Frank Tripucka (1927–2013)

Former pro football quarterback.[65][66][67]

What is Frank Tripucka (1927–2013) known for?

Frank Tripucka, born December 8, 1927, in Bloomfield, New Jersey, was a prominent figure in American gridiron football. He spent 15 seasons playing professional football as a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL), Canadian Football League (CFL), and American Football League (AFL). His sporting career was illustrious, particularly his tenure from 1960 to 1963 with the AFL's Denver Broncos.

Notably, Tripucka was the inaugural quarterback for the Broncos and achieved his greatest success in this role. He set an NFL/AFL record during Denver's inaugural year by becoming the first quarterback to throw for 3,000 yards in a season. This impressive accomplishment earned him All-Star honors. His significant contributions to the Broncos were recognized in 1986 when he was inducted into the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame.

During his professional career in the NFL, Tripucka made 879 completions from 1,745 passing attempts. He achieved a career completion percentage of 50.4% and threw a total of 69 touchdowns against 124 interceptions. His career passing yards totalled 10,282. Despite these noteworthy statistics, he holds the distinction of having the lowest career passer rating, a minimum of 1500 passing attempts, in NFL history, with a final career rating of 52.2.

Before his professional career, Tripucka was a three-time letter-winner at Notre Dame, where he played as a backup quarterback to Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Lujack on unbeaten Notre Dame squads in 1946 and 1947. With Lujack's graduation, Tripucka became the undisputed starter in his senior year at Notre Dame.

Over the years, Tripucka played for multiple teams, including the Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions, Chicago Cardinals, Dallas Texans, Saskatchewan Roughriders, Ottawa Rough Riders, and finally, his most notable stint, with the Denver Broncos, where his No. 18 was retired, a testament to his contributions and impact on the team.

Frank Tripucka passed away on September 12, 2013, in Woodland Park, New Jersey. His legacy in professional football endures, particularly in Denver, Colorado, where his successes with the Broncos helped shape the team's reputation in the AFL and later, in the NFL.