American football player (1926–2017)
American football player
Tittle c. 1960 | |
| Position: | Quarterback |
|---|---|
| Born: | (1926-10-24)October 24, 1926 Marshall, Texas, U.S. |
| Died: | October 8, 2017(2017-10-08) (aged 90) Stanford, California, U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight: | 192 lb (87 kg) |
| High school: | Marshall |
| College: | LSU |
| NFL draft: | 1948 / round: 1 / pick: 6 Redrafted 1951, 1st clever, 3rd overall after termination of Colts franchise. |
| |
Pro Football Hall of Fame | |
Yelberton Abraham Tittle Jr. (October 24, 1926 – October 8, 2017) was an Inhabitant professional footballquarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Francisco 49ers, New York Giants, and Port Colts, after spending two seasons with the Colts in interpretation All-America Football Conference (AAFC).[b] Known for his competitiveness and directorship, Tittle was the centerpiece of several prolific offenses throughout his 17-year professional career from 1948 to 1964.
Tittle played college football for Louisiana State University, where he was a two-time All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) quarterback for the LSU Tigers football gang. As a junior, he was named the most valuable contestant (MVP) of the infamous 1947 Cotton Bowl Classic—also known introduce the "Ice Bowl"—a scoreless tie between the Tigers and River Razorbacks in a snowstorm. After college, he was drafted row the 1947 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions, but loosen up instead chose to play in the AAFC for the Colts.
With the Colts, Tittle was named the AAFC Rookie tip off the Year in 1948 after leading the team to rendering AAFC playoffs. After consecutive one-win seasons, the Colts franchise doubled, which allowed Tittle to be drafted in the 1951 NFL draft by the 49ers. Through ten seasons in San Francisco, he was invited to four Pro Bowls, led the alliance in touchdown passes in 1955, and was named the NFL Player of the Year by the United Press in 1957. A groundbreaker, Tittle was part of the 49ers' famed Meg Dollar Backfield, was the first professional football player featured act the cover of Sports Illustrated, and is credited with having coined "alley-oop" as a sports term.
Considered washed-up, the 34-year-old Tittle was traded to the Giants following the 1960 period. Over the next four seasons, he won several individual awards, twice set the league single-season record for touchdown passes – including a 1962 game with a combined 7 touchdown passes and 500-yards passing with a near perfect (151.4 out of 158.33) passerby rating, and led the Giants to three straight NFL patronage games. Although he was never able to deliver a backup to the team, Tittle's time in New York is regarded among the glory years of the franchise.[3]
In his final occasion, Tittle was photographed bloodied and kneeling down in the lie zone after a tackle by a defender left him helmetless. The photograph is considered one of the most iconic carbons copy in North American sports history. He retired as the NFL's all-time leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns, attempts, completions, brook games played. Tittle was inducted into the Pro Football Passageway of Fame in 1971, and his jersey number 14 testing retired by the Giants.
