Paul Costa
Encyclopedia
Sebastian Paul Costa is a retired American football
tight end
. He played college football
for the University of Notre Dame
's Fighting Irish
. The American Football League
's Kansas City Chiefs
drafted him in his junior year, 1964, and was traded to the AFL's Buffalo Bills
for the 1965season. He won a starting
job at tight end his rookie year with the Bills, and soon became an excellent tight end, being named an AFL All-Star
in his first two seasons.
As a rookie, Costa averaged 19.1 yards per catch. For his career, he averaged 16.7 yards per catch. In his first year, in the 1965 AFL Championship game against the San Diego Chargers
, he teamed with Ernie Warlick
in one of the first uses of the "double tight end" formation installed by head coach
Lou Saban
. Costa caught two passes for 32 yards, Warlick caught three for 35 yards and a touchdown
as the Bills defeated the Chargers for the second consecutive year, this time shutting them out 23 - 0, the first shutout
in AFL Championship game history. In Costa's fifth year in pro football, he moved to offensive tackle and played that position for four years. After playing eight years for the Bills, he retired for one year, then came out of retirement to play for the Birmingham Americans
of the World Football League
in 1974 and Birmingham Vulcans
in 1975.
Costa has a B.A. degree in Communications from Notre Dame. He also has a Masters and Ph.D. from the California Graduate School of Theology. Paul has been in full time ministry since retiring. He was a pastor for sixteen years, but now travels nationally and internationally as a speaker in churches, conferences, and schools. He has co-authored a book with Dr. John Kelly (End Time Warriors) that was published by Regal Book.
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...
tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
. 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...
for 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...
's Fighting Irish
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
. The American Football League
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...
's Kansas City Chiefs
History of the Kansas City Chiefs
The following is a detailed history of the Kansas City Chiefs, a professional American football franchise that began play in 1960 as the Dallas Texans...
drafted him in his junior year, 1964, and was traded to the AFL's Buffalo Bills
History of the Buffalo Bills
This article details the history of the Buffalo Bills American Football Club. The team began play in 1960 as a charter member of the American Football League and won two consecutive AFL titles in 1964 and 1965. The club joined the National Football League as part of the 1970 AFL-NFL Merger...
for the 1965season. He won a starting
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
job at tight end his rookie year with the Bills, and soon became an excellent tight end, being named an AFL All-Star
American Football League All-Star games
-All-League Teams:The Sporting News published American Football League All-League Teams for each season played by the American Football League, 1960 through 1969...
in his first two seasons.
As a rookie, Costa averaged 19.1 yards per catch. For his career, he averaged 16.7 yards per catch. In his first year, in the 1965 AFL Championship game against the San Diego Chargers
History of the San Diego Chargers
This article details the history of the San Diego Chargers American Football Club.-The AFL era :The San Diego Chargers were established in 1959 with seven other American Football League teams: the Denver Broncos, Dallas Texans, Oakland Raiders, New York Titans, Houston Oilers, Buffalo Bills, and...
, he teamed with Ernie Warlick
Ernie Warlick
Ernest "Ernie" "Big Hoss" Warlick is a former tight end from North Carolina Central University who played American collegiate and Professional Football as well as Canadian Professional Football...
in one of the first uses of the "double tight end" formation installed by head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Lou Saban
Lou Saban
Louis Henry Saban was an American football player and coach. Saban played for Indiana University in college and as a pro for the Cleveland Browns of the All-America Football Conference...
. Costa caught two passes for 32 yards, Warlick caught three for 35 yards and a touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
as the Bills defeated the Chargers for the second consecutive year, this time shutting them out 23 - 0, the first shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
in AFL Championship game history. In Costa's fifth year in pro football, he moved to offensive tackle and played that position for four years. After playing eight years for the Bills, he retired for one year, then came out of retirement to play for the Birmingham Americans
Birmingham Americans
The Birmingham Americans were a professional American football team located in Birmingham, Alabama. They were members of the four-team Central Division of the World Football League . The Americans, founded in late December 1973, played in the upstart league's inaugural season in 1974...
of the World Football League
World Football League
The World Football League was a short-lived gridiron football league that played in 1974 and part of 1975. Although the league's proclaimed ambition was to bring American football onto a worldwide stage, the farthest the WFL reached was placing a team – the Hawaiians – in Honolulu, Hawaii. The...
in 1974 and Birmingham Vulcans
Birmingham Vulcans
The Birmingham Vulcans were a professional American football team located in Birmingham, Alabama. They were members of the five-team Eastern Division of the World Football League . The Vulcans, founded in March 1975, played in the upstart league's second and final season in 1975...
in 1975.
Costa has a B.A. degree in Communications from Notre Dame. He also has a Masters and Ph.D. from the California Graduate School of Theology. Paul has been in full time ministry since retiring. He was a pastor for sixteen years, but now travels nationally and internationally as a speaker in churches, conferences, and schools. He has co-authored a book with Dr. John Kelly (End Time Warriors) that was published by Regal Book.