Joe Kapp

Kapp was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico, to Florence García, of Mexican-American heritage, and Robert Kapp, of German descent. He was raised in California, in the San Fernando Valley and Salinas, where he played quarterback for Hart High School in Newhall, now a part of Santa Clarita.{{cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/09/sports/football/joe-kapp-dead.html|title = Joe Kapp, Quarterback Who Led Vikings to Super Bowl IV, Dies at 85|newspaper = The New York Times|last = Goldstein|first = Richard|date = May 9, 2023|accessdate = May 9, 2023|url-access = limited}}

Kapp played college football at the University of California, Berkeley, where he led the California Golden Bears to a Pacific Coast Conference championship in 1958 and the Rose Bowl, where they lost to Iowa. This remains California's most recent Rose Bowl appearance. Kapp was named an All-American, and was also awarded the W. J. Voit Memorial Trophy in 1958 as the outstanding football player on the Pacific Coast. A two-sport athlete and fraternity member of Kappa Alpha Order in college, he also played on the basketball team and was a member of the 1956–57 and 1957–58 squads that won the Pacific Coast Conference championships. He earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from the university in 1959.{{Cite web|url=https://voicesofmontereybay.org/2021/10/01/an-el-sausal-legend/|website=Voices of Monterey Bay|title=An El Sausal Legend: Joe Kapp's fiery career traced from Salinas|author=Taylor, Dennis|date=October 1, 2021}} Kapp held the UC Berkeley record for most rushing yards by a quarterback until Chase Garbers broke it in 2021.{{Cite web |title=Golden Bear Legend Joe Kapp Passes Away |url=https://pac-12.com/article/2023/05/09/golden-bear-legend-joe-kapp-passes-away |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240523014441/https://pac-12.com/article/2023/05/09/golden-bear-legend-joe-kapp-passes-away |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 23, 2024 |access-date=May 10, 2023 |website=pac-12.com |language=en}}

The Washington Redskins selected Kapp in the 18th round of the 1959 NFL draft, giving them his rights to play professional football in the United States. However, Washington never contacted him after the draft, so his only choice was to accept an offer from Jim Finks, the general manager of the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Kapp joined the Stampeders for his rookie season in 1959.{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/playerk/kapp00200.html|website=Pro Football Archives|title=Joe Kapp Stats|access-date=May 10, 2023|archive-date=May 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230510152838/https://www.profootballarchives.com/playerk/kapp00200.html|url-status=dead}} The following year, Kapp led Calgary to their second playoff appearance since the start of the modern era of Canadian football. The season was a difficult one due to a knee injury against the Toronto Argonauts early in the season, but did not miss any games, because he played heavily taped.{{Cite web |date=May 9, 2023 |title=Ex-CFL, NFL QB Joe Kapp dies at 85 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/joe-kapp-death-cfl-nfl-quarterback-1.6837061 |website=CBC}}

In 1961, the BC Lions, then the CFL's newest franchise, traded four starting players to the Calgary Stampeders for Kapp. The move paid off for the Lions when Kapp led the team to a Grey Cup appearance in 1963. The following season, Kapp led the Lions to their first Grey Cup victory in 1964. However, the Lions proved unable to defend their championship in 1965.

By that time, Kapp had proved he was an elite quarterback, and also developed a reputation as a tough player and a great leader. While most quarterbacks, then as now, dislike being hit, Kapp was the opposite. He loved to hit and when he took off on a run he'd try to run over defenders.

Before the 1967 CFL season, Kapp made the decision to return to the U.S. to play pro football. The AFL's Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, and Houston Oilers heavily pursued him.

Kapp ended up signing with the NFL's Minnesota Vikings in a multi-player "trade" between the CFL and NFL teams, one of the very few transactions to ever occur between the two leagues.{{Cite web |title=Vikings Mourn Passing of Legendary QB Joe Kapp |url=https://www.vikings.com/news/joe-kapp-quarterback-mourn-passing |access-date=May 10, 2023 |website=www.vikings.com |language=en-US}}

