Pete Banaszak
 Banaszak in 1968 | |||||||||
| No. 40 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Running back | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | May 21, 1944 Crivitz, Wisconsin, U.S. | ||||||||
| Listed height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||
| Listed weight | 210 lb (95 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| College | Miami | ||||||||
| AFL draft | 1966: 5th round, 59th overall pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||
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| Career statistics | |||||||||
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Peter Andrew Banaszak (born May 21, 1944) is an American former professional football player who was a running back for the Oakland Raiders in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes. He played for the Raiders in the AFL from 1966 through 1969, and in the NFL from 1970 through 1978.
Early life
Banaszak was born on May 21, 1944, in Crivitz, Wisconsin.[1][2] Banaszak's father was an avid Green Bay Packers' fan, and would take Banaszak to Packers games as a child.[3] He attended Crivitz High School, where he played on the football, basketball and track and field teams.[4][5] Banaszak was also an honor roll student.[6] He was a halfback and linebacker on the football team.[5][7] He was all-conference on the football team.[3]
Banaszak threw the discus on the track team, and was the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Class C state discus champion in 1961 and 1962, setting a Class C discus record in 1962 (157 ft 6.5 in 48.01 m).[8] He also ran the 100-yard dash and was a member of the 880-yard relay team.[7] He was 6 ft (1.83 m) 200 lb (90.7 kg) as a senior at Crivitz.[7]
While still a high school student, Banaszak considered becoming a Catholic priest. He had an uncle and cousin who were priests. He chose to attend college after receiving a football scholarship offer, although the priesthood was still in his mind.[2][3]
College career
Banaszak received a football scholarship to attend the University of Miami.[3] He had been successfully recruited by Hurricanes' assistant head coach Walt Kichefski, who was from Rhinelander, Wisconsin, 30 miles from Crivitz.[3] The 6 ft 1 (1.85 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Banaszak played on the Hurricanes freshman football team in 1962. In games against Florida State University and the University of Florida, he totaled 150 yards on 37 carries, with three of the four touchdowns Miami scored in those games; while also being considered a hard hitter on defense.[3]
As a sophomore fullback in 1963, Banaszak led Miami in rushing, with 461 yards in 97 carries. He also had 18 receptions for 201 yards, with two rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdowns.[9][10] His breakout game came against the University of Kentucky when the pass-oriented Miami quarterback George Mira was unable to pass because of the wind. The team turned to Banaszak, who gained 90 yards in 19 carries in leading Miami to a 20–14 win over Kentucky.[11]
As a junior (1964), Banaszak suffered from leg injuries, which has also been a problem for him the preceding season.[12] He had 173 yards on 55 carries, 90 receiving yards on nine receptions, and four total touchdowns.[13] As a senior (1965), he again led Miami in rushing, with 473 yards in 111 attempts and four rushing touchdowns. He also had eight receptions for 65 yards and one receiving touchdown.[14] He was considered a short-yardage and dependable running back at Miami.[15]
He finished his three-year career with the Miami Hurricanes with 263 carries for 1,107 yards and nine touchdowns and 35 receptions for 356 yards and three touchdowns.[16]
Professional career
The Oakland Raiders of the American Football League (AFL) selected Banaszak in the fifth round of the 1966 AFL draft, 59th overall.[17] Banaszak played sparing for the Raiders in 1966, with only four rushing attempts and occasionally playing special teams.[18][19] In 1967, he was a reserve running back until the Raiders leading rusher Clem Daniels suffered a broken ankle against the Miami Dolphins on November 19.[18][20] Banaszak started the Raiders remaining five games as a running back that season. In his first start (November 26) against defending AFL champion Kansas City Chiefs, Banaszak led the Raiders with 81 yards on 13 carries and one rushing touchdown. He also had four receptions for 27 yards. While Raiders head coach John Rauch believed Banaszak would be a capable replacement, he had no expectation that Banaszak would perform as well as he did.[21][18]
Banaszak had 71 rushing yards and 56 receiving yards in a win over the Houston Oilers on December 10, 1967.[22] He had 86 rushing yards and 73 receiving yards the following week in a win over the New York Jets, including a 72-yard reception.[23][24] He started in the 1967 AFL Championship Game against the Oilers, a 40–7 victory. Banaszak rushed for 116 yards in that game on 15 carries, and had one reception for four yards.[25] He then started in Super Bowl II against the Green Bay Packers. The Packers won 33–17. Banaszak rushed for 16 yards on six carries, but had four receptions for 69 yards, including a 40- or 41-yard reception from Daryle Lamonica.[26][27]
In 1968, Banaszak started 11 games and was third on the Raiders in rushing, with 362 yards on 91 carries, along with four rushing touchdowns. He also had 15 receptions for 182 yards.[28] He had three carries for six yards and a touchdown, and one reception for 11 yards, in the 1968 AFL Championship Game; a 27–23 loss to the New York Jets.[29]
Banaszak finished his NFL career (all with the Raiders from 1966 to 1978) with 3,772 rushing yards, 121 receptions for 1,022 yards, and 51 touchdowns. He was known for "having a nose for the goal line". He was known by his Raider teammates and fans as "Rooster".
He also scored two touchdowns in the Raiders 32-14 win over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl XI. He was also a part of the 'Holy Roller' play that led to rule changes in the NFL about advancing fumbles. Banaszak appeared to try to recover the ball on the 12-yard line, but could not keep his footing, and pitched the ball with both hands even closer to the end zone.
Personal life
Banaszak currently resides in the St. Augustine, Florida[30] area and co-hosts the post game radio show for the Jacksonville Jaguars with Cole Pepper. He was inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.
