Tom Yewcic

Thomas J. Yewcic (born May 9, 1932 in Conemaugh, Pennsylvania) is a former American football quarterback and punter and Major League Baseball player. He attended Michigan State University. In football, he played from 1961 to 1966 with the Boston Patriots of the American Football League, and is a member of the Patriots All-1960s (AFL) Team. In baseball, he played one game for the Detroit Tigers in 1957.

Football career
Playing quarterback, Yewcic had a career high 90 yards rushing and led his Boston Patriots Team to a 24-17 victory over the New York Titans at Boston University Field on November 30, 1962

Yewcic punted 377 times for 14,553 yards over the 1961-1966 regular seasons for the Boston Patriots. He also was used as a quarteback, flanker and running back. He completed 87 passes for 1,374 yards and 12 touchdowns and had 72 carries for 424 yards and 4 touchdowns. He caught 7 passes for 69 yards and recovered 3 fumbles in 77 regular season games.

Yewcic had a career long 46 yard run in the Patriots 14-10 loss to the Denver Broncos on September 29, 1963. His career longest reception was 46 yards in their 45-17 rout of the Denver Broncos on 09-16-61. Yewcic's longest punt was 70 yards in their 27-23 win over the New York Jets on November 28, 1965.

Yewcic holds the team record for the longest run by a Patriots punter in a regular season game: a 20 yard gain in the Patriots 26-16 win over the Oakland Raiders at BU Field on October 26, 1962.

Yewcic is tied with Chris Hanson for the most games with only one punt (4) during their career with the Patriots.

Yewcic averaged a career best 40.7 yards per punt for the 1965 season.

Yewcic played in 2 playoff games for the Boston Patriots and completed 3 passes for 8 yards, ran for a 10 yard gain and punted 14 times for a total of 523 yards. His longest punt in the playoffs was 68 yards.

Yewcic and Tom Brady are the only Patriots players who have punted, thrown a touchdown pass, caught a pass, and run for a touchdown.

Tom Yewcic football stadium at Conemaugh Valley High School is named for him.

Baseball career
As a baseball player at Michigan State, Yewcic was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 1954 College World Series despite his team not reaching the championship game. After signing with the Detroit Tigers, he began his creer with the minor league Wilkes-Barre Barons. He went on to play one game as a catcher with the big league Tigers on June 27, 1957. He continued to play professionally until 1959, when he switched to football.