Football
b. March 26, 1934, Keewatin, MN
A quarterback and kicker at the University of Minnesota, Cappelletti tried out with the NFL's Detroit Lions after graduating in 1955 but failed to make the team. He played Canadian football in 1958 and joined the Boston Patriots of the newly organized American Football League in 1960.
Cappelletti kicked the first field goal in AFL history in the Patriots' opening game against the Denver Broncos. Also used as a wide receiver during his early years with the Patriots, Cappelletti was named the league's player of the year in 1964, when he scored 155 points by catching 7 touchdown passes and kicking 25 field goals and 38 extra points.
He led the AFL in scoring in 1961 and from 1963 through 1966 and scored more than 100 points 6 straight seasons, 1961 through 1966. Cappelletti retired after the 1970 season and became a commentator on the Patriots' radio network.
During his 11 seasons, Cappelletti caught 292 passes for 4,589 yards, a 15.7 average, and 42 touchdowns. He kicked 342 of 353 extra point attempts and made 176 of 333 field goal attempts for a total of 1,130 points.
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