George Izo
Encyclopedia
George William Izo is a former American football
quarterback
in the National Football League
for the Washington Redskins
, as well as the St. Louis Cardinals
, Detroit Lions
, and the Pittsburgh Steelers
. He played college football
at the University of Notre Dame
.
and attended Barberton High School
, where he played high school football
. During his junior and senior seasons he was honored as an All-American and All-State selection, and was named Player of the Year by the Akron Beacon Journal
. Izo still holds the school record for the most yards per completion. He also played defensive back
and caught six interceptions during his senior year.
at the University of Notre Dame
. His father, George Izo Sr., also played at Notre Dame under coach Knute Rockne
. During his college career, he threw for 2,095 yards and 18 touchdowns, and led the Irish to a 20-19 upset of the University of Iowa
in his next to last game.
Izo earned his varsity letter
during his sophomore year, but during the off-season he sprained
his ankle
during initiation into the Monogram Club. He missed spring practice and did not return to the field until mid-season of his junior year. The off-season before Izo's senior year, coach Joe Kuharich
decided to install a T formation
offense. The week before the first game of his senior season, he appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated
. However, the Tuesday before the game he hurt his knee in practice and missed the first two games of that season (an early example of the Sports Illustrated cover jinx
urban legend.) Still, that year he was named to the Coaches All-American Team, started in the Chicago College All-Star Game against the Baltimore Colts
, and played in the East–West Shrine Game.
Izo graduated with a degree in Business Administration.
in the first round (second overall) of the 1960 NFL Draft
by the Chicago Cardinals
. He was also chosen in the 1960 American Football League Draft
as a "territorial selection" by the Titans of New York (now New York Jets
). To begin the draft, each of the eight AFL
teams received one territorial/bonus selection to help ensure every team had a regional draw to help the financial success of each franchise. These regional picks did not occur in any order. Instead, they were unanimously agreed upon by the other teams.
in Chicago
during a game against the Chicago Bears
game. The franchise moved to St. Louis, Missouri
one month after Izo signed his contract. In 1960, he won the starting job for the Cardinals by the third game of the season. But, he re-injured the same knee that he hurt in college and underwent surgery. Izo was traded at the end of training camp in 1961.
for quarterback Ralph Guglielmi. The Redskins wanted him as a back up to Norm Snead
, the Wake Forest
quarterback the Redskins drafted second overall in the 1961 NFL Draft
. On September 15, 1963, stepping in for Snead, he threw a 99-yard touchdown pass to Bobby Mitchell
, which tied a franchise and league record. Coincidentally, the first two occurrences of of a 99 yard pass play featured Redskins' quarterbacks. In 1964, the Redskins traded Snead to the Philadelphia Eagles
for quarterback Sonny Jurgensen
and after backing him up for one year, Izo asked to be traded.
traded guard
Darrell Dess
to the Redskins for Izo and guard Ted Karras
. During his only year in Detroit, Izo backed up Milt Plum
and the Lions won six games. He was released by the Lions on September 5, 1966.
' roster on September 24, 1966. He played in four games during his time in Pittsburgh and was released on November 2, 1966.
s. While living there, he coached high school football at Freeport Anglican High School
. He moved back to Washington, D.C.
five years later and became a partner in a wholesale food company; he has worked in the food industry regularly ever since.
Izo has two children from his first marriage and now lives near Richmond, Virginia
with his second wife, Deborah.
, Japan
and Guam
in his role as business development manager for California Sunshine milk, which had a contract with the U.S. government. He has made tours with Billy Kilmer
, Ken Stabler
, Paul Hornung
and Earl Morrall
, among others.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
, as well as the St. Louis Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
, and the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
.
Early life
Izo was born in Barberton, OhioBarberton, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 27,899 people, 11,523 households, and 7,443 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,095.2 people per square mile . There were 12,163 housing units at an average density of 1,349.4 per square mile...
and attended Barberton High School
Barberton High School (Barberton, Ohio)
Barberton High School is a public high school in Barberton, Ohio, USA. It is the only high school in the Barberton City School District, serving approximately 1100 students in grades 9-12 as of the 2009–10 school year....