He also had a hole in one in 2023 at Kennsington Golf Club in Canfield, OH. 17th hole (155 yards) and hit a 3 hybrid.
NFL career statistics
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Super Bowl champion | |
| Won the AFL Championship | |
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | Fumbles | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Y/G | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | FR | ||
| 1966 | OAK | 14 | 0 | 4 | 18 | 4.5 | 1.3 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 11.0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1967 | OAK | 10 | 5 | 68 | 376 | 5.5 | 37.6 | 47 | 1 | 16 | 192 | 12.0 | 72 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 1968 | OAK | 13 | 11 | 91 | 362 | 4.0 | 27.8 | 43 | 4 | 15 | 182 | 12.1 | 49 | 1 | 6 | 2 |
| 1969 | OAK | 12 | 4 | 88 | 377 | 4.3 | 31.4 | 40 | 0 | 17 | 119 | 7.0 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 1970 | OAK | 10 | 0 | 21 | 75 | 3.6 | 7.5 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1971 | OAK | 14 | 14 | 137 | 563 | 4.1 | 40.2 | 30 | 8 | 13 | 128 | 9.8 | 28 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 1972 | OAK | 14 | 0 | 30 | 138 | 4.6 | 9.9 | 15 | 1 | 9 | 63 | 7.0 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1973 | OAK | 14 | 0 | 34 | 198 | 5.8 | 14.1 | 26 | 0 | 6 | 31 | 5.2 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 1974 | OAK | 14 | 1 | 80 | 272 | 3.4 | 19.4 | 20 | 5 | 9 | 64 | 7.1 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1975 | OAK | 14 | 0 | 187 | 672 | 3.6 | 48.0 | 27 | 16 | 10 | 64 | 6.4 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 1976 | OAK | 14 | 1 | 114 | 370 | 3.2 | 26.4 | 15 | 5 | 15 | 74 | 4.9 | 20 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1977 | OAK | 14 | 0 | 67 | 214 | 3.2 | 15.3 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 14 | 7.0 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 1978 | OAK | 16 | 0 | 43 | 137 | 3.2 | 8.6 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 78 | 11.1 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Career | 173 | 36 | 964 | 3,772 | 3.9 | 21.8 | 47 | 47 | 121 | 1,022 | 8.4 | 72 | 5 | 18 | 8 | |
References
- ^ "Pete Banaszak Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
- ^ a b "Banazak [sic], of Crivitz, Carries Top Rushing Average of Oakland Backs". The Post-Crescent. January 14, 1968. p. 33. Retrieved November 21, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e f Fitzgerald, Tommy (November 1, 1962). "Toughest Altar Boy In America". The Miami News. pp. 4D.
- ^ "Crivitz High School Awards Day Honors Leading Senior Students". Green Bay Press-Gazette (Green Bay, Wisconsin). May 24, 1961. p. 6.
- ^ a b "Peshtigo Choice To Repeat in M–O Grid". Green Bay Press-Gazette (Green Bay Wisconsin). September 1, 1961. p. 3.
- ^ "Honor Roll Released At Crivitz". Green Bay Press-Gazette (Green Bay, Wisconsin). November 22, 1961. p. 7.
- ^ a b c Wagner, Len (May 6, 1962). "Shoe Switch Doesn't Bother Crivitz Star". Green Bay Press-Gazette (Green Bay, Wisconsin). pp. D-4.
- ^ "Mineral Point Wins State C Track Title". Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, Wisconsin). May 20, 1962. pp. 1, Sec. 3.
- ^ "1963 Miami (FL) Hurricanes Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
- ^ Lynch, Bob (December 15, 1963). "Gus Happy Over Our Comeback Glad Team Didn't Fold". Fort Lauderdale News and Sun-Sentinel. pp. 1D.
- ^ Crittenden, John (November 5, 1963). "Ill Wind Made Banaszak A Star". The Miami News. pp. 2B.
- ^ Crittenden, John (October 7, 1964). "Smith, Banaszak Also Out Of Action". The Miami News. pp. 5B.
- ^ "1964 Miami (FL) Hurricanes Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
- ^ "1965 Miami (FL) Hurricanes Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
- ^ "Tate Figures U-Miami Has Talent". The Miami News, Football Review 1965. September 6, 1965. p. 4.
- ^ "Pete Banaszak College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
- ^ "1966 AFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
- ^ a b c Sargis, Joe (December 1, 1967). "Edgy Sub Is Pretty Sharp". The Sun (San Bernadino, California). pp. C3.
- ^ "1966 Oakland Raiders Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
- ^ "Raiders pay big price for win over Miami". The Birmingham News (Birmingham, Alabama). Associated Press. November 20, 1967. p. 19.
- ^ "Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs - November 23rd, 1967". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
- ^ "Oakland Raiders at Houston Oilers - December 10th, 1967". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
- ^ "New York Jets at Oakland Raiders - December 17th, 1967". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
- ^ "Oakland Passes Beat Jets". The Roanoke Times (Roanoke, Virginia). Associated Press. December 18, 1967. p. 20.
- ^ "Championship - Houston Oilers at Oakland Raiders - December 31st, 1967". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
- ^ "Super Bowl II - Green Bay Packers vs. Oakland Raiders - January 14th, 1968". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
- ^ Strickler, George (January 15, 1968). "Green Bay Wins Super Bowl, 33 To 14". Chicago Tribune. pp. 1–2, Sec. 3.
- ^ "1968 Oakland Raiders Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
- ^ "Championship - Oakland Raiders at New York Jets - December 29th, 1968". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
- ^ "'It's like heaven:' Banaszak's best memories in football are of the Super Bowl | St. Augustine Record". Archived from the original on February 6, 2017.