Guido Merkens

Last updated

Guido Merkens
No. 29, 12, 26, 19
Position: Quarterback, wide receiver, defensive back, punter, return specialist
Personal information
Born: (1955-08-14) August 14, 1955 (age 69)
San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school: Edison (San Antonio)
College: Sam Houston State
Undrafted: 1977
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:36
Receiving yards:569
Receiving touchdowns:3
Player stats at PFR

Guido Albert Merkens Jr. (born August 14, 1955) is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback, running back, wide receiver, punter and defensive back for 10 seasons for the Houston Oilers, New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL).

Merkens was a 1973 graduate of Edison High School in San Antonio. He then played college football at both quarterback and defensive back for the Sam Houston Bearkats. His versatility became a hallmark of his professional career. [1] In his first two seasons in the NFL, he was primarily a punt return specialist. During his tenure with the Saints, he served as the third-string quarterback, holder for field goals and a "primary" special teams player; with occasional time as a wide receiver, punter or safety. He also handled some kickoff and punt returns. His penchant for being the emergency backup for all of the aforementioned positions earned him the reputation of a "jack of all trades". In 1981, he reached number three receiver status, starting eleven games, with 29 receptions, 458 yards and one touchdown. [2] [3]

Merkens unusual versatility made him an extremely popular player for the Saints, and he has been called a Saints legend. [3]

After not playing in 1986, [3] Merkens was a replacement player during the NFL players strike of 1987 for the Philadelphia Eagles, playing quarterback. [4] Merkens was sacked 10 times by the Chicago Bears replacement team in his first game, a 35-3 loss. [5]

Merkens' father, Guido Sr., served as founding pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church in San Antonio and was a vice-president of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. [6]

In 2007, Merkens was general manager of a CarMax dealership in the city. [7]

Merkens was inducted into the Sam Houston Hall of Honor in 1988. [8]

Related Research Articles

In sports, a utility player is one who can play several positions competently. Sports in which the term is often used include association football, basketball, American football, baseball, rugby union, rugby league, softball, ice hockey, and water polo.

The 1991 NFL season was the 72nd regular season of the National Football League (NFL). It was the final season for coach Chuck Noll. The season ended with Super Bowl XXVI when the Washington Redskins defeated the Buffalo Bills, 37–24, at the Metrodome in Minnesota. This was the second of four consecutive Super Bowl losses for Buffalo.

The 1990 NFL season was the 71st regular season of the National Football League (NFL). To increase revenue, the league, for the first time since 1966, reinstated bye weeks, so that all NFL teams would play their 16-game schedule over a 17-week period. Furthermore, the playoff format was expanded from 10 teams to 12 teams by adding another wild card from each conference, thus adding two more contests to the postseason schedule; this format was modified with realignment in 2002 before the playoffs expanded to 14 teams in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1987 NFL season</span> 1987 National Football League season

The 1987 NFL season was the 68th regular season of the National Football League (NFL). This season featured games predominantly played by replacement players, as the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) players were on strike from weeks four to six with week three being cancelled in its entirety. This remains the last NFL season in which regular-season games were impacted by a labor conflict.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King Hill</span> American football player (1936–2012)

Stuart King Hill was an American professional football quarterback and punter in the National Football League (NFL) who played for the Chicago / St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Eagles, and Minnesota Vikings.

The 1987 season was the Chicago Bears' 68th in the National Football League the 18th post-season completed in the NFL, and their sixth under head coach Mike Ditka. The team was looking to return to the playoffs, win the NFC Central Division for the fourth consecutive year and avenge their loss in the Divisional Playoffs to the Washington Redskins the year before when the team finished 14–2.

The NFL Alumni Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is composed of former National Football League (NFL) players, coaches, team staff members and associate members who work voluntarily to raise funds for youth-oriented causes and engage in hands-on service to foster the development of "youth through sports and sports through youth". It was founded in 1967.

