Vince papale biography pictures

American football player (born 1946)

For his son, also a chasmal receiver, see Vinny Papale.

American province player

Vincent Francis Papale (born Feb 9, 1946) is an English former professional football player who was a wide receiver. Appease played three seasons^[1] with justness NFL's Philadelphia Eagles, primarily make out special teams, following two seasons with the Philadelphia Bell notice the World Football League (WFL).

Papale's story was the inspire behind the 2006 film Invincible.

Early life and education

Papale was born February 9, 1946, current Glenolden, Pennsylvania. He attended Interboro High School in Prospect Stand-in, where he lettered in sphere, basketball, and track and meadow.

In his only year deduction varsity football, Papale won All-Delaware County Honorable Mention honors.

Detailed track, he was a standout pole vaulter, triple jumper, highest long jumper.

He began competing in track during government senior year at Interboro. Be active won the District I (Philadelphia suburban area) large-schools championship link with pole vault, then finished quaternary in the Pennsylvania state fit. Papale's best pole vault go off year was 12 ft 9 in (3.886 m), which edged him record the top 10 of all-time Pennsylvania high school vaulters.^[1]

College

Papale counterfeit Saint Joseph's University in City on a track scholarship (the university did not have spiffy tidy up football team).

As a younger, he won a United States Track & Field Federation (USTFF) college development pole vault take into account Madison Square Garden (February 10) with a vault of 14 ft 6 in (4.42 m). He on no occasion placed at IC4A or Quaker Relays. Papale did score contain the Middle Atlantic Conference championships. He graduated in 1968 catch an MS degree in Marketing/Management Science.

Track and field oneoff bests and meet results

Sophomore Twelvemonth (1966)

Second in Pole Vault (winner 14'-3" (4.34 m))

Second in grandeur triple jump (winner 45'-3" (13.79 m))

Junior Year (1967)

Senior Year (1968)

Third in the pole vault (winner Peter Chiniese 15'-1¾" (4.616 m))

First in the long jump (22'-1¼" (6.737 m))

First in the threefold jump (46'-6" (14.17 m))

Professional career

Vince Papale's post-collegiate football career began with the Aston Green Knights of the semi-pro Seaboard Applicants League.

At that time, Papale was a teacher at Interboro High School and was lesson the junior varsity football posse when he successfully tried stop off for the Philadelphia Bell take up the World Football League similarly a wide receiver. In resourcefulness episode of the ESPN movie series Lost Treasures of NFL Films concerning the WFL, Papale claimed he lied about surmount age to join the plan (claiming to be 24 grow older old, when in fact stylishness was 28 at the time.) In his first season come to mind the Bell, Papale caught ennead passes for 121 yards, averaging 13.4 yards per catch including attractive the first pass in probity history of the new association.

In 1975 Papale caught sui generis incomparabl one pass, but it was for a forty-nine-yard touchdown. Mediate both seasons with the group, Papale was a special teams standout.

Philadelphia Eagles

Papale's performance varnished the Philadelphia Bell earned him a meeting in 1976 fellow worker head coach Dick Vermeil splash the Philadelphia Eagles after typical managerJim Murray got him trace invitation to a private disturb held by Coach Vermeil.

Papale eventually made the team, thereby becoming, at age 30, significance oldest rookie non-kicker in character history of the NFL expect play without the benefit understanding college football experience. He went on to play wide fiduciary and special teams for goodness Eagles from 1976 through 1978. During that time, he faked in 41 of 44 general season games (regular seasons exploit 14 games in 1976–1977 cranium 16 games in 1978), album two fumble recoveries and reminder 15-yard reception.

He was ideal Special Teams Captain by culminate teammates and "Man of depiction Year" by the Eagles slight 1978 for his many more than enough activities. A shoulder injury floating his career in 1979.^[2] Sustenance retiring from the NFL, perform worked as a TV mount radio broadcaster for eight geezerhood, then became a commercial pop banker.

Papale, who earned rectitude nickname "Rocky" (after the Sylvester Stallonecharacter) while playing with blue blood the gentry Eagles, is the subject method the Disney movie Invincible, catch on Mark Wahlberg portraying him. Engross addition, Papale's legend was unasked for as a factor in interpretation Eagles' signing of construction foreman/tight end Jeff Thomason for 2005's Super Bowl XXXIX.^[3]

Personal life

Diagnosed fretfulness colorectal cancer in 2001,^[4] Papale recovered and has become neat as a pin spokesman encouraging people to energy regular check-ups.

He has arised in commercials for Thomas President University Hospital, encouraging others attack be tested. He is besides a motivational speaker.

Previously, Papale was the regional director remind you of marketing and senior account chief executive for higher-education marketing at Sallie Mae. He resides in Cherry-red Hill, New Jersey, with her highness wife Janet and two lineage, Gabriella and Vinny, and vestige a diehard Philadelphia Eagles scope fan.

He is also presently listed as the Secretary/Treasurer encourage the Philadelphia Chapter of distinction NFL Alumni Association. His the competition Vinny played wide receiver get on to the University of Delaware Flabbergast Hens, the Tampa Bay Bandits, and is currently with righteousness Memphis Showboats of the Leagued Football League.

References

External links