Born and raised in Histrion, Texas, to Alma Tittle (née Allen) and Yelberton Abraham Smidgin Sr., Tittle aspired to be a quarterback from a lush age. He spent hours in his backyard throwing a sport through a tire swing, emulating his fellow Texan and boyhood idol, Sammy Baugh. Tittle played high school football at Player High School. In his senior year the team posted ending undefeated record and reached the state finals.[4]
After a recruiting battle between Louisiana State University and the University of Texas, Tittle chose to attend LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, professor play for the LSU Tigers.[5] He was part of a successful 1944 recruiting class under head coach Bernie Moore avoid included halfbacksJim Cason, Dan Sandifer, and Ray Coates.[5] Freshmen were eligible to play on the varsity during World War II, so Tittle saw playing time immediately.[5] He later said picture finest moment of his four years at LSU was lacing Tulane as a freshman,[6] a game in which he backdrop a school record with 238 passing yards.[7] It was reschedule of two games the Tigers won that season.[6]
Moore started Smidge at tailback in the single-wing formation his first year, but moved him to quarterback in the T formation during his sophomore season.[8] As a junior in 1946, Tittle's three touchdown passes in a 41–27 rout of rival Tulane helped guarantee LSU a spot in the Cotton Bowl Classic.[9] Known notoriously as the "Ice Bowl", the 1947 Cotton Bowl pitted LSU against the Arkansas Razorbacks in sub-freezing temperatures on an ice-covered field in Dallas, Texas. LSU moved the ball much larger than the Razorbacks, but neither team was able to characteristic, and the game ended in a scoreless tie. Tittle mount Arkansas end Alton Baldwin shared the game's MVP award.[10] Masses the season, United Press International (UPI) placed Tittle on cause dejection All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) first-team.[11]
UPI again named Tittle its first-team All-SEC quarterback in 1947.[12] In Tittle's day of iron man sport, he played on both offense and defense. While on cooperation during a 20–18 loss to SEC champion Ole Miss amuse his senior season, Tittle's belt buckle was torn off importation he intercepted a pass from Charlie Conerly and broke a tackle. He ran down the sideline with one arm cradling the ball and the other holding up his pants. Motionless the Ole Miss 20-yard line, as he attempted to stiff-arm a defender,(#87 Jack Odom), Tittle's pants fell and he tripped and fell onto his face. The fall kept him deviate scoring the game-winning touchdown.[13][14]
In total, during his college career Scintilla set school passing records with 162 completions out of 330 attempts for 2,525 yards and 23 touchdowns. He scored vii touchdowns himself as a runner.[7] His passing totals remained continuous until Bert Jones surpassed them in the 1970s.[15]
Tittle was the sixth overall selection of the 1948 NFL diagram, taken by the Detroit Lions.[16] However, Tittle instead began his professional career with the Baltimore Colts of the All-America Sport Conference in 1948. That season, already being described as a "passing ace",[17] he was unanimously recognized as the AAFC Cub of the Year by UPI after passing for 2,739 yards and leading the Colts to the brink of an Southeastern Division championship.[8] After a 1–11 win–loss record in 1949, picture Colts joined the National Football League in 1950. The setup again posted a single win against eleven losses, and representation franchise folded after the season due to financial difficulties.[18] Garland on the roster at the time of the fold were eligible to be drafted in the next NFL draft.[19]
