|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
Blue Hen star Gannon to announce retirement 11:32 a.m., July 29, 2005--Rich Gannon, the former University of Delaware quarterback who was the National Football League’s Most Valuable Player in 2002-03 when he led the Oakland Raiders to the Super Bowl, is expected to announce his retirement Saturday, Aug. 6. Gannon is retiring after 18 years in the NFL in the wake of a serious neck injury suffered early last season in a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He has signed a one-year deal with CBS Sports to work as an analyst on selected games, according to a report in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. The quarterback completes his NFL career with 28,743 passing yards and 180 touchdowns. He completed 60.2 percent of his passes. Gannon broke or threatened a host of NFL passing records during the MVP season as the Raiders put in place a high-octane offense. He ranked first in the NFL in passing (4,689 yards), pass attempts (618) and pass completions (418, an NFL record). In addition to establishing a new NFL mark for completions, Gannon set NFL records for most 300-yard passing games in a single season (10), most consecutive 300-yard passing games (6) and consecutive completions in a single game (21 on Nov. 11 at Denver). Gannon played at UD for former head coach Harold R. “Tubby” Raymond. He lettered in 1984, 1985 and 1986, when he led the Fightin’ Blue Hens to a 9-4 record, the Yankee Conference championship and the NCAA Division I-AA quarterfinals. He led UD to one of its most impressive victories in history, defeating the U.S. Naval Academy and Heisman Trophy candidate Napoleon McCallum 16-13 on Sept. 14, 1985, before more than 23,000 fans at Delaware Stadium. Gannon still holds the UD record for most consecutive passes without an interception, at 150. He is third in career passing yards with 5,927, second in career passes completed with 462 and third in career passes attempted with 845. A multi-faceted quarterback, Gannon also is eighth in career rushing touchdowns with 26. He is second in UD history in total offensive plays in a career with 1,330 and third in total yards in a career with 7,436. As a senior, Gannon was named the Yankee Conference Offensive Player of the Year and honorable mention All-American. After completing his UD career, Gannon was taken in the fourth round of the 1987 NFL draft by the New England Patriots, who hoped to make use of his athleticism but did not see him as a professional quarterback. He disagreed and two weeks later was traded, as a quarterback, to the Minnesota Vikings. He started for Minnesota from 1990 to 1992, throwing a total of 40 touchdowns. Gannon was traded to the Washington Redskins in 1993 and was signed as a free agent by the Kansas City Chiefs in 1995. Primarily a backup, he did start 10 games in 1998. When the Chiefs opted to go with Elvis Grbac as their quarterback, Gannon signed with the Oakland Raiders in 1999. It was in Oakland, under owner Al Davis and head coach Jon Gruden, that he had his greatest success. With the Raiders, Gannon was voted to participate in the Pro Bowl four times and was the Pro Bowl Most Valuable Player twice. He was named the NFL Most Valuable Player in 2002-03 when he led the Raiders to the Super Bowl, which they lost to his former coach Gruden and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Injuries slowed Gannon in 2003 and stopped him short in 2004. To learn how to subscribe to UDaily, click here. |
|
|
