Ed Koontz

Last updated

Ed Koontz
Ed Koontz.JPG
Koontz while at Catawba
No. 54, 55 [1]
Position: Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1946-06-11) June 11, 1946 (age 78)
Hanover, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High school: Littlestown
(Littlestown, Pennsylvania)
College: Catawba
AFL draft: 1968  / round: 17 / pick: 440
Career history
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Edward Larry Koontz (born June 11, 1946) is an American former professional football linebacker who played one season with the Boston Patriots of the American Football League (AFL). He played college football at Catawba and was selected by the Patriots in the 17th round of the 1968 NFL/AFL draft.

Contents

Early life

Edward Larry Koontz was born on June 11, 1946, in Hanover, Pennsylvania. [1] He played four years of varsity football at Littlestown High School in Littlestown, Pennsylvania. [2] He was a fullback and defensive back in high school. [2] [3] He earned All-Laurel Confernece honors as a fullback and was also named the York County Interscholastic League defensive back of the year. [2] [3] Koontz garnered all-state recognition in high school as well. [3] He graduated in 1964. [2]

College career

Koontz played college football for the Catawba Indians from 1964 to 1967 as a two-way player. [2] [3] He was a linebacker on defense but spent time at several positions on offense; he was an offensive guard his freshman year in 1964, then a tight end for two years, before switching to center as a senior. [2] He was a team captain his senior year in 1967. [2] Koontz led the Carolinas Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (CIAC) in tackles for three straight seasons. [4] He was named All-CIAC as a center in 1965 and as a linebacker in both 1966 and 1967. [4] He earned second-team Little All-American honors in 1967. [4] Koontz majored in business at Catawba. [2] He was inducted into the Catawba Hall of Fame in 1983. [5]

Professional career

Koontz was selected by the Boston Patriots in the 17th round, with the 440th overall pick, of the 1968 NFL draft. [6] He signed with the team in February 1968. [4] He suffered a cracked helmet, a broken nose, multiple wrist bone fractures, and an aggravated hamstring after being blindsided on a punt against the Miami Dolphins. [7] Overall, Koontz, played in six games, starting one, for the Patriots during the 1968 season as a linebacker. [6] He was cut by the Patriots on July 28, 1969. [8]

Koontz was later a member of the Quincy Giants of the Atlantic Coast Football League (ACFL) in 1969. [1]

Personal life

Koontz worked for Budweiser after his football career. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Shaw</span> American football player (1938–2024)

William Lewis Shaw was an American professional football player who was a guard for the Buffalo Bills in the American Football League (AFL). After playing college football for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, he was selected by the Bills in the second round of the 1961 AFL draft. Shaw was the prototypical "pulling guard" who despite his size held his own against much bigger defensive linemen like Ernie Ladd, Earl Faison and Buck Buchanan. He won three straight Eastern Division titles and two AFL championships in 1964 and 1965 with Buffalo.

David Michael Stratton was an American professional football player who was a linebacker for 12 seasons in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL). He won two AFL championships with the Buffalo Bills, where he was a six-time AFL All-Star. He was named to the AFL All-Time Second Team.

Daryle Pasquale Lamonica was an American professional football quarterback who played in the American Football League (AFL) and the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons, primarily with the Oakland Raiders. Lamonica was drafted by the NFL Green Bay Packers in round 12 with the 168th overall pick. He spent his first four seasons mostly as a backup for the Buffalo Bills, who selected him in the 24th round of the 1963 AFL Draft. Lamonica played his next eight seasons as the primary starter of the Raiders, including after they joined the NFL through the AFL–NFL merger.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carl Eller</span> American football player (born 1942)

Carl Eller is an American former professional football player who played as a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) from 1964 through 1979. He was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and played college football for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

Jon Nicholson Morris is an American former football center who played for fifteen seasons in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL). He played for the Boston / New England Patriots, the Detroit Lions and the Chicago Bears.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Vrabel</span> American football player and coach (born 1975)

Michael George Vrabel is an American football coach and former linebacker who is the head coach of the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Ohio State, where he was a consensus All-American. He then played in the NFL for 14 seasons, primarily as a member of the Patriots, where he became a three-time Super Bowl champion and a First-team All-Pro during his eight-year tenure. Noted for his versatility, Vrabel scored a receiving touchdown in consecutive Super Bowls, Super Bowl XXXVIII and Super Bowl XXXIX, becoming the only primarily defensive player to score in two Super Bowls.

George Delano Webster was an American professional football player who was a linebacker in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL) with the Houston Oilers, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the New England Patriots. Webster played college football for the Michigan State Spartans. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1987.

