Bob Schmitz
| No. 67, 54 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Linebacker | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | September 10, 1938 Marytown, Wisconsin,U.S. | ||||||||
| Died: | June 8, 2004(aged 65) Glendale, Arizona,U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 235 lb (107 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | New Holstein (WI) | ||||||||
| College: | Montana State | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1961/ round: 14 / pick: 187 | ||||||||
| AFL draft: | 1961/ round: 12 / pick: 90 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Robert Joseph Schmitz(September 10, 1938 – June 8, 2004) was anAmerican footballlinebackerwho played professionally in theNational Football League(NFL) for thePittsburgh Steelers.Schmitz graduated from New Holstein High School inNew Holstein, Wisconsin.He then went on to initially attend college atUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison,then atMontana State Universitywhere he earned aBachelor's degreein Business Administration.
Playing career
[edit]Schmitz was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 14th round of the1961 NFL draft.Schmitz was also drafted in the1961 AFL draftby theOakland Raiders,but he chose the Steelers. He is most notable for playing linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1961 to 1966. Schmitz played in a total of 51 NFL games. During his career he recorded threeinterceptionsfor 65 yards and atouchdown.Also, he recorded onesafetyfrom the linebacker spot. Perhaps his most memorable moment came atPitt Stadiumon November 10, 1963, where he recorded his only safety. Schmitz tackledPro Football Hall of Famerunning backJim Brownof theCleveland Brownsin theend zonefor a safety that gave the Steelers a 9–7 victory. Schmitz was then named NFL Player of the Week for his winning score. After winning the honor Schmitz said, "Gee, that's probably the best thing that ever happened to me."[1]His last season in the NFL came in 1966; a season in which he split time between the Pittsburgh Steelers and theMinnesota Vikings.
Scouting
[edit]After his playing career ended Schmitz took upscoutingin the NFL. In 1971, he was hired by theNFL's BLESTO combine,a scouting service that was located inPittsburgh.He joined the Pittsburgh Steelers as an area scout in 1976 after being hired byArt Rooney, Jr.Schmitz worked for the Steelers until 1995. Schmitz then accepted a scouting job for theNew York Jetsin 1995 because he was offered more money by his former Boss with the SteelersDick Haley.Schmitz assisted the Jets with their drafts and collegefree agentsigning periods. Throughout his career Schmitz specialty was gradingdefensiveplayers. Schmitz retired as a scout on June 1, 2004, after a successful 33-year run.
Death
[edit]On June 8, 2004, Schmitz died at his home inGlendale, Arizona.His death was ruled an apparentheart attack.Bob Schmitz was 65 years old.
References
[edit]- ^"Pittsburgh Post-Gazette".Archived fromthe originalon October 8, 2007.RetrievedJune 11,2006.
External links
[edit]- 1939 births
- 2004 deaths
- American people of German descent
- People from Calumet, Wisconsin
- People from New Holstein, Wisconsin
- Players of American football from Wisconsin
- American football linebackers
- Wisconsin Badgers football players
- Montana State Bobcats football players
- Pittsburgh Steelers players
- Minnesota Vikings players
- Pittsburgh Steelers scouts