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Palmer Edward Retzlaff (August 21, 1931 – April 10, 2020), known as Pete Retzlaff and nicknamed "Pistol Pete" and "The Baron", was a professional American football player and general manager.

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Pete Retzlaff

No. 25, 44
Position:	Halfback / split end / tight end
Personal information
Born:	(1931-08-21)August 21, 1931 Ellendale, North Dakota
Died:	April 10, 2020(2020-04-10) (aged 88) Pottstown, Pennsylvania
Career information
High school:	Ellendale (ND)
College:	South Dakota State
NFL Draft:	1953 / Round: 22 / Pick: 265
Career history
As a player:
Detroit Lions (1953)* Philadelphia Eagles (1956–1966)
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As an executive:
Philadelphia Eagles (1969-1972) General Manager
Career highlights and awards
NFL champion (1960) 2× First-team All-Pro (1958, 1965) 2× Second-team All-Pro (1964, 1966) 5× Pro Bowl (1958, 1960, 1963–1965) NFL receptions co-leader (1958) Bert Bell Award (1965) Philadelphia Eagles No. 44 retired Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame
Career NFL statistics
Receptions: 452 Receiving yards: 7,412 Touchdowns: 47
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early life

Retzlaff played football at Ellendale High School in Ellendale, North Dakota, and starred in track and field and football at South Dakota State College. In 1952, he rushed for 1,016 yards.

Pro-football career

Retzlaff was selected in the 1953 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions of the National Football League but he did not make the team. After two years in the U.S. Army he was sold to the Philadelphia Eagles, where he played running back, wide receiver and tight end for 11 seasons. In 1958, despite having never caught a pass in college, he led the NFL with 56 pass receptions. He went to the Pro Bowl five times, and he won the Bert Bell Award for NFL player of the year in 1965, when he caught 66 passes including ten touchdowns. He was president of the NFL Players Association. In 2005, he was named to the Professional Football Researchers Association Hall of Very Good in the association's third HOVG class.[1]

From 1969 to 1972, he was the Eagles' vice president and general manager. In 1973 and 1974, he worked as a color analyst for NFL coverage on CBS television.

Retzlaff's number 44 jersey has been retired by the Eagles.

Retzlaff died on April 10, 2020, in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, at the age of 88.[2]

References

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