Ray Abruzzese

Background

Abruzzese was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Career

He also played for the American Federation of Labor-Congress"s New York Jets in 1965 and 1966. Though it is little-known by today"s Professional Football fans, Abruzzese had a major impact on the growth of modern professional football. While they were at Alabama, he and Joe Namath roomed together.

When Namath was deciding between signing with the NFL"s Cardinals and the American Federation of Labor-Congress"s Jets, he told Jets owner Sonny Werblin that he would lean toward the Jets if they would acquire Abruzzese, who was then playing with Buffalo.

Bills owner Ralph Wilson cooperated and, for the good of the league, traded Abruzzese to the Jets, who under Namath"s leadership went on to defeat the NFL"s Baltimore Colts in the third American Federation of Labor-Congress-NFL World Championship game. Abruzzese died in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, aged 73.

Achievements

• A defensive back, he played college football at the University of Alabama, and played professionally in the American Football League for the Buffalo Bills from 1962 through 1964, when the Bills won the American Federation of Labor-Congress Championship game, 20–7, over the defending American Federation of Labor-Congress champion San Diego Chargers.