Danny Abramowicz

Last updated

Danny Abramowicz
New Orleans Saints at Denver Broncos 1985-09-15 (ticket) (crop).jpg
Abramowicz playing for the Saints circa early 1970's
No. 46
Position: Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1945-07-13) July 13, 1945 (age 79)
Steubenville, Ohio, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school: Catholic Central (Steubenville)
College: Xavier
NFL draft: 1967  / Round: 17 / Pick: 420
Career history
As a player:
As a coach:
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:111
Starts:106
Receptions:369
Receiving Yards:5,686
Touchdowns:39
Player stats at PFR
Coaching stats at PFR

Daniel Stanley "Danny" Abramowicz (born July 13, 1945) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Xavier Musketeers. He played in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers. He was named a first-team All-Pro with the Saints in 1969, when he led the league in receptions. He became a coach after his playing career.

Contents

Biography

Early life

Born in Steubenville, Ohio, Abramowicz is of Polish/Irish descent. [1] He attended Steubenville Catholic Central High School. When he was a 5–10, 155-pound senior at Catholic Central, Abramowicz didn't attract much attention from college coaches. The only school that offered him a football scholarship was Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio.

He went to Xavier and, as a sophomore, caught 18 passes for 257 yards in his first varsity season.

His junior year, he finished with 50 catches for 738 yards and eight touchdowns, helping Xavier to an 8–2 season. That year Xavier knocked off Miami University, 29–28, Cincinnati, 14–3, and Dayton, 10–0. The Musketeers were all but bowl-bound until they dropped a 57–33 decision to Texas Western on the final day of the season despite a 53-yard touchdown reception by Abramowicz. At the conclusion of his junior year, he was named to the All-Catholic All-America team (The Brooklyn Tablet).

During his senior season, he continued as the favorite receiver of quarterback Carroll Williams, catching 34 passes for 585 yards and three touchdowns despite facing constant double coverage. [2]

Abramowicz holds the XU records for passes caught in a season (50 in 1965) and in a career (102), receiving yards in a career (1,470), as well as touchdown passes caught in a season (eight in 1965) and in a career (13) [3]

He graduated with a bachelor of science degree in Economics and Education in 1967. [4]

NFL career

By his senior year, he had grown to 6–0, 190 pounds, but he still didn't attract much attention from pro scouts due to his lack of speed. Abramowicz was drafted by the Saints in the 17th round of the 1967 NFL/AFL draft.

His career lasted from 1967 through 1974. Abramowicz broke into the starting lineup in the seventh game of the Saints’ first season with 12 catches for 156 yards in a 14–10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Abramowicz had his most productive years while with the Saints. In 1968, 1969, and 1970, he ranked in the Top 10 in the NFL in two categories: receptions and receiving yards.

Additionally, in 1968 and 1972 he was Top 10 in receiving touchdowns. His best season is generally considered to be 1969 when he caught 73 passes for 1,015 yards to go along with seven touchdowns. For his efforts, he was voted as an All-Pro by the Sporting News and Associated Press. The 1972 season would turn out to be Abramowicz's last full season with the Saints.

Two games into the 1973 season, he was traded to the 49ers, playing two sub-par seasons. Abramowicz attempted to catch on in 1975, reporting to camp with George Allen's "Over the Hill Gang", the Washington Redskins. However, he did not make the final roster.

Over his career, he played 111 games, caught 369 passes for 5,686 yards, and 39 touchdowns.

Upon his retirement, he held the NFL record for catching at least one pass in consecutive games: 105. The previous record was 96 by Hall-of-Famer Lance Alworth.

After retirement

After his playing career, Abramowicz worked in private business in New Orleans. He also spent five years as an analyst for Saints games broadcast on radio. In 1992, he was hired by Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka to serve as special teams coach. He served in this capacity from 1992 to 1996. In 1997, when Ditka was hired as head coach for the Saints, Abramowicz came back to the Saints as offensive coordinator. He has been out of the NFL since Ditka was fired in 1999.

Abramowicz is a devout Roman Catholic, and is active with various organizations and foundations dedicated to philanthropic causes. He is also a writer, author of Spiritual Workout of a Former Saint.

Since September 2008, Abramowicz has been hosting his own television show "Crossing the Goal" on the Catholic television network EWTN. Promotional materials from the network indicate the program uses "a sports show format to encourage men to get into spiritual shape." He also serves on the Board of Directors of EWTN. He serves in an advisory capacity to the board of directors of National Fellowship of Catholic Men. He travels throughout the United States speaking at Catholic men's conferences.

He and his wife, Claudia, married in 1970 and had three children and four grandsons. [4] Claudia died August 2, 2022. [5]

Xavier University has presented him with the two most prestigious awards bestowed on a student athlete—Legion of Honor and Athletic Hall of Fame (1981). [4]

Abramowicz was inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in 1992. Also in 1992, he was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. [3]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Led the league
BoldCareer high

Regular season

YearTeamGamesReceiving
GPGSRecYdsAvgLngTD
1967 NO 14105072114.4806
1968 NO 14145489016.5477
1969 NO 1414731,01513.9497
1970 NO 14145590616.5485
1971 NO 14143765717.8635
1972 NO 13133866817.6517
1973 NO 222189.0110
SF 12113544212.6541
1974 SF 14142536914.8301
Career 1111063695,68615.48039

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Ditka</span> American football player, coach, and commentator (born 1939)

Michael Keller Ditka is an American former football player, coach, and television commentator. During his playing career, he was UPI NFL Rookie of Year in 1961, a five-time Pro Bowl selection, and a six-time All-Pro tight end with the Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles, and Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League (NFL); he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988. Ditka was the first tight end in NFL history to reach 1,000 yards receiving.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fred Biletnikoff</span> American gridiron football player and coach (born 1943)

Frederick Biletnikoff, nicknamed "Scarecrow", is an American former football player and coach. He played as a wide receiver for the Oakland Raiders in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL) for fourteen seasons and later was an assistant coach with the team. He retired as an NFL player after the 1978 season, and then played one additional season in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Montreal Alouettes in 1980. While he lacked the breakaway speed to be a deep-play threat, Biletnikoff was one of the most sure-handed and consistent receivers of his day, with a propensity for making spectacular catches. He was also known for running smooth, precise pass routes. He is a member of both the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1988) and College Football Hall of Fame (1991).