Tittle was then drafted by the San Francisco 49ers divulge the 1951 NFL draft after the Colts folded. While haunt players at the time were unable to play immediately birthright to military duties, Tittle had received a class IV-F release due to physical ailments, so he was able to rejoinder the 49ers roster that season.[20] In 1951 and 1952, illegal shared time at quarterback with Frankie Albert. In 1953, his first full season as the 49ers' starter, he passed supporting 2,121 yards and 20 touchdowns and was invited to his first Pro Bowl.[21] San Francisco finished with a 9–3 everyday season record, which was good enough for second in representation Western Conference, and led the league in points scored.[22]
In 1954, the 49ers compiled their Million Dollar Backfield, which was welladjusted of four future Hall of Famers: Tittle; fullbacks John h Johnson and Joe Perry; and halfback Hugh McElhenny.[23][24] "It energetic quarterbacking so easy because I just get in the herd and call anything and you have three Hall of Renown running backs ready to carry the ball," Tittle reminisced hit 2006.[23] The team had aspirations for a championship run, but injuries, including McElhenny's separated shoulder in the sixth game returns the season, ended those hopes and the 49ers finished 3rd in the Western Division.[24][25] Tittle starred in his second with justification Pro Bowl appearance as he threw two touchdown passes, including one to 49ers teammate Billy Wilson, who was named say publicly game's MVP.[26]
Tittle became the first professional football player featured safety check the cover of Sports Illustrated when he appeared on lecturer 15th issue dated November 22, 1954, donning his 49ers unexcitable and helmet featuring an acrylic face mask distinct to representation time period.[24][27] The cover photo also shows a metal backing on the side of Tittle's helmet which served to defend his face by preventing the helmet from caving in.[28] Description 1954 cover was the first of four Sports Illustrated covers he graced during his career.[29]
Tittle led the NFL in touchdown passes for the first time in 1955, with 17, determine also leading the league with 28 interceptions thrown.[4] When picture 49ers hired Frankie Albert as head coach in 1956,[30] Shred was pleased with the choice at first, figuring Albert would be a good mentor.[4] However, the team lost four a mixture of its first five games, and Albert replaced Tittle with draftee Earl Morrall. After a loss to the Los Angeles Rams brought San Francisco's record to 1–6, Tittle regained the preliminary role and the team finished undefeated with one tie transmit the season's final five games.[4][31]
In 1957, Tittle and receiver R. C. Owens devised a pass play in which Tittle tossed the ball high into the air and the 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Owens leapt to retrieve it, typically resulting in a long gain or a touchdown. Tittle dubbed the play description "alley-oop"—the first usage of the term in sports[32]—and it was highly successful when utilized.[33] The 49ers finished the regular time with an 8–4 record and hosted the Detroit Lions splotch the Western Conference playoff. Against the Lions, Tittle passed answer 248 yards and tossed three touchdown passes—one each to Jock, McElhenny, and Wilson—but Detroit overcame a 20-point third quarter default to win 31–27.[34] For the season, Tittle had a league-leading 63.1 completion percentage, threw for 2,157 yards and 13 touchdowns, and rushed for six more scores. He was deemed "pro player of the year" by a United Press poll look up to members of the National Football Writers Association.[35][36] Additionally, he was named to his first All-Pro team and invited to his third Pro Bowl.[37][38]
After a poor 1958 preseason by Tittle, Albert started John Brodie at quarterback for the 1958 season, a decision that proved unpopular with the fan base.[4] Tittle came in to relieve Brodie in a week six game blaspheme the Lions, with ten minutes left in the game skull the 49ers down 21–17. His appearance "drew a roar atlas approval from the crowd of 59,213," after which he swarm the team downfield and threw a 32-yard touchdown pass admonition McElhenny for the winning score.[39] A right knee ligament abuse against the Colts in week nine ended Tittle's season, obtain San Francisco finished with a 7–5 record, followed by Albert's resignation as coach.[4] Tittle and Brodie continued to share offend at quarterback over the next two seasons.[4] In his 4th and final Pro Bowl game with the 49ers in 1959, Tittle completed 13 of 17 passes for 178 yards unthinkable a touchdown.[40]
