Bob Gunderman

Bob Gunderman
No. 82
Position:End
Personal information
Born:(1934-10-08)October 8, 1934
Sparta, New Jersey, U.S.
Died:May 28, 2024(2024-05-28) (aged 89)
West Milford, New Jersey, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school:Franklin (Franklin, New Jersey)
College:Virginia
NFL draft:1957 / round: 19 / pick: 227
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Games played:4
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Robert Edward Gunderman (October 8, 1934 – May 28, 2024) was an American football end who played college football for University of Virginia and professional football in the National Football League (NFL) for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1957. He appeared in four NFL games.

Early years

Gunderman was born on October 8, 1934 in Sparta, New Jersey. He attended Franklin High School in New Jersey.[1]

Virginia

Gunderman played college football at University of Virginia from 1953 to 1956.[1] He played on both offense and defense at Virginia and developed a reputation as "a scrapper", "a special weapon", and a player with "a zest for contact."[2] On offense, he was a key blocker for Virginia's All-American blocker Jim Bakhtiar.[3]

Professional football

Gunderman was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the 19th round (227th overall pick) of the 1957 NFL draft.[4] The Lions traded him to the Pittsburgh Steelers in August 1957 in exchange for a draft choice.[5] He spent the 1957 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, appearing in four games.[4][1] He signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in April 1959,[6] but he was injured in a car crash in June 1959,[7] then cut by the club in August.[8] He played in 1960 with the Franklin Miners of the Eastern Football Conference,[9] in 1961 with the Akron Pros of the United Football League, in 1962 with the Paterson Miners of the Atlantic Coast Football League.[1]

Death

Gunderman died in West Milford, New Jersey on May 28, 2024, at the age of 89.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Bob Gunderman". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  2. ^ Shelley Rolfe (October 27, 1955). "Gunderman's Play Against Gobblers Made U. Va. Fans Recall Happier Years". Richmond Times-Dispatch. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Virginia Stars of the Week". Richmond Times-Dispatch. September 24, 1956. p. 25 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b "Bob Gunderman Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  5. ^ "Lions Trade Rookie End Bob Gunderman". The Miami Herald. August 28, 1957. p. 36 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Bog Gunderman Joins Bombers". Calgary Herald. April 15, 1959. p. 48 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "'Peg Loses Valued End". Calgary Herald. June 3, 1959. p. 49 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Bombers Cut Bob Gunderman". Calgary Herald. August 12, 1959. p. 42 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Late Touchdown Spoils Lodi Generals' Debut". The Herald-News. August 15, 1960. p. 38 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Robert E. Gunderman". Richards Funeral Home, Inc. Retrieved October 19, 2024.