Eugene Upshaw

Eugene Thurman Upshaw Jr. (August 15, 1945 - August 20, 2008) (G) is one of two players in NFL history (Jerry Rice) to play in three decades and only player in the NFL to play in three Super Bowls in three different decades. The Oakland Raiders selected Upshaw in the first round of the combined 1967 AFL-NFL Draft out of Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Though Gene played all around the offensive line with A&M, he was inserted into the left guard position with the Raiders and helped lead the Silver-and-Black to the 1967 American Football League Championship despite losing to the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl II 33-14. Upshaw protected Daryle Lamonica, George Blanda, Kenny Stabler and Mark van Eeghen, among others, for 15 seasons in Oakland (1967-1981) and appeared in 207 consecutive games until his final season when he was finally forced from the lineup in 1981. Gene was named to three NFL All-Pro First Teams and played in six NFL Pro Bowls. He was also a 1968 AFL All-Star selection. Gene Upshaw was a two-time Super Bowl champion in 1977 (XI) and 1980 (XV). In 217 career games, Gene also had five fumble recoveries for three yards. Gene Upshaw was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987. As a key member of the NFL Players Association during his playing days, Gene Upshaw served as the Executive Director of the NFLPA from 1983 until his death from pancreatic cancer in 2008.