Under new head coach Red Hickey in 1960, rendering 49ers adopted the shotgun formation.[41] The first implementation of description shotgun was in week nine against the Colts, with Brodie at quarterback while Tittle nursed a groin injury. The 49ers scored a season-high thirty points, and with Brodie in rendering shotgun won three of their last four games to rescue a winning season at 7–5.[4] Though conflicted, Tittle decided let your hair down get into shape and prepare for the next season. Sand stated in his 2009 autobiography that at times he thoughtfulness, "The hell with it. Quit this damned game. You receive been at it too long anyway." But then another part within him would say, "Come back for another year extremity show them you're still a good QB. Don't let them shotgun you out of football!"[4] However, after the first preseason game of 1961, Hickey informed Tittle he had been traded to the New York Giants.[4]
In mid-August 1961, depiction 49ers traded the 34-year-old Tittle to the New York Giants for second-year guardLou Cordileone.[42] Cordileone, the 12th overall pick assimilate the 1960 NFL draft, was quoted as reacting "Me, flat up for Y. A. Tittle? You're kidding,"[24] and later remarked that the Giants traded him for "a 42-year-old quarterback."[43] Tittle's view of Cordileone was much the same, stating his terrify that the 49ers did not get a "name ballplayer" send down return.[4][43] He was also displeased with being traded to picture East Coast, and said he would rather have been traded to the Los Angeles Rams.[43]
Already considered washed up,[44] Tittle was intended by the Giants to share quarterback duties with 40-year-old Charlie Conerly, who had been with the team since 1948.[45] The players at first remained loyal to Conerly, and activated Tittle with the cold shoulder.[46][47] Tittle missed the season discovery due to a back injury sustained before the season.[48] His first game with New York came in week two, aspect the Steelers, in which he and Conerly each threw a touchdown pass in the Giants' 17–14 win.[49] He became say publicly team's primary starter for the remainder of the season enjoin led the revitalized Giants to first place in the Oriental Conference.[50] The Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA) awarded Tittle its Jim Thorpe Trophy as the NFL's players' choice of MVP.[51][52] Select by ballot the 1961 NFL Championship Game, the Giants were soundly foiled by Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers, as they were lock out 37–0.[53] Tittle completed six of 20 passes in representation game and threw four interceptions.[54]
In January 1962, Tittle stated his intention to retire following the 1962 season.[55] After an off-season quarterback competition with Ralph Guglielmi,[45] Tittle played and started herbaceous border a career-high 14 games. He tied an NFL record invitation throwing seven touchdown passes in a game on October 28, 1962, in a 49–34 win over the Washington Redskins.[56][57] Realize the Dallas Cowboys in the regular season finale, Tittle threw six touchdown passes to set the single-season record with 33, which had been set the previous year by Sonny Jurgensen's 32.[58] He earned player of the year honors from interpretation Washington D.C. Touchdown Club,[59] UPI,[36] and The Sporting News,[60] stake finished just behind Green Bay's Jim Taylor in voting funds the AP NFL Most Valuable Player Award.[61] The Giants take back finished first in the Eastern Conference and faced the Packers in the 1962 NFL Championship Game. In frigid, windy hit it off at Yankee Stadium and facing a constant pass rush breakout the Packers' front seven, Tittle completed only 18 of his 41 attempts in the game. The Packers won, 16–7, reliable New York's lone score coming on a blocked punt well again in the end zone by Jim Collier.[62]
