Arbanas, Frederick V.

Football

b. Jan. 14, 1939, Detroit, MI

Named the tight end on the all-time all-AFL team, Arbanas joined the Dallas Texans in 1961 after playing at Michigan State University. He missed all of his rookie season because of a back injury but took over as a starter in 1962. The Texans became the Kansas City Chiefs the following year.

The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Arbanas was used primarily as a blocker in the Dallas/Kansas City offense. His best seasons as a receiver were 1963 and 1964, with 34 catches each of those years. Arbanas was mugged during the 1964 season and the attack damaged the vision in his left eye. However, he played through 1970, the year that the AFL merged into the NFL.

Arbanas was named all-AFL in 1963, 1964, and 1966. During his 9 seasons, he caught 218 passes for 3,107 yards, a 14.2 average, and scored 34 touchdowns.