Athletes - Y. A. Tittle

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	Athletes - Y. A. Tittle

Yelberton Abraham Tittle (born October 24, 1926, in Marshall, Texas), better known as Y. A. Tittle, is a former American Football quarterback who played for the Baltimore Colts, San Francisco 49ers, and the New York Giants. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, inducted in 1971.

Career

Tittle began his career with the Baltimore Colts of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) in 1948, following the team when it moved to the NFL for the 1950. The Colts became defunct after that season, and Tittle joined the San Francisco 49ers. He played there for ten seasons, through 1960, often struggling for playing time. In 1951 and 1952, Frankie Albert also played quarterback extensively, and then from 1957 through 1960, John Brodie took time on the field away from Tittle.

Tittle moved on after 1960, when the 49ers decided that Brodie was their quarterback of the future. He joined the New York Giants, where he would have some of his best seasons, before retiring after the 1964 campaign. In 1963, just his second to last year, Tittle set what was then an NFL record by throwing 36 touchdown passes. But a poor 1964 put Tittle into retirement after the season.

In a career lasting 17 years, Tittle passed for 33,070 yards, and 242 touchdowns, and twice received the NFL Most Valuable Player Award. In 1971, he was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. One of pro football's greatest quarterbacks to never win the NFL Championship, nevertheless this 3-time NFL MVP (1957,1962-63) did throw seven touchdown passes in the October 28,1962 game involving Tittle's Giants Vs. The Washington Redskins. The Giants won that game 49-34.

Legacy

In his career, Tittle put up some gaudy numbers. He threw for 28,339 yards and 212 touchdowns, and this does not include his totals from AAFC play.

The only thing missing from Tittle's impressive resume, it seems, was an NFL Championship. The Giants lost the title game every year from 1961 to 1963. The 1963 game was especially disappointing, as Tittle hurt his leg and struggled all game as the Giants lost to the Chicago Bears 14-10.

In Tittle's final season, however, the Giants were nowhere close to contention, falling to a 2-10-2 record. Tittle's performance fell from 36 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 1963 to 10 touchdowns and 22 interceptions in 1964. Tittle retired after the season.

Distinction

Y.A. Tittle is the very first and one of only six quarterbacks in NFL history that have achieved two consecutive (back-to-back) 30-touchdown passing seasons at least one time in their careers. The others are Steve Bartkowski, Brett Favre, Dan Fouts, Dan Marino and Jeff Garcia.

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