Robert Craig Svihus (born June 21, 1943) is a former American football offensive tackle in the American Football League (AFL) and the National Football League (NFL) for the Oakland Raiders and New York Jets. He played college football at the University of Southern California
| No. 76 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Offensive tackle | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | June 21, 1943 Los Angeles, California, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 245 lb (111 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Redwood City (CA) Sequoia | ||||||||
| College: | USC | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1965 / round: 4 / pick: 53 | ||||||||
| AFL draft: | 1965 / round: 3 / pick: 19 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Early years
editSvihus attended Sequoia High School, where he practiced football, basketball and baseball.[1]
In football he played at guard and tackle, while being a part of the 1959 and 1960 undefeated teams. As a senior, he received All S.P.A.L. and All Northern California honors.[2]
In 1991, he was inducted into the San Mateo County Sports Hall of Fame.
College career
editSvihus accepted a football scholarship from the University of Southern California. As a sophomore in 1962, he was a part of an undefeated team that won the Rose Bowl and the National championship.[3]
As a senior in 1964, he became a starter at left tackle and received second-team All-AAWU honors.
Professional career
editOakland Raiders
editSvihus was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the third round (19th overall) of the 1965 AFL Draft and by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round (53rd overall) of the 1965 NFL draft.
He chose to sign with the Oakland Raiders, becoming a starter at left tackle as a rookie, to protect quarterback Tom Flores.[4] He would keep the job until 1969, while protecting quarterback Daryle Lamonica and missing only one game. In 1967, he played in Super Bowl II, a 14–33 loss against the Green Bay Packers.
In 1970 after the AFL–NFL merger, he was replaced at left tackle by future Hall of Famer Art Shell and started only 1 game. On August 26, 1971, he was traded to the New York Jets in exchange for a second round pick (#39-John Babinecz).[5]
New York Jets
editSvihus was the starter at left tackle from 1971 to 1972, protecting quarterback Joe Namath.[6] In 1973, he only started 4 games after being passed on the depth chart by Robert Woods. He retired on September 10, 1974.
Personal life
editSvihus co-wrote a book with Wayne Hawkins (Oakland Raiders offensive guard) and Dave Dalby (Oakland Raiders center) called Raider: How Offensive can you be? A 25-year history of the Oakland Raiders. The book was published by Peninsula Publishing in Monterey, California and was written in 1986–1987.[7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Bob Svihus Record". Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- ^ "Sequoia Sports Hall of Fame". Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- ^ Myers, Bob (January 2, 1963). "USC survives Badger rally 42-37". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. p. 14.
- ^ "ELKINS OF BAYLOR SIGNED BY OILERS". The New York Times. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- ^ "Jets Acquire Svihus, Offensive Tackle, From Raiders". The New York Times. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- ^ "Hill, Tackle on Offense, Defends Jets'". The New York Times. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- ^ "Wayne Hawkins, 84, excelled for Pacific and Oakland Raiders". Retrieved September 10, 2022.