Bob Mischak
Robert Michael "Bob" Mischak (October 25, 1932 – June 26, 2014) was a college and professional American football guard who played six seasons in the American Football League from 1960-1965. He was selected by his peers as a Sporting News AFL All-League guard in 1960 and 1961. He was an AFL Eastern Division All-Star in 1962. He also played in the National Football League for the New York Giants.
In an October 1953 game against Duke at the Polo Grounds in New York City, Mischak made an improbable play to seal a 14-13 Army victory that was chronicled in David Maraniss' biography of Vince Lombardi, When Pride Still Mattered. Late in the fourth quarter, Duke running back Red Smith ran a double reverse for what would have been a go-ahead touchdown, but was pursued by Mischak from several yards behind. As Smith neared the endzone, Mischak caught up to him and made a touchdown-saving tackle short of the goal line. Two subsequent stops by the Army defense yielded a historic victory for head coach Red Blaik.
After his playing career, he served as a longtime coach of tight ends for the Oakland Raiders during the 1970s and 1980s. He died on June 26, 2014 at the age of 81.
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