Rudy Bukich
Bukich with Bears in 1967
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| Position: | Quarterback | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Date of birth: | September 15, 1930 | ||||||||
| Place of birth: | St. Louis, Missouri | ||||||||
| Date of death: | February 29, 2016 (aged 85) | ||||||||
| Place of death: | San Diego, California | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | St. Louis (MO) Roosevelt | ||||||||
| College: | USC (& Iowa) | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1953 / Round: 2 / Pick: 25 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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| TD–INT: | 61–74 |
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| Yards: | 8,433 |
| QB Rating: | 66.6 |
| Player stats at NFL.com | |
| Rudy Bukich | |
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| Allegiance |
 United States
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| Service/branch |
 U.S. Army
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| Years of service | 1954–1956 |
| Battles/wars | Cold War |
Rudolph Andrew Bukich (September 15, 1930 – February 29, 2016) was an American football player, a quarterback in the National Football League from 1953 to 1968. Known as "Rudy the Rifle" for his uncommon arm strength, he tied an NFL record with 13 consecutive pass completions in the 1964 season. One year later, he was the second-leading passer in the league. He played college football at the University of Southern California, after transferring from the University of Iowa.
Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Bukich was the son of Croatian immigrants. He was starting quarterback in his senior year at Roosevelt High School, a team that did not win a game. Bukich played one game as wingback when Roosevelt tried to upset eventual league champions Cleveland by attempting to surprise them by playing the single wing.
Bukich earned a football scholarship to the University of Iowa in Iowa City as a wingback, and transferred to the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. During his senior year in 1952, USC played in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day. After the Trojans' primary passer, All-American halfback Jim Sears, was sidelined early in the first quarter with a broken leg, Bukich came in and conducted a drive, completing all but two of his passes, that resulted in the only score of the game, and USC defeated Wisconsin, 7–0. Bukich was selected as the Most Valuable Player in the game, and after his career, he was inducted into the USC Trojan Hall of Fame and the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame (2004).
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