John Rauch
New York Yanks
Rauch's football playing career almost ended before it began. At the age
of 14, he was diagnosed with a heart murmur and instructed to give up
the sport. Ignoring the dire warnings, Rauch was a three-sport star at
his Pennsylvania high school, then put together an outstanding college
career. Earning the starting quarterback slot for the University of
Georgia as a freshman in 1945, he led the Bulldogs to a 36-8-1 record.
Included in these victories are four straight bowl game appearances, as
well as an undefeated record in 1946. On an individual level, he won
first team All American accolades following his senior year, and left
the school as college football's all-time passing leader with 4,044
yards.
Rauch was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the 1949 NFL draft, but then
sent to the transplanted New York Bulldogs in exchange for the rights to
Southern Methodist University's Doak Walker. During his first season
with the Bulldogs in 1949, Rauch saw action on both sides of the ball,
throwing for 169 yards and one touchdown, while also intercepting two
passes. The following year, he saw action in eight contests, throwing
for 502 yards and six touchdowns, then split time with New York and the
Philadelphia Eagles in 1951, combining for 288 yards and one touchdown
pass. He retired to coaching in 1952. After leading the AFL’s Raiders to
an 8-5-1 mark, Rauch's squad lost just once during the 1967 regular
season and faced the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl II. For his
efforts, Rauch was named the AFL Coach of the Year.