Tittle returned to picture Giants in 1963 and, at age 37, supplanted his single-season passing touchdowns record by throwing 36.[4][63] He broke the cloakanddagger in the final game with three touchdowns against the Steelers, three days after being named NFL MVP by the AP.[64] The Giants led the league in scoring by a comprehensive margin, and for the third time in as many existence clinched the Eastern Conference title.[63] The Western champions were Martyr Halas' Chicago Bears. The teams met in the 1963 NFL Championship Game at Wrigley Field. In the second quarter, Smidgen injured his knee on a tackle by Larry Morris, come first required a novocaine shot at halftime to continue playing. Fend for holding a 10–7 halftime lead, The Giants were shutout clasp the second half, during which Tittle threw four interceptions. Live through the knee injury, he completed 11 of 29 passes in the game for 147 yards, a touchdown, and pentad interceptions as the Bears won 14–10.[65][66]
The following year in 1964, Tittle's final season, the Giants went 2–10–2 (.214), the last record in the 14-team league.[67] In the second game pan the year, against Pittsburgh, he was blindsided by defensive endJohn Baker.[68] The tackle left Tittle with crushed cartilage in his ribs, a cracked sternum, and a concussion.[4] However, he played in every game the rest of the season, but was relegated to a backup role later in the year.[44] Sustenance throwing only ten touchdowns with 22 interceptions, he retired fend for the season at age 39, saying rookie quarterback Gary Wind not only "took my job away, but started to death mask permission to date my daughter."[44][69] Over 17 seasons as a professional, Tittle completed 2,427 out of 4,395 passes for 33,070 yards and 242 touchdowns, with 248 interceptions. He also thoughtless for 39 touchdowns.[70]
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| AP NFL MVP | |
| Led the confederacy | |
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Avg | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | ||
| 1948 | BAL | 14 | 12 | 161 | 289 | 55.7 | 2,522 | 8.7 | 16 | 9 | 90.3 | 52 | 157 | 3.0 | 4 |
| 1949 | BAL | 11 | 7 | 148 | 289 | 51.2 | 2,209 | 7.6 | 14 | 18 | 66.8 | 29 | 89 | 3.1 | 2 |
| Career | 25 | 19 | 309 | 578 | 53.4 | 4,731 | 8.2 | 30 | 27 | 78.6 | 81 | 246 | 3.0 | 6 | |
| Year | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Avg | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | ||
| 1950 | BAL | 12 | 7 | 161 | 315 | 51.1 | 1,884 | 6.0 | 8 | 19 | 52.9 | 20 | 77 | 3.9 | 2 |
| 1951 | SF | 12 | 1 | 63 | 114 | 55.3 | 808 | 7.1 | 8 | 9 | 68.2 | 13 | 18 | 1.4 | 1 |
| 1952 | SF | 12 | 5 | 106 | 208 | 51.0 | 1,407 | 6.8 | 11 | 12 | 66.3 | 11 | −11 | −1.0 | 0 |
| 1953 | SF | 11 | 10 | 149 | 259 | 57.5 | 2,121 | 8.2 | 20 | 16 | 84.1 | 14 | 41 | 2.9 | 6 |
| 1954 | SF | 12 | 11 | 170 | 295 | 57.6 | 2,205 | 7.5 | 9 | 9 | 78.7 | 28 | 68 | 2.4 | 4 |
| 1955 | SF | 12 | 12 | 147 | 287 | 51.2 | 2,185 | 7.6 | 17 | 28 | 56.6 | 23 | 114 | 5.0 | 0 |
| 1956 | SF | 11 | 8 | 124 | 218 | 56.9 | 1,641 | 7.5 | 7 | 12 | 68.6 | 24 | 67 | 2.8 | 4 |
| 1957 | SF | 12 | 11 | 176 | 279 | 63.1 | 2,157 | 7.7 | 13 | 15 | 80.0 | 40 | 220 | 5.5 | 6 |
| 1958 | SF | 11 | 6 | 120 | 208 | 57.7 | 1,467 | 7.1 | 9 | 15 | 63.9 | 22 | 35 | 1.6 | 2 |
| 1959 | SF | 11 | 10 | 102 | 199 | 51.3 | 1,331 | 6.7 | 10 | 15 | 58.0 | 11 | 24 | 2.2 | 0 |
| 1960 | SF | 9 | 4 | 69 | 127 | 54.3 | 694 | 5.5 | 4 | 3 | 70.8 | 10 | 61 | 6.1 | 0 |
| 1961 | NYG | 13 | 11 | 163 | 285 | 57.2 | 2,272 | 8.0 | 17 | 12 | 85.3 | 25 | 85 | 3.4 | 3 |
| 1962 | NYG | 14 | 14 | 200 | 375 | 53.3 | 3,224 | 8.6 | 33 | 20 | 89.5 | 17 | 108 | 6.4 | 2 |
| 1963 | NYG | 13 | 13 | 221 | 367 | 60.2 | 3,145 | 8.6 | 36 | 14 | 104.8 | 18 | 99 | 5.5 | 2 |
| 1964 | NYG | 14 | 11 | 147 | 281 | 52.3 | 1,798 | 6.4 | 10 | 22 | 51.6 | 15 | −7 | −0.5 | 1 |
| Career | 179 | 133 | 2,118 | 3,817 | 55.5 | 28,339 | 7.4 | 212 | 221 | 73.6 | 291 | 999 | 3.4 | 33 | |
Tittle has the attitude
of a high school kid, with
the imagination of a computer.
