Emil Banjavic Explained

Emil Banjavic
Position:Back
Birth Date:19 September 1915
Birth Place:Staunton, Illinois, U.S.
Death Place:Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:1
Weight Lbs:194
High School:Staunton (IL)
College:Arizona
Draftyear:1942
Draftround:9
Draftpick:75
Pastteams:
Statlabel1:Games
Statvalue1:10
Pfr:BanjEm20

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

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. 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]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Emil Banjavic. Pro Football Archives. February 11, 2022. February 12, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220212072533/https://www.profootballarchives.com/playerb/banj00200.html. dead.
  2. News: Lions Sign 4 Freshmen Ball Carriers. Detroit Free Press. July 26, 1942. 19. Newspapers.com.
  3. News: Grid Heroes Of 56 Years. The Arizona Daily Star. Abe Chanin. September 8, 1955. 35. Newspapers.com.
  4. Web site: Emil Banjavic. Sports Reference LLC. Pro-Football-Reference.com. August 29, 2020.
  5. News: Michigan Roundup. Detroit Free Press. Bob Latshaw. March 16, 1943. 14. Newspapers.com.
  6. News: Retirement Checks Lost In the Mail. El Paso Herald-Post. May 8, 1973. 9. Newspapers.com.