Norm Snead, a former NFL quarterback who played for 16 seasons in the 1960s and '70s, has passed away at the age of 84. The Wake Forest football program confirmed his death on Monday, having received the news from Snead's family. No cause of death was provided.
Snead was chosen as the second overall pick in the 1961 NFL draft by the Washington team. He was also selected 33rd by the Buffalo Bills in the American Football League draft that same year. Ultimately, Snead opted to join Washington and enjoyed three seasons with the team, earning two Pro Bowl selections. He was later traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for Sonny Jurgensen and Claude Crabb.
Sonny Jurgensen, a renowned player who led the Eagles to a league championship in 1960, became the face of the franchise for Washington. Jurgensen's induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and his subsequent broadcasting career with the team cemented his legacy.
Snead went on to spend seven seasons with the Eagles, despite the team failing to make the playoffs during that time. In 1965, however, he had a strong season, throwing for 15 touchdowns and 2,346 yards. Moreover, he led the league with three game-winning drives, earning himself a Pro Bowl selection. This achievement is all the more remarkable considering the Eagles finished with a 5-9 record that year.
In the later part of his career, Snead played for multiple teams. He spent one season with the Minnesota Vikings, followed by two and a half seasons with the New York Giants. He then played another one and a half seasons with the San Francisco 49ers before returning to the Giants once more in 1976. Snead ultimately decided to retire from football in 1977.
Throughout his NFL career, Snead started in 159 games, finishing with a record of 52-100-7. He threw for a total of 196 touchdowns, although his total of 257 interceptions places him sixth on the career list.
Prior to his professional career, Snead attended Wake Forest University, where he played college football. He earned All-ACC honors twice and set over a dozen conference records during his three-year tenure from 1958 to 1960. Of note, Snead led the ACC in interceptions during one season and once humorously quipped, 'I couldn't run and couldn't get out of my own way but could throw the football.'
Norm Snead, a native of Halifax County, Virginia, was not only a talented football player but also a standout athlete in high school, where he played football, basketball, and baseball at Warwick High School. In recognition of his accomplishments, Snead was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1984.
The passing of Norm Snead marks the end of an era for the NFL. He will be remembered for his contributions to the game and his remarkable career as a quarterback.
