Roy Gerela
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Roy Gerela (born April 2, 1948, Sarrail, Alberta) is a former American football placekicker best known for his years with the Pittsburgh Steelers, with whom he won three Super Bowl rings.
Gerela graduated from Kalani High School in Honolulu, and played college football at New Mexico State University. He was selected in the fourth round of the 1969 AFL Draft by the Houston Oilers and played for them in the American Football League in 1969 and in the NFL 1970. He signed with the NFL's Steelers before the 1971 season, and quickly became popular with Steelers fans, who had suffered through years of mediocre placekicking. He even inspired a fan club, "Gerela's Gorillas." He led the AFC in scoring in 1973 and 1974, and was named to the Pro Bowl in 1973 and 1975.
Gerela was a member of the Steelers' Super Bowl championship teams in 1973-74, 1974-75, and 1978-79, but was released by the Steelers before the 1979-80 season in favor of Matt Bahr. He appeared in three games for the San Diego Chargers in 1979 before a torn groin muscle ended his career. He is now an assistant coach at New Mexico State.
[edit] See also
Other American Football League players
[edit] Sources
- Kaneshiro, Jason. "Kalani graduate Gerela giving back with the Aggies", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 2005-10-14. Retrieved on July 25, 2006.
[edit] External links
Categories: Living people | 1948 births | New Mexico State Aggies football players | Houston Oilers (AFL) players | Houston Oilers players | Pittsburgh Steelers players | San Diego Chargers players | American football placekickers | American Conference Pro Bowl players | Canadian players of American football | Alberta sportspeople
