Paul Seiler
Number71, 79, 65
PositionCenter
Position 2Tackle
Birth dateNovember 1, 1945
Birth placeAlgona, Iowa, U.S.
Death dateSeptember 25, 2001 (aged 55)
Height6 ft
Height in4
Weight lb258
High schoolBishop Garrigan (Algona)
CollegeNotre Dame
Draftyear1967
Draftround1
Draftpick12
Pastteams
Highlights
StatleagueNFL/AFL
Statlabel 1Games played
Statvalue 139
Statlabel 2Games started
Statvalue 21
Statlabel 3Fumble recoveries
Statvalue 31
PfrSeilPa20

Paul Herman Seiler (November 1, 1945 – September 25, 2001)[1] was an American professional football offensive lineman who played in the American (AFL) and National Football League (NFL) for the New York Jets and Oakland Raiders.

Born in Algona, Iowa,[2] Seiler played college football at the University of Notre Dame and was a member of the school's 1966 team that won the national championship.[3] After playing for a combined 59 minutes in 1964 and 1965 as a backup, he was Notre Dame's starting right tackle in 1966, his senior year.[4] In the 1967 NFL/AFL draft, the Jets selected him with the 12th overall pick. Seiler played in two games for the Jets in the 1967 AFL season,[2] but a leg injury led the Jets to put him on a "waived injured list".[5] In 1968, he joined the United States Army and did not play that season.[2][6] Seiler returned to the Jets in 1969, playing in 11 games.[2] After undergoing offseason leg surgery,[7] the Jets released Seiler before the start of the 1970 season.[8] From 1971 to 1973, Seiler played for the Raiders. He played in 26 games, starting once in 1973, his last NFL season.[2]

Seiler was married and had one stepson. After his football career, he lived in the West Coast region and eventually became a church minister in California. On September 25, 2001, Seiler died of colon cancer at the age of 55.[2][4]

References

  1. ^ The ESPN Pro Football Encyclopedia Second Edition. New York City: Sterling Publishing. 2007. p. 621. ISBN 978-1-4027-5250-6.
  2. ^ "Paul Seiler". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
  3. ^ LaFleur, Pete (September 29, 2006). "Reliving A Season Of Glory: The 1966 National Champions Celebrate the 40-Year Anniversary". University of Notre Dame. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
  4. ^ Doyle, Joe (October 13, 2001). "Seiler steadily grew into a starter". South Bend Tribune
  5. ^ "Jets Ready for Abner". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. December 8, 1967. p. 26. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
  6. ^ "Seiler Enlists". Reading Eagle. United Press International. January 22, 1968. p. 20. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
  7. ^ "Operate On Jets". The Norwalk Hour. United Press International. January 29, 1970. p. 21. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
  8. ^ Di Pietro, Bob (September 16, 1970). "Other Veterans Given Releases". The Bonham Daily Favorite. United Press International. p. 6. Retrieved July 6, 2011.