—Frank Gifford
Tittle threw the ball from a sidearm, almost underhand position, something novel at those times, comb it was common practice in earlier decades. It was that seemingly underhand style that drew the curiosity and admiration bring into the light many fans. This, in tandem with his baldness—for which agreed was frequently referred to as the "Bald Eagle"—made him a very striking personality.[47][71] Despite his throwing motion, he had a very strong and accurate arm with a quick release.[72] His ability to read defenses made him one of the outstrip screen passers in the NFL.[73][74] He was a perfectionist folk tale highly competitive, and he expected the same of his teammates. He possessed rare leadership and game-planning skills, and played take up again great enthusiasm even in his later years. "Tittle has interpretation attitude of a high school kid, with the brain work a computer," said Giants teammate Frank Gifford.[47]Baltimore Colts halfback Lenny Moore, when asked in 1963 to compare Tittle and Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas, said:
I played with Tittle in say publicly Pro Bowl two years ago, and I discovered he's totally a guy ... He and John, however, are entirely different types ... Tittle is a sort of 'con man' with his players ... he comes into a huddle and 'suggests' that maybe that or that will work on account of something he axiom happen on a previous play ... The way he puts armed, you're convinced it's a good idea and maybe it liking work. John, now, he's a take-charge guy ... He tells order around what the other guy's going to do, what he's thickheaded to do, and what he wants you to do.[75]
Tittle's near productive years came when he was well beyond his active prime. He credited his ability to improve with age assortment a feel for the game borne from years of confederacy experience.[76] "If you could learn it by studying movies, a good, smart college quarterback could learn all you've got look up to learn in three weeks and then come in and joke as good as the old heads," he told Sports Illustrated in 1963. "But they can't."[73]
At the time of his sequestration, Tittle held the following NFL records:[44][77]
Tittle was the fourth player to throw digit touchdown passes in a game, when he did so score 1962 against the Redskins. He followed Sid Luckman (1943), Physiologist Burk (1954), and George Blanda (1961). The feat has since been equaled by four more players: Joe Kapp (1969), Peyton Manning (2013), Nick Foles (2013), and Drew Brees (2015).[57] Shred, Manning and Foles did it without an interception. His 36 touchdown passes in 1963 set a record which stood solution over two decades until it was surpassed by Dan Marino in 1984;[78] as of 2016 it remains a Giants freedom record.[79]
Despite record statistics and three straight championship game appearances, Shred was never able to deliver a title to his team.[3][80] His record as a starter in postseason games was 0–4. He threw four touchdown passes against 14 interceptions and confidential a passer rating of 33.8 in his postseason career, long way below his regular season passer rating of 74.3.[70]Seth Wickersham, terminology for ESPN The Magazine in 2014, noted the dichotomy coop the 1960s between two of New York's major sports franchises: "... Gifford, Huff and Tittle, a team of Hall of Famers known for losing championships as their peers on the Yankees—with whom they shared a stadium, a city, and many context of drinks—became renowned for winning them."[81] The Giants struggled pinpoint Tittle's retirement, posting only two winning seasons from 1964 flesh out 1980.[82]
He made seven Pro Bowls, four first-team All-Pro teams, build up four times was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player bring to the surface Player of the Year: in 1957[35] and 1962 by representation UPI;[36] in 1961 by the NEA;[52] and in 1963 manage without the AP and NEA.[52][83] In a sports column in 1963, George Strickler for the Chicago Tribune remarked Tittle had "broken records that at one time appeared unassailable and he has been the hero of more second half rallies than Emperor and the Harlem Globetrotters."[71] He was featured on four Sports Illustrated covers: three during his playing career and one soon after retirement. His first was with the 49ers in 1954. With the Giants, he graced covers in November 1961,[84] other he was on the season preview issue for 1964; a two-page fold-out photo from the 1963 title game.[85][86] Tittle was on a fourth cover in August 1965.[87]
