One of the longest football odysseys on record began in Youngwood, a tiny railroad town in Westmoreland County. After twists and turns and many miles across the better part of four decades, the journey came full circle to end, of all places, at Three Rivers Stadium.

In between, George Blanda, who died of cancer on Monday at the age of 83, pieced together the longest career in NFL history and a lasting legacy as both a quarterback and place-kicker. Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981, he is survived by his wife, Betty, two children, a brother and a sister.

Blanda was a few months shy of his 49th birthday, the oldest player ever to suit up in the NFL, when he retired after the 1975 season. His first game, with the Chicago Bears, was in 1949 during the Truman administration and predated the Korean War. His last game was with the Oakland Raiders in the AFC Championship Game against the Steelers at Three Rivers. The Steelers won, 16-10. Gerald Ford had been president more than a year after Richard Nixon resigned because of the Watergate scandal.

In college, Blanda played for the iconic Bear Bryant at Kentucky. He spent 10 seasons with the Bears, mostly as a kicker. But he was reborn in the brand new American Football League, where he unleashed his passing talents and guided a free-wheeling attack that propelled the Houston Oilers to the struggling entity's first two championships.

"He had a quick release," Charlie Hennigan, whose record 1,746 receiving yards in 1961 stood for 34 years, said from his home in Shreveport, La. "He could throw it deep and he could throw it short."

With the league now on its feet and eventually merging with the NFL, Blanda became known as football's grand old man. As a 43-year-old backup in 1970, he passed and kicked the Raiders to four wins and a tie to help Oakland get to the AFC Championship Game. He was named AP Male Athlete of the Year.

"George Blanda will always be remembered as a legend of our game," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement.

"He's a legend who you think would live forever," former Raiders coach Tom Flores told the San Francisco Chronicle.

Yet even as the legend grew, Blanda, one of 12 children, never forgot Youngwood. And Youngwood never forgot him. In 1985, the town renamed Route 119, its main street, George Blanda Boulevard. A small display located in the borough offices on South Third Street chronicles his career.

"He kept in touch with us," said a nephew, George Yakubisin of Youngwood. "Probably every year he would come home and take the whole family out to dinner at Rizzo's in Crabtree, 50 people, at least once a year. He was pretty generous that way. We all sort of idolized him."

In addition to his two titles in Houston, Blanda helped the Raiders win the 1967 AFL championship.

As others who knew him, Hennigan, who caught a then-record 101 passes in 1964, described Blanda as a fierce competitor. He said he saw Blanda kick an opponent who rushed a bit too hard on a field goal attempt "square in the butt," and claims that Blanda cut (or tried to) a receiver from the team during the middle of a game "because he didn't go where he was supposed to go."

But Blanda also was "a big jokester," according to Bill Groman, another prolific Oilers pass-catcher.

"He liked to laugh, he liked to give people a hard time," Groman said from his home in Houston. "He would kind of rub it in and stuff. But people looked up to him. He was a heck of a leader. No question he had command of the huddle. It was easy to follow him."

Additional Information:

Blanda facts

Native of Youngwood, Westmoreland County.

Graduate of former Youngwood High School, now part of Hempfield Area School District.

Nicknamed 'The Grand Old Man.'

Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame.

U.S. Route 119 in Youngwood renamed George Blanda Boulevard in 1985.

Played at University of Kentucky under legendary coach Paul 'Bear' Bryant. Started at quarterback for Wildcats in final two college seasons (1947 and '48).

Played professional-record 26 seasons in National and American football leagues.

Signed first pro contract with Chicago Bears as kicker, backup quarterback and linebacker.

Became starting quarterback and kicker for Houston Oilers in 1960, leading team to AFL's first two titles and earning player-of-the-year honors in 1961 after throwing 36 touchdown passes.

All-Pro kicker and backup quarterback with Oakland Raiders, leading AFL in points (116) in first season with team in 1967.

Played final professional game at age 48 on Jan. 4, 1976, in AFC Championship Game against Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium, kicking 41-yard field goal and extra point in 16-10 Oakland loss.

Ranked No. 98 on The Sporting News' 1998 list of 100 Greatest Football Players.

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