ALAMEDA, Calif. - George Blanda, who played longer than anyone in pro football history and racked up the most points in a career that spanned four decades, died Monday. He was 83.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame said on its website that Blanda died Monday after a brief illness.
Blanda retired a month shy of his 49th birthday before the 1976 season. He spent 10 seasons with the Bears, part of one with the Baltimore Colts, seven with the Houston Oilers and his final nine with the Oakland Raiders.
"Football lost one of its all-time greats," Raiders Hall of Fame coach John Madden said. "He was the best competitor and clutchest player that I ever coached and I don't know if there was anyone better that anyone else coached. George Blanda was a Hall of Famer in every way."
Blanda held the pro scoring record when he retired, with 2,002 points. He kicked 335 field goals and 943 extra points, running for nine touchdowns and throwing for 236 more.
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He also threw for 26,920 yards in his career and held the pro football record with 277 interceptions until Brett Favre passed him in 2007. His points record stood until it was topped by several players in recent years.
"It certainly doesn't bother me," Blanda said about losing the scoring record. "The one record I was happy to get rid of was the one for the most interceptions, when Brett Favre got that one."
A moment of silence was held in Blanda's honor before Monday night's Green Bay-Chicago game.
It was a five-game stretch for Oakland in 1970 that is the lasting imprint of his career. As a 43-year-old, Blanda led the Raiders to four wins and one tie with late touchdown passes or field goals.
Extra points
• Bears long snapper Patrick Mannelly set a team record by playing in his 192nd game Monday night, moving past Steve McMichael. Mannelly, in his 13th season with the Bears, set the record on a field goal attempt early in the first quarter.
• Chiefs offensive coordinator Charlie Weis had emergency gall bladder surgery Monday morning, according to a newspaper report. Weis' agent told The Kansas City Star that Weis, 54, chose to delay surgery until after Sunday's home game against the 49ers.
• The winless 49ers fired offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye on Monday. The 49ers have scored 38 points, second fewest in the NFL behind Carolina. Mike Johnson will move from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator.
