| No. 30, 44 | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Halfback |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | (1938-04-23)April 23, 1938 (age 87) Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany |
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Weight: | 205 lb (93 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Hunterdon Central Regional (Flemington, New Jersey) |
| College: | Syracuse (1956–1959) |
| NFL draft: | 1960: 4th round, 47th pick |
| AFL draft: | 1960 |
| Career history | |
| |
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Stats atPro Football Reference | |
Gerhard H. Schwedes (born April 23, 1938) is a German-American former professionalfootball player who played two seasons in theAmerican Football League (AFL) as ahalfback with theBoston Patriots andNew York Titans. He was born inNazi Germany and grew up there duringWorld War II. He moved to the United States when he was 12. He playedcollege football atSyracuse University, which he helped to a victory in the1960 Cotton Bowl Classic. In late November 1959, Schwedes was selected by the Patriots with the first pick in the territorial portion of the AFL'sinaugural 1960 draft, becoming the first draft pick in AFL history and the first draft pick in Patriots franchise history.
Gerhard H. Schwedes was born on April 23, 1938, inFreiburg im Breisgau inNazi Germany.[1] His father was aGerman Army officer and spent part ofWorld War II in a prison camp in Russia.[2][3] Schwedes was raised inUlm.[2] About once a month during the war, he and his family took shelter in the home's cellar after hearing air raid warnings over the radio.[3] In one instance, his friend's house across the street was destroyed by a bomb, killing the entire family.[3] Another friend of his lost a leg due to a land mine.[2] Schwedes did not have any shoes during the war and food was very scarce.[3][2] In 1948, several years after the war, his father finally returned home.[3] The family moved to the United States when Schwedes was 12 years old.[2] His father later worked as a painter at a chemical plant inNew Jersey and his mother worked at a grocery store.[2] Schwedes playedhigh school football atHunterdon Central Regional High School inFlemington, New Jersey.[4][3]
Schwedes was a member of theSyracuse Orange ofSyracuse University from 1956 to 1959 and a three-yearletterman from 1957 to 1959.[4] He rushed 45 times for 195 yards, caught three passes for 13 yards, and attempted one pass for a 28-yard touchdown in 1957.[5] In 1958, he recorded 83 carries for 360 yards and three touchdowns, and 13 receptions for 117 yards, earningAssociated Press (AP) third-team All-Eastern honors.[5][6] He was a team captain his senior year in 1959, totaling 90 rushing attempts for 567 yards, 15 catches for 231 yards and five touchdowns, and 9 completions on 17 passing attempts for 93 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.[5] Schwedes threw for one touchdown and ran for another in the1960 Cotton Bowl Classic, helping No. 1 ranked Syracuse beat No. 4 rankedTexas.[7] The Orange were named consensus national champions that season. For his performance during the 1959 season, Schwedes was named first-team All-Eastern by the AP andUnited Press International (UPI), and a third-teamAll-American by UPI and a second-team All-American by theCentral Press Association.[8][9][10][11] He was also anNFF National Scholar-Athlete in 1959.[12] Schwedes lettered inlacrosse at Syracuse as well.[13]
In late November 1959, Schwedes was selected by theBoston Patriots of theAmerican Football League (AFL) with the first pick in the territorial portion of the AFL'sinaugural 1960 draft, becoming the first draft pick in AFL history and the first draft pick in Patriots franchise history.[a] He was also selected by theBaltimore Colts of theNational Football League (NFL) in the fourth round, with the 47th overall pick, of the1960 NFL draft.[1] He signed with the Patriots on January 1, 1960.[17]
On August 31, 1960, Schwedes was traded to theNew York Titans for Marshall Harris and a 1961 seventh round draft pick.[18][17] He appeared in three games for the Titans during the team's inaugural 1960 season before being released.[17]
Schwedes then re-signed with the Patriots on September 28, 1960.[17] He played in two games for the Patriots before being released on October 18, 1960.[17] He was signed by the Patriots again in 1961.[17] Schwedes played in five games for the Patriots during the 1961 season, rushing ten times for 14 yards and catching one pass for 21 yards.[1] He was released for the final time in 1961.[17]
Schwedes' sonScott Schwedes also played football at Syracuse and later in the NFL.[19] Gerhard was inducted into the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.[12]
Schwedes is fluent in English, German, Italian and French.[12]