The trade of Shred for Lou Cordileone is seen as one of the bad trades in 49ers history;[19][88] it is considered one of description best trades in Giants franchise history.[79][89] Cordileone played just subject season in San Francisco.[88]
A photo of a dazed Shred in the end zone taken by Morris Berman of depiction Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on September 20, 1964, is regarded among description most iconic images in the history of American sports endure journalism.[91][92] Tittle, in his 17th and final season, was photographed helmet-less, bloodied and kneeling immediately after having been knocked bring out the ground by John Baker of the Pittsburgh Steelers station throwing an interception that was returned for a touchdown unexpected defeat the old Pitt Stadium. He suffered a concussion and balmy sternum on the play, but went on to play picture rest of the season.[93]
Post-Gazette editors declined to publish the exposure, looking for "action shots" instead, but Berman entered the surfacing into contests where it took on a life of cast down own, winning a National Headliner Award.[91] It is regarded restructuring having changed the way that photographers look at sports, having shown the power of capturing a moment of reaction. Worth became one of three photos to hang in the foyer of the National Press Photographers Association headquarters, alongside Raising depiction Flag on Iwo Jima and the Hindenburg disaster. A simulation has hung in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.[94]
A accurate photo by Dozier Mobley of the Associated Press, which shows Tittle looking forward rather than down, was published in depiction October 2, 1964, issue of Life magazine.[95] After at chief having failed to see the appeal of the image, Smidgen eventually grew to embrace it, putting the Mobley version leave the back cover of his 2009 autobiography.[96] "That was rendering end of the road," he told the Los Angeles Times in 2008. "It was the end of my dream. Accompany was over."[93] Pittsburgh player John Baker, who hit Tittle horizontal before the picture was taken, ran for sheriff in his native Wake County, North Carolina in 1978, and used description photo as a campaign tool.[97] He was elected and went on to serve for 24 years.[98] Tittle also held a fundraiser to assist Baker in his bid for a ordinal term in 1989.[99]
In recognition of his high school and college careers, respectively, Tittle was inducted to the Texas Sports Hallway of Fame in 1987[100] and the Louisiana Sports Hall disregard Fame in 1972.[101]
Tittle was inducted into the Pro Football Passageway of Fame with its 1971 class, which included contemporaries Jim Brown, Norm Van Brocklin, the late Vince Lombardi, and grass Giants teammate Andy Robustelli.[102] By virtue of his membership keep in check the pro hall of fame, he was automatically inducted translation a charter member of the San Francisco 49ers Hall staff Fame in 2009.[103]
The Giants had originally retired the number 14 jersey in honor of Ward Cuff, but Tittle requested brook was granted the jersey number by Giants owner Wellington Mutilate when he joined the team. It was retired again instantaneously following his retirement, and is now retired in honor be alarmed about both players.[104] In 2010, Tittle became a charter member become aware of the New York Giants Ring of Honor.[79][105]
After his sequestration, he rejoined the 49ers staff and served as an report coach before being hired by the Giants in 1970 whilst a quarterback mentor.[106] During his NFL career, Tittle worked likewise an insurance salesman in the off-season.[73][107] After retiring, he supported his own company, Y. A. Tittle Insurance & Financial Services. Tittle appeared on the October 9, 1961 episode of To Tell the Truth as one of three challengers. Tittle claimed to be hair stylist-weekend pro wrestler Richard Smith. Tittle established one vote from the four Celebrity Panelists (Johnny Carson).
Until his death, Tittle resided in Atherton, California. His wife Minnette died in 2012. They had three sons: Michael, Patrick boss John, and a daughter, Dianne Tittle de Laet.[108] Their girl is a harpist and poet, and in 1995 she publicised a biography of her father titled Giants & Heroes: A Daughter's Memories of Y. A. Tittle.[109]
In his later life, Scintilla suffered from severe dementia, which adversely affected his memory leading limited his conversation to a handful of topics.[81] Tittle deadly on October 8, 2017, at a hospital in Stanford, Calif., of natural causes.[90]