Ray Abruzzese

American football player (1937–2011)

American football player
Ray Abruzzese
No. 46, 25
Position:Safety
Personal information
Born:(1937-10-27)October 27, 1937
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died:August 22, 2011(2011-08-22) (aged 73)
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
Career information
College:Alabama
NFL draft:1962 / Round: 16 / Pick: 219
AFL draft:1962 / Round: 23 / Pick: 180
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:61
Games started:2
Interceptions:9
Player stats at PFR

Raymond Lewis Abruzzese Jr. (October 27, 1937 – August 22, 2011) was an American college and professional football player.

Abruzzese was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A defensive back, he played college football at the University of Alabama, and played professionally in the American Football League (AFL) for the Buffalo Bills from 1962 through 1964, when the Bills won the AFL Championship game, 20–7, over the defending AFL champion San Diego Chargers.[1] He played for the AFL's New York Jets in 1965 and 1966.[2][3]

Abruzzese died in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, aged 73.[4] He was one of at least 345 NFL players to be diagnosed after death with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), caused by repeated hits to the head.[5][6]

References

  1. ^ "Championship - San Diego Chargers at Buffalo Bills - December 26th, 1964". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  2. ^ "1965 New York Jets Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  3. ^ "1966 New York Jets Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  4. ^ "Ray Abruzzese Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  5. ^ "The driving force behind Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)". Concussion Legacy Foundation. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  6. ^ Ken Belson and Benjamin Mueller (June 20, 2023). "Collective Force of Head Hits, Not Just the Number of Them, Increases Odds of C.T.E. The largest study of chronic traumatic encephalopathy to date found that the cumulative force of head hits absorbed by players in their careers is the best predictor of future brain disease". The New York Times. Retrieved July 2, 2023.

See also

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1961 Alabama Crimson Tide football—AP & UPI national champions
Head coach
Bear Bryant
Assistant coaches
Charlie Bradshaw
Phil Cutchin
Hayden Riley
Howard Schnellenberger
Gene Stallings
  • v
  • t
  • e
Baltimore Colts 1962 NFL draft selections
  • Wendell Harris
  • Bill Saul
  • Dan Sullivan
  • Jim Dillard
  • Jerry Croft
  • Fred Miller
  • Pete Brokaw
  • Roy Walker
  • Walt Rappold
  • Fred Moore
  • Scott Tyler
  • Bake Turner
  • Charley Holmes
  • Stinson Jones
  • Joe Monte
  • Ray Abruzzese
  • Bill Knocke
  • Mel Rideout
  • Fred Gillett
  • Herb McKee
  • v
  • t
  • e
Buffalo Bills 1962 AFL draft selections
  • v
  • t
  • e
Buffalo Bills 1964 AFL champions
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