Tobin Rote

Infobox NFLretired
position=Quarterback
number=18
|caption=
birthdate=birth date|1928|1|18
San Antonio, Texas
deathdate=death date and age|2000|6|27|1928|1|18
Saginaw, Michigan
debutyear=1950
finalyear=1966
draftyear=1950
draftround=2
draftpick=17
college=Rice
teams=
* Green Bay Packers (1950-1956)
* Detroit Lions (1957-1959)
* Toronto Argonauts (1960-1962)
* San Diego Chargers (1963-1964)
* Denver Broncos (1966)
stat1label=TD-INT
stat1value=148-191
stat2label=Yards
stat2value=18,850
stat3label=QB Rating
stat3value=56.8
nfl=ROT207644
highlights=
* 2x Pro Bowl selection (1956, 1963)
* NFL champion (1957)
* AFL champion (1963)
* Green Bay Packers HOF
* AP AFL MVP (1963)

Tobin Cornelius Rote (January 18, 1928 - June 27, 2000) was an American college and professional football player who played quarterback for the NFL's Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions, the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts, and the American Football League's San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos.

Rote was the only man to quarterback teams to championships in both the NFL and the American Football League. He is also one of seven NFL quarterbacks to rush for at least 3,000 yards during a career, and one of only two QB's (Fran Tarkenton is the other) to top 300 yards rushing in a season seven times. Rote's 35 rushing TD's are the fourth highest amount in NFL history by a QB.

Rote led the 1957 Detroit Lions to a championship, then followed that six years later with the AFL's Chargers, who defeated the Boston Patriots to win the 1963 championship.

Rote was selected as the AP's American Football League Most Valuable Player in 1963. Rote accumulated 15,144 yards passing in the NFL, 9,872 in the CFL, and 3,706 in the AFL for a total of 28,722: more than Daryle Lamonica, Jack Kemp, Bob Griese or Joe Namath, and just 5 yards short of Len Dawson. He had 115 TD throws in the NFL, 66 in the CFL, and 33 in the AFL for a total of 214: more than Flores, Kemp, Lamonica, Namath, Parilli, or Griese.

His three seasons with the Toronto Argonauts were quite eventful. He completed 662 of 1187 passes for 9,872 yards and 62 TDs. In Rote's first season with the Argos he became the CFL's second quarterback to exceed 4,000 yards passing in a season with 4,247. He also threw 38 touchdowns that season which was then a league record. Thanks to Rote's leadership the 10-4-0 Argonauts in 1960 accomplished something they had done since 1937: finish in first place. However they lost the conference final series to Ottawa Rough Riders who went on to win the Grey Cup. Rote's 108 yard pass to Jim Rountree in 1961 is still a team record, and in 1960 he threw 7 touchdown passes in a game twice, this being a CFL record at the time.

On June 27, 2000, Tobin died from a heart attack.

-

ee also

*Other American Football League players

External links

* [http://www.conigliofamily.com/AFLdotcom.htm American Football League Website] (Fan created site)
* [http://www.conigliofamily.com/Chargers.htm#TOBINROTE Rote's citation in the AFL Hall of Fame]