, where he played high school football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
. During his junior and senior seasons he was honored as an All-American and All-State selection, and was named Player of the Year by the Akron Beacon Journal
Akron Beacon Journal
The Akron Beacon Journal is a four-time Pulitzer Prize-winning morning newspaper in Akron, Ohio, United States, and published by Black Press Ltd.. It is the sole daily newspaper in Akron and is distributed throughout Northeast Ohio. The paper places a strong emphasis on local news and business...
. Izo still holds the school record for the most yards per completion. He also played defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
and caught six interceptions during his senior year.
College career
Izo attended and played college footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
. His father, George Izo Sr., also played at Notre Dame under coach Knute Rockne
Knute Rockne
Knute Kenneth Rockne was an American football player and coach. He is regarded as one of the greatest coaches in college football history...
. During his college career, he threw for 2,095 yards and 18 touchdowns, and led the Irish to a 20-19 upset of the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
in his next to last game.
Izo earned his varsity letter
Varsity letter
A varsity letter is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its winner was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met.- Description :...
during his sophomore year, but during the off-season he sprained
Sprained ankle
A sprained ankle, also known as an ankle sprain, twisted ankle, rolled ankle, ankle injury or ankle ligament injury, is a common medical condition where one or more of the ligaments of the ankle is torn or partially torn.-Cause:...
his ankle
Ankle
The ankle joint is formed where the foot and the leg meet. The ankle, or talocrural joint, is a synovial hinge joint that connects the distal ends of the tibia and fibula in the lower limb with the proximal end of the talus bone in the foot...
during initiation into the Monogram Club. He missed spring practice and did not return to the field until mid-season of his junior year. The off-season before Izo's senior year, coach Joe Kuharich
Joe Kuharich
Joseph Lawrence Kuharich was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of San Francisco from 1948 to 1951 and at the University of Notre Dame from 1959 to 1962, compiling a career college football record of 43–37...
decided to install a T formation
T formation
In American football, a T formation is a formation used by the offensive team in which three running backs line up in a row about five yards behind the quarterback, forming the shape of a "T"....
offense. The week before the first game of his senior season, he appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
. However, the Tuesday before the game he hurt his knee in practice and missed the first two games of that season (an early example of the Sports Illustrated cover jinx
Sports Illustrated Cover Jinx
The Sports Illustrated Cover Jinx is an urban legend that states that individuals or teams who appear on the cover of the Sports Illustrated magazine will subsequently be jinxed...
urban legend.) Still, that year he was named to the Coaches All-American Team, started in the Chicago College All-Star Game against the Baltimore Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
, and played in the East–West Shrine Game.
Izo graduated with a degree in Business Administration.
Professional career
Izo played in a total of 26 games and completed 132 passes in 317 attempts for 1,791, 12 touchdowns and 32 interceptions.NFL & AFL Drafts
Izo was draftedNFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
in the first round (second overall) of the 1960 NFL Draft
1960 NFL Draft
The 1960 National Football League Draft Annual Player Selection Meeting in which NFL teams take turns selecting amateur college American football players and other first-time eligible players, was held in secret in order to fend off increased competition for college players from the American...
by the Chicago Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He was also chosen in the 1960 American Football League Draft
1960 American Football League Draft
The 1960 American Football League Draft was held on November 22, 1959, shortly after the organization of the league, and lasted 33 rounds. An additional draft of 20 rounds was held by the AFL on December 2.- Territorial draft :...
as a "territorial selection" by the Titans of New York (now New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
). To begin the draft, each of the eight AFL
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
teams received one territorial/bonus selection to help ensure every team had a regional draw to help the financial success of each franchise. These regional picks did not occur in any order. Instead, they were unanimously agreed upon by the other teams.
St. Louis Cardinals
Izo chose the Cardinals over the AFL, and signed his $15,000 contract at Soldier FieldSoldier Field
Soldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
during a game against the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
game. The franchise moved to St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
one month after Izo signed his contract. In 1960, he won the starting job for the Cardinals by the third game of the season. But, he re-injured the same knee that he hurt in college and underwent surgery. Izo was traded at the end of training camp in 1961.
