Darrel Aschbacher

Darrel Godsil Aschbacher (/ˈæʃbɑːkər/;[1] June 2, 1935 – July 15, 2023) was an American professional football player who was a guard for one season in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles and one season in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He played college football for the Boise State Broncos and Oregon Ducks and was signed by the Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 1959. He also was on the rosters of the San Francisco 49ers and Montreal Alouettes, but did not play.

Darrel Aschbacher
No. 50, 61
Position:Guard
Personal information
Born:(1935-06-02)June 2, 1935
Prineville, Oregon, U.S.
Died:July 15, 2023(2023-07-15) (aged 88)
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school:Crook County (Prineville, Oregon)
College:Boise State
Oregon
Undrafted:1959
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics
Games played:11
Games started:4
Career CFL statistics
Games played:12
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early life and education

Darrel Godsil Aschbacher was born on June 2, 1935, in Prineville, Oregon.[2] He attended Crook County High School near there, and was a member of their 1952 state championship football team.[3]

Aschbacher first played college football for Boise Junior College (now Boise State University), being named all-conference. His coach called him "The kind of a guy that would consider playing in the Rose Bowl the highlight of his life ... he really likes to play. He is one of the most enthusiastic players it has even been my privilege to handle."[4] Aschbacher transferred to the University of Oregon in 1957, earning a varsity letter in his first year with the team.[5]

As a senior, he helped the team reach the 1958 Rose Bowl, losing to the Ohio State Buckeyes by three points.[3]

Professional career

Aschbacher went unselected in the 1959 NFL Draft, being overlooked by every team. Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame quarterback Norm Van Brocklin persuaded the team to give him a tryout, and he made the final roster.[6] Though a team spokesperson said he would be used as a defensive end, he ended up playing the guard position.[7] Overall, in the 1959 season, he appeared in eleven games, starting four while splitting time with Gerry Huth.[2] He wore number 50 with Philadelphia. He re-signed with them in July, but was released early in the 1960 season, missing the team's national championship.[8]

After being released by the Eagles, Aschbacher was signed by the San Francisco 49ers, but was inactive for the entire season.[9] He left the team on August 1, 1961, saying he wanted to return to his home in Prineville, Oregon.[10] He then retired to become a commercial pilot, but returned in 1962 to play in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.[11] Wearing number 61, Aschbacher appeared in twelve games with Saskatchewan.[5] He was traded to the Montreal Alouettes in 1963, but requested a release and retired for a final time.[12]

Personal life and death

Aschbacher returned to being a commercial pilot after his stint in the CFL, serving with Delta Air Lines for three decades until retiring at age 60.[13][14] He died on July 15, 2023, at the age of 88.[13]

References
  1. "Darrel Aschbacher: Crook County football legend-turned-pilot remembered". YouTube. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  2. "Darrel Aschbacher Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  3. Morical, Mark (December 31, 2011). "College football: Three former UO players from Central Oregon recall their Rose Bowls". The Bulletin.
  4. "Untitled". The Idaho Statesman. December 29, 1957 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  5. "Darrel Aschbacher Stats". Pro Football Archives.
  6. McKinney, Jack (July 28, 1960). "Scout Van Brocklin's Latest Discovery Has Shaw Grinning". Philadelphia Daily News – via Newspapers.com. open access
  7. "Aschbacher Inks Pact With Philadelphia '11'". Statesman Journal. February 26, 1959 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  8. "Eagles Swap Lee Riley For Giants' Draft Pick". The Philadelphia Inquirer. July 10, 1960 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  9. "Ex-Eagle In Camp". The San Francisco Examiner. July 28, 1961 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  10. "49er Departs". Los Angeles Evening Citizen News. August 2, 1961 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  11. "Steve Owen Has Hard Job Ahead". Star-Phoenix. August 2, 1962 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  12. "Als Swap Hickman For Ferdie Burket". Red Deer Advocate. June 12, 1963 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  13. "Obituary for Darrel Godsil Aschbacher". Prineville Funeral Home. July 19, 2023.
  14. Haugen, Steele (July 25, 2023). "Darrel Aschbacher: Crook County football legend-turned-pilot remembered". Central Oregon Daily. Retrieved July 26, 2023. He was a pilot for Delta Airlines for 30 years before retiring and moving back to where it all started in Prineville.
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