Erik Affholter
{{Short description|American football player (born 1966)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Erik Affholter
| number = 82
| position = Wide receiver
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1966|4|10}}
| birth_place = Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 0
| weight_lb = 187
| high_school = Oak Park {{nowrap|(Oak Park, California)}}
| college = USC
| draftyear = 1989
| draftround = 4
| draftpick = 110
| pastteams =
- Green Bay Packers ({{NFL Year|1989}})
- Washington Redskins ({{NFL Year|1990}})
- Green Bay Packers ({{NFL Year|1991}})
- San Diego Chargers ({{NFL Year|1992}})*
| highlights =
- First-team All-American (1988)
- First-team All-Pac-10 (1988)
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 = 7
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 = 68
| pfr = AffhEr00
}}
Erik Konrad Affholter (born April 10, 1966) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). As a 16-year-old place kicker during his junior season of high school he broke a national record with a 64-yard field goal, which at the time was the longest field goal kicked at any level. Playing college football for the USC Trojans, he was an All-American and established school records for most receptions in a season, and in a career. In 2020, he wrote a book named "America's Miracle".{{Cite web |last=Whicker |first=Mark |date=2020-12-08 |title=Whicker: Erik Affholter has more on his mind than a catch in 1987 |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2020/12/08/whicker-erik-affholter-has-more-on-his-mind-than-a-catch-in-1987/ |access-date=2024-07-15 |website=Orange County Register |language=en-US}}
Early and personal life
He was born in Detroit, Michigan, to Conrad (a salesman) and Ruth Affholter, and is Jewish.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/10/20/sports/plays.html|title=Plays|first=James|last=Tuite|date=October 20, 1982|work=The New York Times}}{{Cite web|url=https://jewishjournal.com/los_angeles/214730/moving-shaking-jewish-athletes-celebrated-nfl-players-visit-home-shul-aipac-holds-gala/|title=Moving & Shaking: Jewish athletes celebrated, NFL players visit home shul, AIPAC holds gala|date=February 9, 2017|website=Jewish Journal|author=Ryan Torok}} In the early 1970s, the family moved to Agoura, California.{{Cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/10/23/16-year-old-high-school-kicker-nails-record-64-yard-field-goal/5652404193600/|title=16-year-old high school kicker nails record 64-yard field goal|website=UPI|date=October 23, 1982|author=Rich Tosches}} He later lived in Anthem, Arizona.{{Cite web|url=https://www.toacorn.com/articles/usc-football-legend-will-be-inducted-into-hall-of-fame/|title=USC football legend will be inducted into hall of fame|date=January 26, 2017|website=Thousand Oaks Acorn|author=Eliav Appelbaum}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/usa/los-angeles-times/20071119/282372625263076|title=Memories are something else he can hold on to|website=Los Angeles Times|date=November 19, 2007|author=Jerry Crowe}}
High school
Affholter played football at Oak Park High School in Ventura County, California. As a 16-year-old place kicker during his junior season he broke a national record with a 64-yard (59 meter) field goal in 1982, which at the time was the longest field goal kicked at any level.{{Cite web|url=http://www.vcstar.com/news/ex-nfl-player-erik-affholter-tells-police-missing-hiker-report-a-misunderstanding-ep-363585857-352079021.html|title=Ex-NFL player Erik Affholter tells police missing-hiker report a misunderstanding|website=Ventura County Star|date=May 14, 2012}}{{Cite web|url=https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/05/ex-usc-nfl-player-erik-affholter-missing-in-simi-valley-hike.html|title=Ex-USC, NFL player Erik Affholter missing in Simi Valley hike|date=May 14, 2012|work=Los Angeles Times}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.vcstar.com/sports/affholter-hoping-to-take-long-drive-to-champions-tour-ep-363478120-352054861.html|date=June 12, 2012|title=Affholter hoping to take long drive to Champions Tour|website=Ventura County Star}}{{Cite web|url=https://scjewishsportshof.com/affholter.html|title=ERIK AFFHOLTER; Football - 2016|website= Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame }} A sportswriter at the game estimated it could have gone 74 yards (68 meters).{{Cite web|url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBS19821019.1.18&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1|title= Scoring|date=October 19, 1982|website=San Bernardino Sun}} Asked about his kick, Affholter said: "I'd much rather catch touchdown passes." At the time, as a wide receiver he had caught more touchdown passes than any player in his high school conference.
In addition to kicking field goals and extra points, he played tailback, wide receiver, defensive back, and linebacker.{{Cite magazine|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1987/11/30/usc-rose-to-the-occasion-the-trojans-rocked-ucla-to-share-the-pac-10-title-and-get-a-pass-to-pasadena|title=USC ROSE TO THE OCCASION|date=November 30, 1987|first=Ralph|last=Wiley|magazine=Sports Illustrated}} In 1983 he was a USA Today All-USA high school football first-team All-American, All-California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), and All-State; he was also a Los Angeles Times running back of the year.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hometeamsonline.com/teams/default.asp?u=OPEAGLESFOOTBALL&s=football&p=awards|title=OPHS Football Awards & Honors|website=HomeTeamsONLINE}}
College
Affholter played college football at the University of Southern California (USC) for the Trojans as a wide receiver, though he had initially received a scholarship as a kicker.Richard J. Shmelter (2014). [https://books.google.com/books?id=nXONAwAAQBAJ&dq=Erik+Affholter&pg=PA130 The USC Trojans Football Encyclopedia.]Tom Kelly, Tom Hoffarth (2012). [https://books.google.com/books?id=y9AtVhJA4loC&dq=Erik+Affholter&pg=PT140 Tales from the USC Trojans Sideline; A Collection of the Greatest Trojans Stories Ever Told.]{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/college/usc/football/usc-notes-column-july-30|date=July 31, 2020|title=If It's Friday, It's Time For A USC Notes Column|magazine=Sports Illustrated}}{{Cite web|url=https://reignoftroy.com/2019/07/20/42-days-usc-football-ronnie-lott-ricky-bell-pat-cannamela/|title=42 days to USC football: It's not just Ronnie Lott making No. 42 legendary|date=July 20, 2019}} He was athletic, with a 36-inch (910 mm) vertical jump.