Robert Cole Williams is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins and Kansas City Chiefs. He played college football at Baylor University.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tracy Porter</span> American football player (born 1986)

Tracy O'Neil Porter is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Indiana Hoosiers and was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the second round of the 2008 NFL draft. Porter is best known for being a crucial player during the Saints’ 2009 season, in which he intercepted Brett Favre in the NFC Championship Game and then won Super Bowl XLIV over the Indianapolis Colts, sealing the game by famously intercepting Peyton Manning and returning it for a touchdown.

Victor Allen Butler is a former American football linebacker. He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2009 NFL draft. He played college football at Oregon State University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vic Fangio</span> American football coach

Victor Mick Fangio is an American football coach who serves as the defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). Fangio also recently served as the head coach of the Denver Broncos. A 41-year coaching veteran with 33 seasons of NFL experience, Fangio was a defensive coordinator for 20 of the last 24 seasons at the NFL or college level before becoming the Broncos' head coach. He served as the Chicago Bears' defensive coordinator after leading the defenses for the San Francisco 49ers, Stanford University, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cameron Jordan</span> American football player (born 1989)

Cameron Tyler Jordan is an American professional football defensive end for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the California Golden Bears, and was selected by the Saints in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft. A member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, Jordan is an eight-time Pro Bowler, a three-time All-Pro selection, and is the Saints' all-time franchise sack leader.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taysom Hill</span> American football player (born 1990)

Taysom Shawn Hill is an American professional football utility player for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He is officially designated as a tight end. He played college football at BYU and joined the Saints in 2017 as an undrafted free agent. Hill was listed as a quarterback on the Saints depth chart during his first five seasons, though he took snaps at seven different positions. Hill was designated as a tight end beginning in 2022 before once again being listed as a quarterback in 2023. He has maintained similar roles on offense and special teams throughout his career, including as the Saints primary gunner. Hill's array of utilization has earned him a reputation as a unique player in the NFL. Due to his versatility, he is known as "The Human Swiss Army Knife" by Saints' media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Chicago Bears season</span> 98th season in franchise history

The 2017 season was the Chicago Bears' 98th season in the National Football League (NFL), as well as their third and final season under head coach John Fox. The Bears improved upon the previous year's 3–13 record, finishing 5–11, but failed to make the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season and suffered their fourth consecutive losing season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minneapolis Miracle</span> 2018 American football playoff game

The Minneapolis Miracle was the National Football Conference (NFC) divisional playoff game played between the Minnesota Vikings and the New Orleans Saints at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 14, 2018, and specifically its final play. The game was played as part of the National Football League (NFL)'s 2017–18 playoffs. This was the fourth playoff game between these two franchises in their histories.

Matt Merkens is an American football coach who is the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Sam Houston State Bearkats football team.

References

  1. ↑ David Flores, "Edison graduate played with Saints during hard times" Archived March 6, 2014, at the Wayback Machine , KENS, February 7, 2010.
  2. ↑ Don Pierson, "Eagle Subs Clobbered Already-by Ryan", Chicago Tribune , October 2, 1987.
  3. 1 2 3 Hirstius, Barry (June 25, 2018). "30-Plus Years Later, the Unforgettable "Legend of Guido" Lives On For the New Orleans Saints". Sports Illustrated New Orleans Saints News, Analysis and More. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  4. ↑ Zimmerman, Paul (October 5, 1987). "When Push Came to Shove". Sports Illustrated.
  5. ↑ Tribune, Chicago (October 5, 1987). "NEAR BEARS SOCK IT TO EAGLES". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Guido Merkens, former LCMS vice-president, dies". January 13, 2012.
  7. ↑ Dale Robertson, "Remembering the Luv Ya Blue Oilers (w/video)" Archived 2014-10-27 at the Wayback Machine , Houston Chronicle , December 10, 2007.
  8. ↑ "Guido Merkens (1988) - Hall of Honor". Sam Houston. Retrieved October 6, 2024.


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.