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Frederick S. Biletnikoff
Enshrined into Pro Football Hall of Fame: July 30, 1988
Class of 1988
Wide Receiver >>> 6-1, 190
(Florida State)
Joined Raiders: 2nd round draft choice, 1965 (AFL Draft)
(was also a 3rd round draft choice of Detroit Lions, 1965 (NFL Draft)
1965-1978 Oakland Raiders
Born February 23, 1943, in Erie, Pennsylvania
Fred Biletnikoff, a 6-1, 190-pounder with excellent hands and deceptive speed, caught 589 passes for 8,974 yards and 76 touchdowns during his 14-year career with the Oakland Raiders from 1965 through 1978. At the time of his retirement, Fred not only dominated the Raiders' record book for pass receiving but he owned several significant NFL marks as well. Along with another Hall of Fame receiver, Raymond Berry, Fred held the record for having caught 40 or more passes in 10 consecutive seasons. His 70 receptions, 1,167 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns in 19 post-season games were also NFL post-season career records.
The talented pass-catcher came to the Raiders as their No. 2 draft pick in 1965. A 1964 All-America at Florida State, Biletnikoff caught four touchdown passes in his team's Gator Bowl victory over Oklahoma. He also played in the College All-Star game before reporting to the Raiders' training camp. Biletnikoff started as a special teams player and did not see action as a flanker until the seventh game of his rookie campaign.
When he did get a chance to start, he responded with a seven-catch, 118-yard performance and, in the process, became a regular for good. A durable, dependable performer, Biletnikoff missed only eight games because of injury in 14 seasons. Biletnikoff, a native of Erie, PA, reached the zenith of a career filled with outstanding achievements when he caught four passes for 79 yards to set up three Oakland scores in the Raiders' 32-14 victory in Super Bowl XI. He was named the game's Most Valuable Player.
Fred was an All-AFL pick in that league's final 1969 season, earned All-Pro honors in 1972, and won All-AFC acclaim in 1970, 1972 and 1973. He played in two AFL All-Star games and four AFC-NFC Pro Bowl games as well as three AFL and five AFC championship games, plus Super Bowls II and XI.
Florida State All-America
No. 2 draft pick, 1965
Career record: Played in 190 games in 14 seasons, 589 receptions, 8,974 yards, 76 TDs
Had 40 or more catches 10 straight years
Had 21 100-Yard receiving games
Had 4 100-yard receiving games in playoffs
Never played in a losing season with the Raiders
Raiders leading receiver for six consecutive seasons (1968-73)
Durable with fluid moves, deceptive speed, great hands
All-AFL (1969)
All-AFC (1970,72,73)
Won All-AFC acclaim in 1970, 1972 and 1973 and All-AFL in 1969
1971 NFL receiving champion
Played in two AFL All-Star games
Played in 6 AFC-NFC Pro Bowls (1967, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974)
Played in eight AFL/AFC title games
Played in two Super Bowls (II and XI)
MVP in Super Bowl XI
College Highlights:
• All-America (1964)
• College All-Star game (1964)
• Named to Walter Camp All-Century Team
High School: Technical Memorial High School - Erie, Pa.
Coaching Career: Biletnikoff began his career in coaching soon after his retirement.
He served on the coaching staff of the Montreal Alouettes (1980), Orange Glen High School (1982), Palomar Junior College (1983), Diablo Valley Junior College (1984), Oakland Invaders (1985), Arizona Wranglers (1986) and Calgary Stampeders (1987-88).
He is currently wide receivers coach for the Raiders.
In 1991, Biletnikoff was voted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
The Fred Biletnikoff Award, awarded annually to the best wide receiver in college football since 1994, was named in his honor.
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