Kelly Saalfeld

Last updated
Kelly Saalfeld
No. 59
Position: Center
Personal information
Born: (1956-02-15) February 15, 1956 (age 68)
Columbus, Nebraska, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:246 lb (112 kg)
Career information
High school: Columbus (NE) Lakeview
College: Nebraska
NFL draft: 1980  / Round: 9 / Pick: 226
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics
Games played:7

Kelly Dean Saalfeld (born February 15, 1956) is a former center in the National Football League (NFL). Saalfeld was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the ninth round of the 1980 NFL Draft and would play that season with the New York Giants.

Contents

Early life

Saalfeld grew up on a farm near Columbus, Nebraska, and suffered many injuries as a child, including two concussions and two broken arms. [1] He attended Lakeview High School in Columbus, where he played football. [2] Saalfeld earned a full scholarship to Kearney State College, but turned it down to attend the University of Nebraska. [2]

College career

Saalfeld walked on to the Nebraska freshman team in 1975. [2] [3] He was then redshirted his second season, after which he was converted from an offensive tackle to center. [1] In 1977, Saalfeld served as a backup to All-American center Tom Davis and earned his first letter. [4] He went on to serve as the starting center in 1978 and 1979, earning third-team All-American honors from the Football News and a Senior Bowl invite as a senior. [4]

Saalfeld was inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame in 2009. [5]

Professional career

Saalfeld was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the ninth round of the 1980 NFL draft. [6] He was cut in August. [7] Saalfeld was signed by the New York Giants that November and played in seven games in the 1980 season. [8] [9]

Post-playing career

Saalfeld later refereed at the professional level in NFL Europe and the Arena Football League. [10] He also refereed in college football, including the 2009 Senior Bowl – 29 years after playing in the same all-star game. [10]

Currently works for a Culligan Water provider.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ahman Green</span> American gridiron football player (born 1977)

Ahman Rashad Green is an American former football running back who played 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, earning second-team All-American honors in 1997. Green was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round of the 1998 NFL draft, playing there for two seasons before being traded to the Green Bay Packers, with whom he played for eight of the next ten seasons. Green also played for the Houston Texans, and was a four-time Pro Bowl selection with the Packers, where he holds the franchise record for rushing yards. He was the head esports coach at Lakeland University until the end of 2022.

Frank Andrew Patrick is a former American football quarterback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played three seasons for the Packers from 1970 to 1972. He attended Derry Area High School and the University of Nebraska.

Jerry Lee Tagge is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL), World Football League (WFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, leading them to consecutive national championships in 1970 and 1971. Tagge played professionally with the Green Bay Packers of the NFL from 1972 to 1974, the San Antonio Wings of the WFL in 1975, and the BC Lions of the CFL from 1977 to 1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warren Alfson</span> American football player (1915–2001)

Warren Frank Alfson was an American football guard and linebacker for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, as well as the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National Football League (NFL).

Timothy Francis Smith is a former National Football League (NFL) wide receiver who played for the Houston Oilers (1980–1986).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danny Noonan (American football)</span> American football player (born 1965)

Daniel Nicholas Noonan is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers. He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Nicholas Frank Adduci was an American football defensive back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins. He played college football at the University of Nebraska.

Raymond Lucian Mallouf was an American football quarterback and punter who played professionally in the National Football League (NFL). He played four seasons for the Chicago Cardinals, interrupted by World War II, and one season with the New York Giants.

Dahrran Diedrick was a Canadian professional football player who was a running back in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was a three-time Grey Cup champion, winning with the Edmonton Eskimos in 2005 and the Montreal Alouettes in 2009 and 2010. Diedrick played college football in the United States with the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He began his pro career in the National Football League (NFL) with the San Diego Chargers, Green Bay Packers, and Washington Redskins. He played for ten seasons in the CFL, primarily with the Alouettes.

Richard Kyes "Rik" Bonness is an American former college and professional football player who was linebacker for four seasons in the National Football League (NFL). A consensus All-American at Nebraska as a center, he played professionally for the Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Mark Steven Murphy is an American former professional football player who was a safety for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). After graduating from GlenOak High School near his hometown of Canton, Ohio, Murphy attended West Liberty State College. At West Liberty, he played college football for all four years, with the last three as a starter for the Hilltoppers. In his senior year, he was named All-WVIAC and won the WVIAC championship. He went undrafted in the 1980 NFL draft, but was subsequently signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent. He played for the Packers for 12 years before retiring in 1991. After his playing career, Murphy coached high school and college football in Ohio. He was elected to the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1998 in recognition of his contributions to the team.

Randolph "Randy" Hume Dean is a former American football quarterback who played for three seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Giants from 1977–1979. He played college football at Northwestern. He is also a former handball player for the American team who competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prince Amukamara</span> American football player (born 1989)

Prince Kelechi Amukamara is an American former football cornerback who played 11 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Nebraska, and earned unanimous All-American honors. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft, and was a member of the Giants' Super Bowl XLVI championship team as a rookie against his hometown team, the New England Patriots. Amukamara has also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears, Las Vegas Raiders, and Arizona Cardinals.

Charles Martin Amsler was an American professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for the Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, and Green Bay Packers. He played college football for the Evansville Purple Aces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Howell (halfback)</span> American football player (1915–1946)

John Searl Howell was a halfback in the National Football League (NFL).

Walter James Landers is an American former professional football player in the National Football League (NFL). Landers was born on July 4, 1953, in Lanett, Alabama, and attended Clark Atlanta University.

Terry Randolph is a former American football defensive back. He played college football for the American International Yellow Jackets, where he was a two-time All-New England selection. He then was selected in the 11th round of the 1977 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers and played that season with them before being released prior to the 1978 season. Randolph later had a brief stint with the New York Jets in 1979 before ending his career.

Paul Rudzinski is a former American football player. He played professionally as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for three seasons with the Green Bay Packers. Rudzinski was born on July 28, 1956, in Detroit, Michigan, where he attended Detroit Catholic Central High School. Rudzinski initially desired to attend the University of Notre Dame, but ended up attending Michigan State University where he played college football. He lettered with Michigan State all four years of his college career. He received a degree in advertising.

Chester "Chet" Winters is an American former football running back. He played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners and later was a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL), as well as the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League (USFL).

Austin Allen is an American football tight end for the Arlington Renegades of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Nebraska.

References

  1. 1 2 York, Randy (October 31, 1979). "Saalfeld no longer accident looking for place to happen". Lincoln Journal . p. 49. Retrieved October 23, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 3 "Two couples attend game and reception". The Schuyler Sun. October 25, 1979. p. 22. Retrieved October 20, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ York, Randy (October 13, 1979). "Nebraska-KU battle offers 'happy homecoming' for Saalfeld". Lincoln Star . p. 11. Retrieved October 20, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 "Kelly Saalfeld – Football 1979". Nebraska Cornhuskers Athletics. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Nebraska Football Hall of Fame inductees". Omaha World-Herald . July 15, 2009. p. 22. Retrieved October 23, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ York, Randy (May 1, 1980). "Saalfeld ready to buck odds – again". Lincoln Journal . p. 21. Retrieved October 23, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Packers cut Kelly Saalfeld". Oshkosh Northwestern . August 25, 1980. p. 10. Retrieved October 23, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Giants sign Culbreath". Oshkosh Northwestern . November 6, 1980. p. 4. Retrieved October 23, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Kelly Saalfeld". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2011-07-29.
  10. 1 2 Kaipust, Rich (January 21, 2009). "Referee relates to All-Star stresses". Omaha World-Herald . p. 21. Retrieved October 23, 2023– via Newspapers.com.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.