Sad news out of the football world today as former Raiders’ quarterback legend George Blanda passed away at the age of 83.

From the San Francisco Chronicle:

American professional football player kicker George Blanda #16 of the Oakland Raiders watches the game after he kicked the extra point against the Kansas City Chiefs that made him the first player in American football to score 2,000 points, Oakland, California, December 22, 1975. He was the only player to have done this until 2000. He also holds a record for the longest pro career at 26 years. (Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images)

Blanda’s most memorable season in Oakland was 1970, when in a five-game stretch, he won four games and tied another with his arm and/or foot, a feat that led to him being named AFC Player of the Year.

“Al Davis always liked my attitude, and my time with the Raiders was special, because it looked like my career was over” the always-blunt Blanda said. “Instead, I played another nine years, which by itself was more than twice the average playing career.”

When he retired after the 1975 season, he had scored 2,002 points, a record that stood until kicker Gary Anderson broke it in the 2000 season. He also set marks for most career field-goal attempts (637), and most PATs made and attempted (943 of 959).

His 340-game career was the longest in league history, and his 26 years of service were five seasons longer than any other player.

I didn’t have the pleasure of watching Blanda play, but every NFL fan knows the name and has watched the black and white highlights of the 1962 AFL Championship Game.

RIP, George.