The Minnesota Vikings in 1965 had drafted running back Jim Young out of Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario.{{Cite news |date=October 18, 2011 |title=Young flies from B.C. to enter Westdale Hall of Fame |language=en |work=The Hamilton Spectator |url=https://www.thespec.com/sports/hamilton-region/2011/10/18/young-flies-from-b-c-to-enter-westdale-hall-of-fame.html |access-date=May 10, 2023 |issn=1189-9417}} He had spent the 1965 and 1966 seasons with the Vikings, but wanted to return to Canada. The BC Lions were very interested in acquiring Young, but the Toronto Argonauts had his CFL rights.{{Cite web |title=Former Vikings QB Joe Kapp dead at 85 after battle with dementia |url=https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/former-vikings-qb-joe-kapp-dead-at-85-after-battle-with-dementia-195318924.html |access-date=May 10, 2023 |website=Yahoo Sports |date=May 9, 2023 |language=en-CA}}

The Minnesota Vikings general manager was Jim Finks, who had brought Kapp to Canada in 1959, and their head coach was Bud Grant, who had faced Kapp while coaching the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Both Finks and Grant thought Joe Kapp would be the best replacement for Fran Tarkenton, who had been traded to the New York Giants. To make this transaction possible, the BC Lions traded all-star defensive lineman Dick Fouts, and future Canadian Football Hall of Fame running back Bill Symons to Toronto for the CFL rights to future Canadian Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Jim Young.{{Cite web|url=https://bcsportshall.com/honoured_member/jim-young/|website=BC Sports Hall of Fame|title=Jim Young}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2010/08/06/retro-profile-jim-dirty-thirty-young/|publisher=Canadian Football League|title=Retro Profile: Jim 'Dirty Thirty' Young|author=Snelgrove, Brian|date=August 6, 2010}} They then managed to get Kapp waived out of the CFL. The Vikings managed to waive Jim Young out of the NFL, which allowed the BC Lions to sign him.{{Cite web |author=A. O. L. Staff |title=Former Vikings QB Joe Kapp dead at 85 after battle with dementia |url=https://www.aol.com/former-vikings-qb-joe-kapp-195318918.html |access-date=May 10, 2023 |website=www.aol.com |date=May 9, 2023 |language=en-US}} The expanding New Orleans Saints wanted Young and it took some work from Finks to keep them from claiming Young. Kapp, now waived from the CFL, was free to sign with the Vikings, who had previously claimed his NFL playing rights from Washington.{{Cite web |title=Former Vikings QB Joe Kapp dead at 85 after battle with dementia |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/former-vikings-qb-joe-kapp-dead-at-85-after-battle-with-dementia-195318924.html |access-date=May 10, 2023 |website=Yahoo Sports |date=May 9, 2023 |language=en-US}}

In 1967, Kapp's first season in the NFL, he started 11 of 14 games for the Vikings, compiling an unusual record of 3 wins, 5 losses and 3 ties. Kapp completed only 47 percent of his pass attempts with 8 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. Kapp also scored two rushing touchdowns. Of note, the team was winless without Kapp starting at quarterback. The Green Bay Packers won the division (and the Super Bowl).{{Cite web |last=Flaherty |first=Dan |date=August 30, 2014 |title=The Story Of The 1967 Minnesota Vikings |url=https://thesportsnotebook.com/1967-minnesota-vikings/ |access-date=May 10, 2023 |website=thesportsnotebook.com |language=en-US}}

In 1968, Kapp led Minnesota to their first ever playoff appearance, losing to the favored Baltimore Colts, 24–14.{{Cite news|url=https://www.startribune.com/joe-kapp-vikings-quarterback-super-bowl-dies/600273444/|newspaper=Star Tribune|title=Joe Kapp, first Super Bowl quarterback for the Vikings, dies at 85|author=Craig, Mark|date=May 9, 2023}} The Colts were upset a few weeks later by the New York Jets in Super Bowl III.{{Cite magazine|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1969/01/20/say-its-so-joe|magazine=Sports Illustrated|title=Say It's So, Joe: Jets upset Colts in Super Bowl III|author=Maule, Tex|date=January 20, 1969}}

