Gonzaga attended Mount Diablo High School, but did not attend college, instead going to work to help support his family. He continued to be involved in the sport by playing sandlot football.
Gonzaga was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1960 NFL Expansion Draft and became the first starter at right defensive end in franchise history, while also leading the team in sacks.
The Detroit Lions moved him to left tackle in his first two seasons with the team and then changed him to left guard. After being a five-year starter, he was released on August 30, 1966.[2]
Gonzaga came from a family of 14 children and was of Portuguese descent. He worked as a sales manager for Ford Motor Company glass division, until starting his own glass company.[3] He died on May 20, 2007, at his home in West Bloomfield, Michigan, after battling an illness.[4]
Referencesedit
^"Grottkau Traded To Cowboy Eleven". Retrieved April 30, 2020.
^"Ex-Navy Ace, Vets Released by Pros". Retrieved April 30, 2020.
^"Former Bronco John Gonzaga dies". 21 May 2007. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
^"Former Denver Broncos player, John Gonzaga, dead at 74". Retrieved April 30, 2020.
March 16, 2024
john, gonzaga, john, louis, gonzaga, march, 1933, 2007, american, football, offensive, lineman, national, football, league, francisco, 49ers, dallas, cowboys, detroit, lions, also, member, denver, broncos, american, football, league, play, college, football, g. John Louis Gonzaga March 6 1933 May 17 2007 was an American football offensive lineman in the National Football League NFL for the San Francisco 49ers Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions He also was a member of the Denver Broncos in the American Football League AFL He did not play college football John GonzagaGonzaga circa 1963No 76 79Position Offensive lineman Defensive endPersonal informationBorn 1933 03 06 March 6 1933Martinez California U S Died May 17 2007 2007 05 17 aged 74 West Bloomfield Township Michigan U S Height 6 ft 3 in 1 91 m Weight 247 lb 112 kg Career informationHigh school Mount Diablo CA College NoneUndrafted 1956Career historySan Francisco 49ers 1956 1959 Dallas Cowboys 1960 Detroit Lions 1961 1965 Denver Broncos 1966 Career NFL statisticsGames played 132Player stats at NFL com PFR Contents 1 Early years 2 Professional career 2 1 San Francisco 49ers 2 2 Dallas Cowboys 2 3 Detroit Lions 2 4 Denver Broncos AFL 3 Personal life 4 ReferencesEarly years editGonzaga attended Mount Diablo High School but did not attend college instead going to work to help support his family He continued to be involved in the sport by playing sandlot football Professional career editSan Francisco 49ers edit On October 21 1956 he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Francisco 49ers though he never played a down of college football and he was working in a steel mill As a rookie he played at middle linebacker In 1957 he was used as a two way right tackle In 1958 he was moved to left tackle where he started for two seasons Dallas Cowboys edit Gonzaga was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1960 NFL Expansion Draft and became the first starter at right defensive end in franchise history while also leading the team in sacks On August 21 1961 after asking to be traded he was sent to the Detroit Lions in exchange for offensive guard Bob Grottkau and rookie Houston Entwine 1 Detroit Lions edit The Detroit Lions moved him to left tackle in his first two seasons with the team and then changed him to left guard After being a five year starter he was released on August 30 1966 2 Denver Broncos AFL edit On September 6 1966 he was signed as a free agent by the Denver Broncos of the American Football League He played right guard in 11 games Personal life editGonzaga came from a family of 14 children and was of Portuguese descent He worked as a sales manager for Ford Motor Company glass division until starting his own glass company 3 He died on May 20 2007 at his home in West Bloomfield Michigan after battling an illness 4 References edit Grottkau Traded To Cowboy Eleven Retrieved April 30 2020 Ex Navy Ace Vets Released by Pros Retrieved April 30 2020 Former Bronco John Gonzaga dies 21 May 2007 Retrieved April 30 2020 Former Denver Broncos player John Gonzaga dead at 74 Retrieved April 30 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Gonzaga amp oldid 1187263593, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
