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Steelers Released Jack Kemp

Posted: Sat May 13, 2023 6:03 pm
by LeonardRachiele
This generation knows Jack Kemp as a Congressman from Western New York.   In 1996, he was the Vice Presidential  running mate to Bob Dole. He was also a great quarterback on two Championship teams during the years of the AFL.   Playing the entire ten years,  Jack Kemp gave the league both visibility and credibility.  The last years, 1967 to 1969, were uneventful. Kemp was a seven time member of the AFL All Star Team.

The Chargers started out in Los Angeles in 1960 and moved to San Diego the following year.

1960-Chargers won the Western Division with a 10-4 record; lost the AFL Title Game at Houston 24 to 16.

1961-Chargers won the Western Division with a 12-2 record; lost the AFL Title Game at home 10 to 3.

The Chargers traded Kemp in the middle of 1962. Both teams did nothing that year.  In future years,  Jack Kemp quarterbacked a dynasty.

1963-The Bills tied for first place in  the Eastern Division with the Boston Patriots with  7-6-1 record;  lost the Eastern Conference Playoff at home to the Patriots 26 to 8.

1964-The Bills won the AFC East with a 12 -2 record; at home defeated the San Diego Chargers in the AFL Title Game 20 to 7.

1965-The Bills won the AFC East with a 10-3-1 record; at  San Diego defeated the Bills in the AFL Title Game 23 to 0.

1966-The Bills won the AFC East with a 9-4-1; lost  the AFL Title Game at home to the Kansas City Chiefs 31 to 7.

Re: Steelers Released Jack Kemp

Posted: Sat May 13, 2023 6:11 pm
by ChrisBabcock
The Chargers traded Kemp in the middle of 1962. Both teams did nothing that year. In future years, Jack Kemp quarterbacked a dynasty.
He wasn't traded. The Bills claimed him off waivers. I wouldn't exactly call the 1964-66 Bills a "dynasty" but to each his own.

Re: Steelers Released Jack Kemp

Posted: Sat May 13, 2023 8:00 pm
by Cali_Eagle
Jack Kemp QB'ed a lot of winning teams for sure, 5 division winners, 6 playoff teams and 2 AFL Titles but he was hardly a great QB himself. No Otto Graham or Tom Brady despite the winning records. Kemp played in an 8 team league in those years except for 1966 & 1967 when the Miami Dolphins joined the party. Per Pro Football Reference here are his rankings in passing each year:

Passer Rating
1960 AFL 67.1 (4)
1961 AFL 59.2 (5)
1963 AFL 65.1 (6)
1964 AFL 50.9 (9)
1965 AFL 54.8 (6)
1966 AFL 56.2 (7)
1967 AFL 50.0 (8)

In 1962 he didn't qualify with enough attempts but his rating was 62.3. This rating would have been 4th had that rating qualified. In 1969 his last year he was 11th of 12 AFL QB's leading only Rick Norton of Miami.

Not exactly the stuff of legend. He DID score 40 TD's rushing though, second only to Otto Graham and passing up Tobin Rote on the all time QB TD list thru 1969. So there is that. Not saying he was terrible, but I think some of the 1950's & 60's Pittsburgh Steelers mistakes with QB's were far more damaging than losing Kemp. Kemp must have been an amazing on field leader or else had remarkably gifted teammates to win like he did. That would/will require a lot more research.