Early in the 1969 season, Kapp tied an all-time record when he threw for seven touchdown passes against the defending NFL champion Colts on September 28.{{Cite news |date=September 29, 1969 |title=Kapp's 7 TD passes take kick out of Colts |page=36 |work=Pittsburgh Press |agency=UPI |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Dx4fAAAAIBAJ&pg=4532%2C6215652}} He is tied with seven other players (Sid Luckman, Adrian Burk, George Blanda, Y. A. Tittle, Nick Foles, Peyton Manning, and Drew Brees).{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/pass_td_single_game.htm|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|title=NFL Passing Touchdowns Single Game Leaders}} Kapp led the Vikings to a 12–2 record, and a berth in Super Bowl IV after defeating the Los Angeles Rams 23–20 in the Western Conference championship game, and the Cleveland Browns 27–7 in the last non-Super Bowl NFL Championship game. However, he was unable to lead the team to victory in the Super Bowl, as the Vikings lost 23–7 to the Kansas City Chiefs. On July 20, 1970, Sports Illustrated dubbed Kapp "The Toughest Chicano" on the cover of its weekly magazine. He received the team MVP, but refused the team MVP award, saying, "There is no one most valuable Viking. There are 40 most valuable Vikings."{{Cite web |title=Joe Kapp, NFL Quarterback |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1025444/index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100204080602/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1025444/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 4, 2010 |access-date=April 8, 2002 |publisher=sportsillustrated.cnn.com}}

Prior to the 1969 season, the Vikings had exercised the option clause of his contract, so Kapp had played the entire season without a new contract. It was unusual for teams to use the team's option and not to offer a new contract prior to a season. This dispute made him a free agent for the {{nfly|1970}} season.{{Cite news |date=August 7, 1970 |title=Kapp Decides Not to Return to Vikings |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/08/07/archives/kapp-decides-not-to-return-to-vikings-star-a-free-agent-turns-down.html |access-date=May 10, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |last=Tupa |first=Mike |title=TupaTalk: Kapp was the relentless warrior |url=https://www.examiner-enterprise.com/story/sports/2021/01/13/tupatalk-its-been-half-century-since-joe-kapp-left-his-mark/6614574002/ |access-date=May 10, 2023 |website=Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise |language=en-US}}

Despite Kapp being a Super Bowl quarterback, no team in the NFL made contact with him until after the start of the 1970 regular season,{{Cite news |date=October 1, 1970 |title=Ex-player sees move to cool off Joe Kapp |page=19 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |agency=Associated Press |location=(Idaho) |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=77BeAAAAIBAJ&pg=3762%2C164202}} when the Boston Patriots (1–1) signed him on October 2 to a four-year contract,{{Cite news |date=October 2, 1970 |title=Patriots obtain Joe Kapp; terms being worked out |page=3B |work=Eugene Register-Guard |agency=Associated Press |location=(Oregon) |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iAcRAAAAIBAJ&pg=1660%2C231662}}{{Cite news |date=October 2, 1970 |title=Patriots sign Kapp |page=7 |work=The Bulletin |agency=UPI |location=(Bend, Oregon) |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=__9XAAAAIBAJ&pg=4507%2C3510596}}{{Cite news |date=October 3, 1970 |title=Kapp says 'We'll be a winner' after signing with Patriots |page=10 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |agency=Associated Press |location=(Idaho) |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8bBeAAAAIBAJ&pg=3398%2C631597}} making him the highest paid player in the league. The Patriots gave up defensive back John Charles and a 1972 first round draft pick (which was used to select linebacker Jeff Siemon) as compensation to the Vikings.{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=May 10, 2023|newspaper=Philadelphia Inquirer|author=Forbes, Gordon|title=Colts, Vikings Get OK to Sign Mira|date=October 5, 1970|page=24|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer/124360997/}} His first appearance for Boston was on October 11 at Kansas City, relieving starter Mike Taliaferro in the third quarter of a 23–10 loss.{{Cite news |date=October 12, 1970 |title=Chiefs still bother Kapp; Patriots shattered, 23–10 |page=15 |work=Lawrence Daily Journal-World |agency=Associated Press |location=(Kansas) |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ek4yAAAAIBAJ&pg=5757%2C5095747}}{{Cite news |date=October 12, 1970 |title=Kansas City stops Boston Pats, 23–10 |page=8 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |agency=Associated Press |location=(Idaho) |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-rBeAAAAIBAJ&pg=2139%2C2443772}}

The Patriots of 1970 were a poor-performing team and the late-arriving Kapp played poorly himself that season, leading the team to the 26-team league's worst record at 2–12. When the year ended, Rozelle demanded that Kapp sign a standard player contract. After conferring with his lawyer and the NFL Players Association, Kapp refused to sign.