Marlin Thomas McKeever was an American professional football defensive end, fullback and punter at the University of Southern California (USC) and a tight end and linebacker during his 13-year National Football League (NFL) career. He was born in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Harry Everett "Bud" Abell is a former American football linebacker in the American Football League (AFL) for the Kansas City Chiefs. He played college football at the University of Missouri.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ken Avery</span> American football player (born 1944)

Kenneth William Avery is a former professional American football player. During a 9 year career in the National Football League (NFL), Avery played in 123 games, starting 77 times at the linebacker position.

In each year of its ten-year existence (1960–1969), numerous sports-news services named their choice for the American Football League's best first-year player. UPI selected a rookie for each of the ten seasons, while the Associated Press did selections from 1961 to 1966, which ended up with the same selections that UPI made. In 1967, AP instead selected Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Years for the AFL, with the offensive choices matching the UPI selection.

Richard Samuel Jackson, nicknamed "Tombstone", is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end and a linebacker in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Southern Jaguars. Jackson played for the AFL's Oakland Raiders in 1966 and Denver Broncos from 1967 through 1969, remaining with the Broncos in 1970 through 1971 after their post-merger transition to the NFL, and the Cleveland Browns in 1972. Jackson was named an All-Pro in 1969 and 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Curley Culp</span> American football player (1946–2021)

Curley Culp was an American professional football defensive tackle in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Arizona State University, where he was also an NCAA heavyweight wrestling champion. He played football professionally in the AFL for the Kansas City Chiefs in 1968 and 1969, and in the NFL for the Chiefs, Houston Oilers, and Detroit Lions. He was an AFL All-Star in 1969 and a six-time AFC–NFC Pro Bowler.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Myron Pottios</span> American football player (born 1939)

Myron Joseph Pottios is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins, Los Angeles Rams, and Pittsburgh Steelers. He was elected to play in three Pro Bowls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Conners</span> American football player (1942–2019)

Daniel Joseph Conners was an American professional football linebacker who played 11 seasons for the Oakland Raiders of the American Football League (AFL) from 1964 through 1969 and later in the National Football League (NFL) from 1970 through 1974. He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes and is enshrined in their Hall of Fame.

Richard Earl Shiner is a former professional American football quarterback who played in eleven National Football League (NFL) seasons from 1964 to 1974 for the Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants, Atlanta Falcons, and New England Patriots.

Walter Martin Corey was an American professional football player and coach. He played as a linebacker for seven seasons in the American Football League (AFL) before coaching in the National Football League (NFL) for 28 seasons.

Paul Michael Guidry is a former college and professional American football player. In 1966, Guidry was AFL-drafted by Buffalo Bills. He played on an undefeated team at McNeese State University, and had an eight-year career in the AFL and NFL.

Richard Clifton Moore is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) who played 20 games for the Green Bay Packers. In 1969, the Green Bay Packers used the 12th pick in the 1st round of the 1969 NFL/AFL draft to sign Moore out of Villanova University. He had previously been named as a first-team tackle on the East Coast Athletic Conference all-conference team in 1968, his senior season at Villanova. Moore went on to play for two seasons with the Packers. He tore an Achilles tendon in a win over the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1970 season, and had surgery shortly thereafter, putting him out for the season. After trying him on offense during training camp in 1971, the Packers traded him to the New England Patriots for linebacker John Bramlett in late July 1971. However, Moore was unable to play for the Patriots in 1971 due to injury. He was then released by the Patriots in June 1972.

Garry Mark Porterfield is an American former professional football offensive guard in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He was also a linebacker for the BC Lions in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at the University of Tulsa.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Ed Koontz". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Koontz In Catawba Swan Song; Tabbed Fine Pro Prospect". The Evening Sun . November 18, 1967. p. 11. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Koontz Gains Starting Job For Catawba". The Gettysburg Times . October 9, 1964. p. 11. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "'Iron-Man' Koontz of Catawba Signs to Become Newest Patriot". Hartford Courant . February 22, 1968. p. 18. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  5. 1 2 London, Mike (November 13, 2006). "Ed Koontz: Catawba star made it as a 17th-round pick". The Salisbury Post . pp. 1C, 4C . Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  6. 1 2 "Ed Koontz". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  7. ↑ Billings, Horace (January 24, 1969). "Koontz' Fun Ends When 'Blind-Sided'". The Salisbury Post . pp. 1B. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Two Remain In Contention For Patriot Linebacker". The Times Argus . Associated Press. July 29, 1969. p. 8. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.