By Anthony Holden
CBS SportsLine Historian

Following 10 mostly frustrating, bench-warming years with George Halas' Chicago Bears, George Blanda retired from football following the 1958 season and took a job in a Chicago trucking firm.

After being released by Houston in '66, Blanda signed with Oakland, where he kicked for another nine years. That's coach John Madden looking on. (AP)

Disenchanted with the NFL, Blanda was 32 and he figured his playing days were over. But prior to the 1960 season, Blanda got a call from a man named Bud Adams who was the owner of the Houston franchise in the fledgling American Football League. Adams asked Blanda if he'd like to come to Houston and impart some of his vast knowledge on the Oilers. Blanda jumped at the chance to play again, and the opportunity to prove to old man Halas that he could play quarterback competently.

Blanda gave the Oilers instant credibility, and given the weapons he had with receivers Bill Groman and Charley Hennigan and running backs Billy Cannon and Charley Tolar, Blanda became a dangerously effective quarterback.

In 1960 Blanda passed for 24 touchdowns and kicked for 115 points as the Oilers won the inaugural league championship, prompting him to snipe at Halas, "I've waited 11 year for this moment. The damn Chicago Bears never won during my 10 years. Maybe if Halas had let me play, maybe they would have. How about that?"

In 1961, Blanda set a pro football record with 36 touchdown passes as the Oilers exploded for a pro record 513 points en route to their second straight league championship. Blanda threw for a league-best 3,330 yards, had 112 points as a kicker and was voted the AFL's Most Valuable Player.

"Blanda is probably the fiercest competitor it has ever been my pleasure to coach," Oilers coach Wally Lemm said. "Blanda's an old pro and a real money man. Under pressure he's at his best," added Chargers coach Sid Gillman, who Blanda vanquished in those first two AFL title games.

From 1963-65, Blanda led the AFL each year in passes attempted and completed, and his 3,003 yards in '63 were also a league-high. But he was pushing 40. And following mediocre seasons in '65 and '66, the Oilers released Blanda and he was signed by the Oakland Raiders.

Though Blanda would never again be a regular quarterback, his career was far from finished. Incredibly, he spent the next nine years kicking for the Raiders and scoring more than 100 points on four occasions. When Blanda retired after the 1975 season just weeks shy of his 49th birthday, he had played more seasons (26) and played in more games (340) than any player in history.

During his career he passed for 26,920 yards and 236 touchdowns, and he scored 2,002 points, which remains an NFL record.

"Some people don't remember me playing quarterback," Blanda said. "When I go on speaking dates, I have to remind the fans that I was more than a kicker."

Anyone who played against Blanda and the Oilers in the early to mid-60s does not need to be reminded of that fact.