With the top pick in the 1971 NFL draft, the Patriots selected quarterback Jim Plunkett of Stanford, the winner of the Heisman Trophy. Kapp reported to the newly renamed New England Patriots' training camp in 1971, refused to sign a standard contract, and departed.{{Cite news |date=July 17, 1971 |title=Joe Kapp leaves Patriots |page=14 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |agency=Associated Press |location=(Idaho) |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TZRfAAAAIBAJ&pg=5888%2C3635511}}{{Cite news |date=July 17, 1971 |title=Kapp quits camp without contract |page=13 |work=Nashua Telegraph |agency=Associated Press |location=(New Hampshire) |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3pkrAAAAIBAJ&pg=3621%2C1925569}} The headlines in the Boston papers read "KAPP QUITS!".{{Cite web|url=https://thevikingage.com/posts/remembering-former-minnesota-vikings-quarterback-joe-kapp|website=The Viking Age|date=May 9, 2023|title=Remembering former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Joe Kapp|author=Carlson, Adam}} After this incident Kapp never played again; his 12-year career as a professional football player was over.

Kapp started an anti-trust lawsuit vs. the NFL, claiming the standard NFL contract was unconstitutional and a restraint of trade. He won the summary judgment after four years. The court had ruled that Kapp's trade was indeed restrained. It was two years later (April 1, 1976) in the trial for damages, that the jury decided that Kapp was not damaged.{{Cite news |last=Times |first=Leonard Koppett Special to The New York |date=April 3, 1976 |title=Jury Rules Kapp Not Entitled to Damages |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/04/03/archives/jury-rules-kapp-not-entitled-to-damages.html |access-date=May 10, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}

Although Kapp was not awarded any damages, in 1977 the rules at issue in the Kapp case were later revised, a new system was instituted, and a multimillion-dollar settlement was made between the NFL and the NFL Players Association.{{Cite news |last=Brady |first=Dave |date=August 9, 1978 |title=Court Reversal on Suit Proves Costly to Kapp |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1978/08/09/court-reversal-on-suit-proves-costly-to-kapp/2f9a2126-09d8-478d-b134-20fc028bee71/ |newspaper=The Washington Post}}

In the 1970s and early 1980s, Kapp appeared in several television programs as well as theatrical film titles. In most cases, the character roles were minor. Programs included Ironside, The Six Million Dollar Man,{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2023/05/09/joe-kapp-vikings-quarterback-cal-football-coach-dies-at-85/70198311007/|newspaper=USA Today|title=Joe Kapp, former Vikings quarterback and Cal coach, dies at 85|author=Gardner, Steve|date=May 9, 2023}} Adam-12, Emergency!,{{Cite web |last=Halliburton |first=Suzanne |date=May 9, 2023 |title=Legendary Minnesota Vikings quarterback Joe Kapp dead at 85 |url=https://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/amp/legendary_minnesota_vikings_quarterback_joe_kapp_dead_at_85/s1_17236_38793957 |website=Yardbarker}} Police Woman, Captains and the Kings, and Medical Center. Movies included Climb An Angry Mountain (1972), The World's Greatest Athlete (1973), The Longest Yard (1974), Breakheart Pass (1975), Two-Minute Warning (1976), Smash-Up on Interstate 5 (1976), Semi-Tough (1977), The Frisco Kid (1979),{{Cite news|url=https://theprovince.com/sports/football/cfl/bc-lions/joe-kapp-obituary|newspaper=The Province|title='Tough as nails': Remembering quarterback Joe Kapp, 'one of the all-time great' B.C. Lions|author=Ralph, Dan|agency=The Canadian Press}} and Off Sides (Pigs vs. Freaks) (1984).{{Cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/joe_kapp|publisher=Rotten Tomatoes|title=Joe Kapp}}

In 1982, Kapp was hired as the head football coach at his alma mater, the University of California, Berkeley. He had never coached before.{{Cite magazine |last=Fimrite |first=Ron |date=September 1, 1983 |title=The Anatomy of a Miracle |pages=212–228 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |url=http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~pattrsn/anatomyofmiracle.htm}}

In December 1981, Kapp made a promise to the football team that he would not consume any of his favorite alcoholic beverage, tequila, until the Golden Bears reached the Rose Bowl, which they did not under Kapp; indeed, as of 2023, the Golden Bears have yet to return to the Rose Bowl – they were Pac-10 co-champions in 2004 but a loss to USC sent them to the Holiday Bowl instead (in a 1994 interview, Kapp stated that he had resorted to drinking rum instead).{{Cite web |last=Cheatham |first=Dan |date=May 3, 1994 |title=Interview with Joe Kapp |url=http://www.calband.berkeley.edu/calband/cbaa/history/interviews/kapp/ |url-status=dead |publisher=Cal Band Archive |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609152132/http://www.calband.berkeley.edu/calband/cbaa/history/interviews/kapp/ |archive-date=June 9, 2007}}

Kapp had several philosophies while coaching at Cal. He called his special teams the "special forces." He told his players to play "One hundred percent for 60 minutes." He also wanted the players to have fun. On Sundays, he would have his players play a game of "garbazz", described as a mix of basketball and football where the only objective is to pass the ball downfield. There are no football rules such as offsides or forward passes.

