | |
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
| 1950 | GNB | 12 | 12 | 3-9 | 83 | 224 | 37.1 | 1,231 | 5.5 | 96 | 7 | 24 | 26.7 | 27 | 158 | 5.9 | 29 | 0 |
| 1951 | GNB | 12 | 11 | 3-8 | 106 | 256 | 41.4 | 1,540 | 6.0 | 85 | 15 | 20 | 48.6 | 76 | 523 | 6.9 | 55 | 3 |
| 1952 | GNB | 12 | 8 | 4-4 | 82 | 157 | 52.2 | 1,268 | 8.1 | 81 | 13 | 8 | 85.6 | 58 | 313 | 5.4 | 30 | 2 |
| 1953 | GNB | 12 | 7 | 2-4-1 | 72 | 185 | 38.9 | 1,005 | 5.4 | 80 | 5 | 15 | 32.4 | 33 | 180 | 5.5 | 21 | 0 |
| 1954 | GNB | 12 | 12 | 4-8 | 180 | 382 | 47.1 | 2,311 | 6.0 | 82 | 14 | 18 | 59.1 | 67 | 301 | 4.5 | 30 | 8 |
| 1955 | GNB | 12 | 12 | 6-6 | 157 | 342 | 45.9 | 1,977 | 5.8 | 60 | 17 | 19 | 57.8 | 74 | 332 | 4.5 | 49 | 5 |
| 1956 | GNB | 12 | 11 | 4-7 | 146 | 308 | 47.4 | 2,203 | 7.2 | 69 | 18 | 15 | 70.6 | 84 | 398 | 4.7 | 39 | 11 |
| 1957 | DET | 12 | 5 | 4-1 | 76 | 177 | 42.9 | 1,070 | 6.0 | 48 | 11 | 10 | 60.2 | 70 | 366 | 5.2 | 23 | 1 |
| 1958 | DET | 12 | 11 | 4-6-1 | 118 | 257 | 45.9 | 1,678 | 6.5 | 65 | 14 | 10 | 69.5 | 77 | 351 | 4.6 | 27 | 3 |
| 1959 | DET | 10 | 7 | 1-5-1 | 62 | 162 | 38.3 | 861 | 5.3 | 59 | 5 | 19 | 26.8 | 35 | 156 | 4.5 | 21 | 2 |
| 1963 | SDG | 14 | 14 | 11-3 | 170 | 286 | 59.4 | 2,510 | 8.8 | 85 | 20 | 17 | 86.7 | 24 | 62 | 2.6 | 15 | 2 |
| 1964 | SDG | 14 | 6 | 2-3-1 | 74 | 163 | 45.4 | 1,156 | 7.1 | 82 | 9 | 15 | 49.5 | 10 | -12 | -1.2 | 9 | 0 |
| 1966 | DEN | 3 | 0 | 0-0 | 3 | 8 | 37.5 | 40 | 5.0 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 14.6 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 149 | 116 | 48-64-4 | 1,329 | 2,907 | 45.7 | 18,850 | 6.5 | 96 | 148 | 191 | 56.8 | 635 | 3,128 | 4.9 | 55 | 37 | |
| Year | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
| 1957 | DET | 2 | 2 | 2-0 | 28 | 49 | 57.1 | 494 | 10.1 | 78 | 5 | 1 | 117.2 | 11 | 32 | 2.9 | 17 | 1 |
| 1963 | SDG | 1 | 1 | 1-0 | 10 | 15 | 66.7 | 173 | 11.5 | 48 | 2 | 0 | 145.3 | 4 | 15 | 3.8 | 10 | 1 |
| 1964 | SDG | 1 | 1 | 0-1 | 10 | 26 | 38.5 | 118 | 4.5 | 22 | 1 | 2 | 33.8 | 1 | 6 | 6.0 | 6 | 0 |
| Career | 4 | 4 | 3-1 | 48 | 90 | 53.3 | 785 | 8.7 | 78 | 8 | 3 | 98.6 | 16 | 53 | 3.3 | 17 | 2 | |
In 2005, he was named to theProfessional Football Researchers Association Hall of Very Good in the association's third HOVG class.[30]
Rote died at age 72 inSaginaw, Michigan from aheart attack on June 27, 2000. In his last 18 months, he had undergone open heart surgery and back surgery. He was survived by wife Julie, former wife Betsy Todd and children Tobin Jr, Robin, Toni and Rock.
Media related toTobin Rote at Wikimedia Commons