On November 21, 1987, he made a controversial memorable fourth quarter winning end zone juggling touchdown catch for a 17-13 upset over Troy Aikman's No. 5-ranked UCLA Bruins that sent the unranked 1987 USC Trojans football team to the 1988 Rose Bowl.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailynews.com/sports/20161116/how-the-ucla-rivalry-has-determined-usc-coaches-fates|title=How the UCLA rivalry has determined USC coaches' fates|date=November 16, 2016|work=Los Angeles Daily News}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2011/10/13/usc-football-the-best-wide-receivers/|title=USC football: The best wide receivers|date=October 13, 2011|work=The Orange County Register}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailynews.com/sports/20161222/wolf-what-are-the-most-iconic-plays-in-usc-history|title=Wolf: What are the most iconic plays in USC history?|date=December 22, 2016|work=Los Angeles Daily News}} He was named a member of the 1988 College Football All-America Team, and a Pac-10 All-Academic selection.{{Cite web|url=https://reignoftroy.com/2019/04/22/usc-wide-receivers-all-time-best-football/6/|title=Ranking the 15 best USC wide receivers of all-time|date=April 22, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://usctrojans.com/news/2020/3/27/usc-trojans-football-the-trojan-heritage-excerpt-mal-florence.aspx|title=EXCERPT: 'The Trojan Heritage' |author= Mal Florence|website=USC Athletics|date=March 27, 2020}} In 1988 as a senior he led USC with 68 catches for 952 yards and eight touchdowns.{{Cite web|url=https://reignoftroy.com/2019/06/24/68-days-usc-football-keith-van-horne-mike-mckeever/|title=68 days to USC football: Keith Van Horne wasn't quality enough for Notre Dame recruiting|date=June 24, 2019}} He established USC records for most receptions in a season, and in a career (123).{{Cite web|url=https://journaltimes.com/sports/packers-hope-affholter-worth-wait/article_022aaa05-2492-5f49-95a8-cdf5383b185a.html|date=August 15, 1990|title=Packers hope Affholter worth wait|website=Journal Times}} Upon graduation, he became a member of the USC Skull and Dagger Society.
National Football League
He was drafted in the fourth round of the 1989 NFL draft by the Washington Redskins.{{Cite web |title=1989 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1989/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.conquestchronicles.com/2020/4/22/21229634/nfl-draft-usc-trojans-selections-reggie-bush-carson-palmer-keyshawn-johnson-ricky-bell-oj-simpson|title=Every USC Trojan selected in the NFL draft|first=Cam|last=Mellor|date=April 22, 2020|website=Conquest Chronicles}} On April 23, 1989, the Redskins then immediately traded him and two draft picks to the Green Bay Packers for quarterback Jeff Graham.{{Cite web|url=http://www.packershistory.net/1989PACKERS.html|title=The 1989 Green Bay Packers (10-6)|website=www.packershistory.net|access-date=2020-08-05|archive-date=2013-07-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130715082238/http://www.packershistory.net/1989PACKERS.html|url-status=dead}} About a month later he broke his ankle in a pick-up basketball game in New York City, shortly before reporting to Packers training camp. He spent the entire season on injured reserve. He played the 1991 season in the NFL for the Packers.
In 1992, he signed with the San Diego Chargers as a free agent.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-04-02-sp-187-story.html|title=Wide Receiver Affholter Signs With Chargers as Free Agent|date=April 2, 1992|website=Los Angeles Times}} He retired in 1995 due to a career-ending knee injury.
Coaching
Since retiring, he has coached high school and youth football.{{Cite web|url=https://azdailysun.com/sports/fhs-coach-affholter-resigns/article_bc2de22e-b751-5db8-8f33-e1a7e546f1db.html|title=FHS coach Affholter resigns|author=Keith Jiron|website=Arizona Daily Sun|date=October 19, 2007}}
Honors
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/AffhEr00.htm Pro-Football-Reference]
- [http://www.profootballarchives.com/playera/affh00050.html The Pro Football Archives]
- {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20160411192532/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=AFFHOERI01 databaseFootball]}}
{{Redskins1989DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Affholter, Erik}}
Category:Jewish American players of American football
Category:People from Agoura Hills, California
Category:Players of American football from Los Angeles County, California
Category:Players of American football from Maricopa County, Arizona
Category:American football placekickers
Category:American football wide receivers
Category:USC Trojans football players
Category:Green Bay Packers players
Category:Players of American football from Detroit