Pete Retzlaff

Eagles Hall of Fame tight end and former NFLPA president.

Palmer Edward "Pete" Retzlaff (August 21, 1931 – April 10, 2020), nicknamed "Pistol Pete" and "the Baron", was an American professional football player and executive for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played as a flanker and tight end for 11 seasons. After his playing career, he served as the general manager for four seasons. He was inducted into the Eagles Hall of Fame in 1989.

Quick Facts

Position: Flanker, tight end
Born: 21 August 1931
Birthplace: Ellendale, North Dakota, U.S.
Died: 10 April 2020
Place of death: Pottstown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
High school: Ellendale
College: South Dakota State (1951–1952)
Draft year: 1953

Lore & Background

Retzlaff was an organizer and past president of the National Football League Players' Association (NFLPA). He was selected in the 22nd round of the 1953 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions but did not make the team. After two years in the U.S. Army his contract was sold to the Philadelphia Eagles, and he was signed for $100. In 1958, Norm Van Brocklin suggested that Retzlaff should play split end.

That year, despite having never caught a pass in college, he tied Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver Raymond Berry for the league lead with 56 pass receptions. Retzlaff was a co-captain on the 1960 Eagles team that won the NFL championship. He led the team with 46 receptions, averaging 18 yards per catch. In 1965, Retzlaff had 66 receptions for 1,190 yards and 10 touchdowns, winning the Bert Bell Award for NFL player of the year.

He played the entire season with an injury to his heels. Retzlaff had 452 catches for 7,412 yards in his 11-year Eagle career. He averaged 16.4 yards per catch and lost only four fumbles. He was the seventh receiver with 450 catches in history.

He went to the Pro Bowl five times. In 1965, he was named first-team All-Pro by the AP, UPI and NEA, and second-team All-Pro by them in 1963 and 1965. The Sporting News named Retzlaff first-team All-Conference in 1958 and 1963-1965. He was nicknamed "the Baron" by former teammate Tom Brookshier, and "Pistol Pete" by Bill Campbell. From 1969 to 1972, he was the Eagles' vice president and general manager.

Reader's Guide

Retzlaff's number 44 jersey has been retired by the Eagles. When he retired, he was the all-time leader for receptions and receiving yards for Philadelphia (on his death in 2020, he was still third in receptions and second in yards, having been passed in both by Harold Carmichael). He is a member of the NAIA Hall of Fame as an athlete, and track and field. In 1965, he was honored in Philadelphia with "Pete Retzlaff" day, and was selected Pro Football Father of the Year by the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In the same year, he was named NFL Player of the Year by both the Maxwell Football Club (the Bert Bell Award) and the Washington Touchdown Club. In 1966, he won the John Wanamaker Athletic Award. In 2005, he was named to the Professional Football Researchers Association Hall of Very Good.

Did You Know?

He set school, NCC and NAIA records in both shot put and discus in 1953.
Retzlaff played the entire 1965 season with an injury to his heels, using Novocain on gameday and not practicing.