George Tarasovic facts for kids
Tarasovic on a 1952 Bowman football card
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| Position: | Linebacker/Center |
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| Personal information | |
| Born: | May 6, 1930 Granville, New York |
| Died: | October 24, 2019 (aged 89) Savannah, Georgia |
| Career information | |
| College: | LSU |
| NFL Draft: | 1952 / Round: 2 / Pick: 18 |
| Career history | |
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George Kenneth Tarasovic (May 6, 1930 – October 24, 2019) was an American professional football player. He was known for being a tough player on the field. George played as a linebacker and center. He spent 15 years playing in the National Football League (NFL).
His family came from a region that is now part of Slovakia. This area was once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
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George Tarasovic: A Football Legend
Starting His Football Journey
George Tarasovic began his college football career at Boston College. He played there for one season. After that, he attended a junior college for a year.
He then transferred to LSU. At LSU, George was recognized as an All-American offensive lineman. This means he was one of the best college players in the country. He was also an all-star linebacker in the Southeastern Conference.
Playing Pro Football
In 1952, the Pittsburgh Steelers picked George Tarasovic in the second round of the 1952 NFL Draft. This was his first step into professional football. In his very first season, he started nine games for the Steelers. He also recovered four fumbles, which means he helped his team get the ball back.
George played professional football for 15 seasons. Most of his career was spent with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League. He also played for the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles. Later, he joined the Denver Broncos, who were part of the American Football League (AFL).
In 1959, George was named to the UPI 2nd team All-NFL squad. This showed he was one of the top players in the league. He is also a member of the Western Pennsylvania Football Hall of Fame. Another famous player, Alex Webster, once said George was "one of the toughest" players he ever faced.
Life Off the Field
George Tarasovic had a brother named Phil Tarasovic. Phil was also a talented football player. He was the captain of Yale's football team in 1955. The Pittsburgh Steelers even drafted Phil, just like George.
During his time as a football player, George also showed interest in politics. He served as a committeeman for the Democratic Party. This meant he helped organize and support the party in his local area. In 1963, he ran for a local government position called justice of the peace. However, he was not elected.
After he retired from football, George Tarasovic lived in York, Pennsylvania. Later, he moved to Savannah, Georgia. He passed away there on October 24, 2019.