Ben Terrence Coates, Jr. is an American former football tight end who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 10 seasons, primarily with the New England Patriots. He played college football at Livingstone College and was selected by the Patriots in the fifth round of the 1991 NFL draft, where spent all but one season of his professional career. In his final season, he was a member of the Baltimore Ravens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reggie Wayne</span> American football player and coach (born 1978)

Reginald Wayne is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for 14 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes, and was selected by the Colts in the first round of the 2001 NFL draft with the 30th overall pick. A six-time Pro Bowl selection, Wayne was a member of the Colts' Super Bowl XLI. He ranks second in Colts' franchise history to Marvin Harrison in major receiving categories: receptions, receiving yards, targets, and receiving touchdowns. On December 14, 2014, Wayne played in both his 209th game and his 142nd win as a member of the Colts, breaking the franchise records set by Peyton Manning.

Henry Austin Ellard is an American former football wide receiver who played for the Los Angeles Rams (1983–1993), the Washington Redskins (1994–1998), and the New England Patriots (1998) of the National Football League (NFL). Ellard also qualified for the Olympic trials in 1992 in the triple jump, although he injured his hamstring during the Trials and did not make the team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bernard Berrian</span> American football player (born 1980)

Bernard Berrian is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Fresno State Bulldogs, earning first-team All-American honors in 2001. Berrian was selected by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 2004 NFL draft. He also played in the NFL for the Minnesota Vikings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devery Henderson</span> American football player (born 1982)

Devery Vaughn Henderson Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for nine seasons with the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). The Louisiana-born Henderson played for the LSU Tigers, who won the 2004 BCS National Championship Game for the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season. A few months later, the Saints selected Henderson in the second round of the 2004 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Joe DuPree</span> American football player (born 1950)

Billy Joe DuPree is an American former professional football player who was a tight end in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Michigan State University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sammy White (American football)</span> American football player (born 1954)

Sammy White is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for 10 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wes Chandler</span> American football player (born 1956)

Wesley Sandy Chandler is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for eleven seasons during the 1970s and 1980s. He was selected to the Pro Bowl four times, and ranked twelfth in NFL history in receiving yards and thirteenth in receptions when he retired. Chandler is a member of the Chargers Hall of Fame. He played college football for the Florida Gators and was also inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2015.

Kenneth Othell Burrough was an American professional football player who was a wide receiver for the Houston Oilers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas Southern Tigers and was named second-team All-American in 1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doug Cosbie</span> American football player and coach (born 1956)

Douglas Durant Cosbie is an American former professional football player who was a tight end in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Santa Clara University.

Jerry O'Dell Butler is an American former professional football player who spent his entire career as a wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL) from 1979 to 1986. He played college football for the Clemson Tigers. He was selected in the first round of the 1979 NFL draft with the fifth overall pick. Butler was a Pro Bowl selection in 1980. In his career, he caught 278 receptions for 4,301 yards and 29 touchdowns.

Steven Russell Jordan is an American former professional football tight end who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Minnesota Vikings from 1982 to 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Wilson (wide receiver)</span> American football player (1927–2009)

Billy Wilson was an American football wide receiver who played for the San Francisco 49ers from 1951 to 1960. He was named to the Pro Bowl six times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laurent Robinson</span> American football player (born 1985)

Laurent Robinson is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the Atlanta Falcons, St. Louis Rams, Dallas Cowboys and Jacksonville Jaguars. He was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the 2007 NFL draft. He played college football for the Illinois State Redbirds.

William Frederick Truax is a former American football tight end in the National Football League (NFL) for the Los Angeles Rams and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Louisiana State University.

Brian Fryer is a former football player who starred at wide receiver for the University of Alberta, and played professionally for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL) and the Edmonton Eskimos and Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Jeffrey Eugene Groth is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the Miami Dolphins, Houston Oilers, and the New Orleans Saints. Groth was also a 4th round selection of the Texas Rangers as an outfielder in the 1980 MLB Draft.

Jimmy Robinson is a former American football wide receiver and retired wide receivers coach of the National Football League (NFL). He played for the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers during his playing career. He was a wide receivers coach in professional football since 1984, coaching for the Memphis Showboats, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Atlanta Falcons, Indianapolis Colts, New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, Green Bay Packers, and most recently the Dallas Cowboys.

References

  1. Lubinger, Bill (January 31, 2010). "Who dat? Danny Abramowicz was the New Orleans Saints' first star, and will root for his old team from his Steubenville home". The Plain Dealer. Archived from the original on March 28, 2018.
  2. "General – Story Archives". Xavier University Athletics.
  3. 1 2 "Danny Abramowicz". Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame . Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 "Crossing the Goal". Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  5. "Claudia Abramowicz Obituary (1947–2022) – Covington, LA – The Times-Picayune". NOLA.com. Retrieved February 19, 2024.