Emil Banjavic

Emil Thomas Banjavic (September 19, 1915 – December 1, 1995) was an American football player.

Emil Banjavic
refer to caption
Emil Banjavic, 1942
Personal information
Born:(1915-09-19)September 19, 1915
Staunton, Illinois, U.S.
Died:December 1, 1995(1995-12-01) (aged 80)
Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:194 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school:Staunton (IL)
College:Arizona
Position:Back
NFL Draft:1942 / Round: 9 / Pick: 75
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Games:10
Player stats at PFR

A native of Staunton, Illinois, Banjavic attended Staunton High School and then played college football at the University of Arizona from 1938 to 1941.[1] He was a triple-threat player who was a good kicker, runner, and passer. He was also captain of the Arizona Wildcats football team.[2] In a feature story on the first 56 years of Arizona football, Banajvaic was called "the hard-driving star" of Arizona's 1939-1941 teams.[3]

He was selected by the Detroit Lions with the 75th pick of the 1942 NFL Draft.[4] He was described as having "the ideal build for a wingback."[2] He appeared in 10 NFL games as a back for the Lions during the 1942 season, rushing for 67 yards on 11 carries.[4]

He later worked for an aircraft plant in Arizona and the Railroad Retirement Board in Texas.[5][6] He died in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 1995 at age 80.[1]

References
  1. "Emil Banjavic". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  2. "Lions Sign 4 Freshmen Ball Carriers". Detroit Free Press. July 26, 1942. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. Abe Chanin (September 8, 1955). "Grid Heroes Of 56 Years". The Arizona Daily Star. p. 35 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Emil Banjavic". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  5. Bob Latshaw (March 16, 1943). "Michigan Roundup". Detroit Free Press. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Retirement Checks Lost In the Mail". El Paso Herald-Post. May 8, 1973. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
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