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Erik Affholter

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Erik Affholter
No. 82
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1966-04-10) April 10, 1966 (age 58)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:187 lb (85 kg)
Career information
High school:Oak Park (Oak Park, California)
College:USC
NFL draft:1989 / round: 4 / pick: 110
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:7
Receiving yards:68
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Erik Konrad Affholter (born April 10, 1966) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). As a 16-year-old place kicker during his junior season of high school he broke a national record with a 64-yard field goal, which at the time was the longest field goal kicked at any level. Playing college football for the USC Trojans, he was an All-American and established school records for most receptions in a season, and in a career. In 2020, he wrote a book named "America's Miracle".[1]

Early and personal life

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He was born in Detroit, Michigan, to Conrad (a salesman) and Ruth Affholter, and is Jewish.[2][3] In the early 1970s, the family moved to Agoura, California.[4] He later lived in Anthem, Arizona.[5][6]

High school

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Affholter played football at Oak Park High School in Ventura County, California.[6] As a 16-year-old place kicker during his junior season he broke a national record with a 64-yard (59 meter) field goal in 1982, which at the time was the longest field goal kicked at any level.[7][4][5][8][9][10] A sportswriter at the game estimated it could have gone 74 yards (68 meters).[11] Asked about his kick, Affholter said: "I'd much rather catch touchdown passes."[2] At the time, as a wide receiver he had caught more touchdown passes than any player in his high school conference.[2]

In addition to kicking field goals and extra points, he played tailback, wide receiver, defensive back, and linebacker.[12] In 1983 he was a USA Today All-USA high school football first-team All-American, All-California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), and All-State; he was also a Los Angeles Times running back of the year.[10][13]

College

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Affholter played college football at the University of Southern California (USC) for the Trojans as a wide receiver, though he had initially received a scholarship as a kicker.[12][14][15][16][17] He was athletic, with a 36-inch (910 mm) vertical jump.[12]

On November 21, 1987, he made a controversial memorable fourth quarter winning end zone juggling touchdown catch for a 17-13 upset over Troy Aikman's No. 5-ranked UCLA Bruins that sent the unranked 1987 USC Trojans football team to the 1988 Rose Bowl.[6][18][19][20][10] He was named a member of the 1988 College Football All-America Team, and a Pac-10 All-Academic selection.[21][9][22][10] In 1988 as a senior he led USC with 68 catches for 952 yards and eight touchdowns.[23] He established USC records for most receptions in a season, and in a career (123).[17][24] Upon graduation, he became a member of the USC Skull and Dagger Society.[10]

National Football League

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He was drafted in the fourth round of the 1989 NFL draft by the Washington Redskins.[25][26] On April 23, 1989, the Redskins then immediately traded him and two draft picks to the Green Bay Packers for quarterback Jeff Graham.[27][10] About a month later he broke his ankle in a pick-up basketball game in New York City, shortly before reporting to Packers training camp.[6] He spent the entire season on injured reserve.[24] He played the 1991 season in the NFL for the Packers.[8]

In 1992, he signed with the San Diego Chargers as a free agent.[28] He retired in 1995 due to a career-ending knee injury.[10]

Coaching

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Since retiring, he has coached high school and youth football.[10][29]

Honors

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In 2016 he was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.[30][3][5]

References

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  1. ^ Whicker, Mark (December 8, 2020). "Whicker: Erik Affholter has more on his mind than a catch in 1987". Orange County Register. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Tuite, James (October 20, 1982). "Plays". The New York Times.
  3. ^ a b Ryan Torok (February 9, 2017). "Moving & Shaking: Jewish athletes celebrated, NFL players visit home shul, AIPAC holds gala". Jewish Journal.
  4. ^ a b Rich Tosches (October 23, 1982). "16-year-old high school kicker nails record 64-yard field goal". UPI.
  5. ^ a b c Eliav Appelbaum (January 26, 2017). "USC football legend will be inducted into hall of fame". Thousand Oaks Acorn.
  6. ^ a b c d Jerry Crowe (November 19, 2007). "Memories are something else he can hold on to". Los Angeles Times.
  7. ^ "Ex-NFL player Erik Affholter tells police missing-hiker report a misunderstanding". Ventura County Star. May 14, 2012.
  8. ^ a b "Ex-USC, NFL player Erik Affholter missing in Simi Valley hike". Los Angeles Times. May 14, 2012.
  9. ^ a b "Affholter hoping to take long drive to Champions Tour". Ventura County Star. June 12, 2012.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h "ERIK AFFHOLTER; Football - 2016". Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
  11. ^ "Scoring". San Bernardino Sun. October 19, 1982.
  12. ^ a b c Wiley, Ralph (November 30, 1987). "USC ROSE TO THE OCCASION". Sports Illustrated.
  13. ^ "OPHS Football Awards & Honors". HomeTeamsONLINE.
  14. ^ Richard J. Shmelter (2014). The USC Trojans Football Encyclopedia.
  15. ^ Tom Kelly, Tom Hoffarth (2012). Tales from the USC Trojans Sideline; A Collection of the Greatest Trojans Stories Ever Told.
  16. ^ "If It's Friday, It's Time For A USC Notes Column". Sports Illustrated. July 31, 2020.
  17. ^ a b "42 days to USC football: It's not just Ronnie Lott making No. 42 legendary". July 20, 2019.
  18. ^ "How the UCLA rivalry has determined USC coaches' fates". Los Angeles Daily News. November 16, 2016.
  19. ^ "USC football: The best wide receivers". The Orange County Register. October 13, 2011.
  20. ^ "Wolf: What are the most iconic plays in USC history?". Los Angeles Daily News. December 22, 2016.
  21. ^ "Ranking the 15 best USC wide receivers of all-time". April 22, 2019.
  22. ^ Mal Florence (March 27, 2020). "EXCERPT: 'The Trojan Heritage'". USC Athletics.
  23. ^ "68 days to USC football: Keith Van Horne wasn't quality enough for Notre Dame recruiting". June 24, 2019.
  24. ^ a b "Packers hope Affholter worth wait". Journal Times. August 15, 1990.
  25. ^ "1989 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  26. ^ Mellor, Cam (April 22, 2020). "Every USC Trojan selected in the NFL draft". Conquest Chronicles.
  27. ^ "The 1989 Green Bay Packers (10-6)". www.packershistory.net. Archived from the original on July 15, 2013. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  28. ^ "Wide Receiver Affholter Signs With Chargers as Free Agent". Los Angeles Times. April 2, 1992.
  29. ^ Keith Jiron (October 19, 2007). "FHS coach Affholter resigns". Arizona Daily Sun.
  30. ^ "ERIK AFFHOLTER; Football - 2016". Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
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