Washington Redskins
On September 12, 1961, Izo was traded to the Washington RedskinsWashington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
for quarterback Ralph Guglielmi. The Redskins wanted him as a back up to Norm Snead
Norm Snead
Norman Bailey Snead is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, and San Francisco 49ers. He played college football for Wake Forest University and was drafted in the first round of...
, the Wake Forest
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
quarterback the Redskins drafted second overall in the 1961 NFL Draft
1961 NFL Draft
The 1961 National Football League Draft took place on December 27–28, 1960. The league would later hold an expansion draft for the Minnesota Vikings expansion franchise, and the Vikings were also awarded the first selection position in this draft. This draft was also the first regular draft for...
. On September 15, 1963, stepping in for Snead, he threw a 99-yard touchdown pass to Bobby Mitchell
Bobby Mitchell
Robert Cornelius Mitchell is a former American football halfback and flanker in the National Football League for the Cleveland Browns and the Washington Redskins. Mitchell was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983.-Early life:Mitchell was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas and attended...
, which tied a franchise and league record. Coincidentally, the first two occurrences of of a 99 yard pass play featured Redskins' quarterbacks. In 1964, the Redskins traded Snead to the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
for quarterback Sonny Jurgensen
Sonny Jurgensen
Christian Adolph "Sonny" Jurgensen III is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983....
and after backing him up for one year, Izo asked to be traded.
Detroit Lions
In 1965, the Detroit LionsDetroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
traded guard
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
Darrell Dess
Darrell Dess
Darrell Charles Dess is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants, and the Washington Redskins...
to the Redskins for Izo and guard Ted Karras
Ted Karras
Theodore George Karras, Jr. is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins. He played college football at Northwestern University...
. During his only year in Detroit, Izo backed up Milt Plum
Milt Plum
Milton Ross Plum was an American football quarterback who played for the Cleveland Browns , Detroit Lions , Los Angeles Rams and New York Giants of the National Football League.-Career:...
and the Lions won six games. He was released by the Lions on September 5, 1966.
Pittsburgh Steelers
After his release from the Lions, Izo worked out for and was signed to the Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
' roster on September 24, 1966. He played in four games during his time in Pittsburgh and was released on November 2, 1966.
Personal life
After retiring from football in 1967, Izo moved to the Bahamas and participated in a business venture that built condominiumCondominium
A condominium, or condo, is the form of housing tenure and other real property where a specified part of a piece of real estate is individually owned while use of and access to common facilities in the piece such as hallways, heating system, elevators, exterior areas is executed under legal rights...
s. While living there, he coached high school football at Freeport Anglican High School
Bishop Michael Eldon School
Bishop Micheal Eldon School is a private Anglican coed high school located in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The school has a total of 536 pupils. The current principal of BMES is The Reverend Father Harry Bain....
. He moved back to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
five years later and became a partner in a wholesale food company; he has worked in the food industry regularly ever since.
Izo has two children from his first marriage and now lives near Richmond, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
with his second wife, Deborah.
Military tours
Starting in the late 1990's after moving to California, Izo took former NFL stars to military bases in South KoreaSouth Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
in his role as business development manager for California Sunshine milk, which had a contract with the U.S. government. He has made tours with Billy Kilmer
Billy Kilmer
William Orland Kilmer, Jr. was an American football quarterback in the National Football League for the San Francisco 49ers, the New Orleans Saints and the Washington Redskins...
, Ken Stabler
Ken Stabler
Kenneth "Kenny" Michael Stabler , is a former American football quarterback in the NFL for the Oakland Raiders , the Houston Oilers , and the New Orleans Saints...
, Paul Hornung
Paul Hornung
Paul Vernon Hornung is a retired Hall of Fame professional football player who played for the Green Bay Packers from 1957-66...
and Earl Morrall
Earl Morrall
Earl Edwin Morrall is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. Morrall, who also occasionally punted, played 21 seasons in the National Football League as both a starter and reserve. In the latter capacity, he became known as the greatest backup quarterback in NFL...
, among others.