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| No. 61 | |||||
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| Position: | Guard | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born: | (1939-01-08)January 8, 1939 Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. | ||||
| Died: | May 30, 2022(2022-05-30) (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 | ||||
| Career history | |||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||
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Robert Guy Talamini (January 8, 1939 – May 30, 2022) was an American professionalfootball player who was aguard in theAmerican Football League (AFL). He playedcollege football for theKentucky Wildcats, earning third-teamAll-SEC honors. He was selected by theHouston Oilers of theAmerican Football League (AFL).[1] His professional career began with the AFL's first training camp in 1960, and was capped the day theNew York Jets stunned the NFL'sBaltimore Colts inSuper Bowl III on January 12, 1969.
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Hall of FamersGeorge Blanda andBilly Cannon benefited from his blocking as the Oilers won the first twoAFL Championships. Talamini made first-teamAll-AFL in 1962 and was a regular atAFL 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 andHoyle Granger to run through. Talamini,Don Floyd andJim 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 theNew York Jets. Opening holes forMatt Snell and blocking defenders away fromJoe Namath. Talamini was selected to theAll-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]