Banaszak is from Crivitz, Wisconsin.[1] Before his football career, while still a high school student, he considered becoming a priest.[1]
He finished his three-year career with the Miami Hurricanes with 263 carries for 1,107 yards and nine touchdowns and 35 catches for 356 yards and three touchdowns.[2]
Banaszak finished his NFL career (all with the Raiders from 1966 to 1978) with 3,772 rushing yards, 121 receptions for 1,022 yards, and 51 touchdowns. He was known for "having a nose for the goal line". He was known by his Raider teammates and fans as "Rooster".
Banaszak was a member of the Raiders during their first Super Bowl appearance in Super Bowl II. He also scored two touchdowns in the Raiders 32-14 win over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl XI. He was also a part of the 'Holy Roller' play that led to rule changes in the NFL about advancing fumbles. Banaszak appeared to try to recover the ball on the 12-yard line, but could not keep his footing, and pitched the ball with both hands even closer to the end zone.
Banaszak currently resides in the St. Augustine, Florida[3] area and co-hosts the post game radio show for the Jacksonville Jaguars with Cole Pepper. He was inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.
He also had a hole in one in 2023 at Kennsington Golf Club in Canfield, OH. 17th hole (155 yards) and hit a 3 hybrid.