In his first year as head coach in 1982, the Golden Bears improved from 2–9 the year before to 7–4, and he was voted the Pac-10 Conference Coach of the Year.{{Cite web|url=https://pac-12.com/article/2023/05/09/golden-bear-legend-joe-kapp-passes-away|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240523014441/https://pac-12.com/article/2023/05/09/golden-bear-legend-joe-kapp-passes-away|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 23, 2024|publisher=Pac-12 Conference|date=May 9, 2023|title=Golden Bear Legend Joe Kapp Passes Away}} The 1982 season concluded with The Play, the famous five-lateral kickoff return by Cal to score the winning touchdown on the final play of the Big Game against archrival Stanford.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/joe-kapp-dies-at-85-legendary-former-cal-player-coached-bears-during-iconic-the-play-moment/|work=CBS Sports|title=Joe Kapp dies at 85: Legendary former Cal player coached Bears during iconic 'The Play' moment |author=Straka, Dean|date=May 9, 2023}}

During the 1986 season, the Bears lost to Boston College, defeated Washington State, then lost to San Jose State. Following an embarrassing 50–18 loss at Washington on October 4, Kapp expressed frustration unzipping his pants in front of the Seattle media.{{Cite news |date=October 7, 1986 |title=Kapp unzipped; heat's on at Cal |page=3D |work=Eugene Register-Guard |agency=wire services |location=(Oregon) |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=m9wzAAAAIBAJ&pg=6633%2C1689005}}{{Cite news |last=Cawood |first=Neil |date=October 7, 1986 |title=Beavers have their own problems |page=3D |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=m9wzAAAAIBAJ&pg=6839%2C1690968}}{{Cite magazine |last=Reilly |first=Rick |author-link=Rick Reilly |date=November 17, 1986 |title=Coming out of the desert darkness with the Sun Devils |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1986/11/17/114386/coming-out-of-the-desert-darkness-with-the-sun-devils-arizona-state-is-headed-for-the-rose-bowl-where-for-a-change-the-team-will-play-in-daylight-and-receive-some-long-overdue-recognition |magazine=Sports Illustrated |page=32}} He was notified that he would be released after the Big Game, played in Berkeley. The Bears responded to the student section's pre-game chants of "Win one for the zipper" by beating the Gator Bowl-bound #16 Cardinal 17–11, which gave Kapp a 3–2 record in the Big Game. He was carried off the field by his players,{{Cite news |date=November 23, 1986 |title=Bears give Kapp a win for farewell |page=9C |work=Eugene Register-Guard |agency=Associated Press |location=(Oregon) |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PglWAAAAIBAJ&pg=6920%2C6062079}} amid chanting from the student section, "We want Kapp!"{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-11-23-sp-12377-story.html|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|title=Cal's 17–11 Upset of Stanford Gives Kapp Quite a Lift|author=Glick, Shav|date=November 23, 1986|url-access=subscription}}

In an effort to recapture their past glory, the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL) hired Kapp as the team's new general manager in 1990. Kapp's tenure was marked by his tendency to recruit ex-NFL players such as Mark Gastineau whose best football days had passed. Kapp was fired eleven games into the Lions' schedule; his most valuable legacy was the signing of quarterback Doug Flutie, who would blossom into a star in the CFL during the 1990s.{{Cite web|url=https://3downnation.com/2023/05/09/legendary-b-c-lions-minnesota-vikings-quarterback-joe-kapp-passes-away-at-85/|website=3DownNation|title=Legendary B.C. Lions, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Joe Kapp passes away at 85|date=May 9, 2023}}

In 1992, Kapp was named the head coach of the Arena Football League's Los Angeles Wings,{{Cite news |last=Lonnie White |date=March 6, 1992 |title=Joe Kapp to Coach New L.A. Team : Arena football: The sport attempts comeback in city. Club will play at Sports Arena. |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-03-06-sp-3412-story.html |access-date=April 4, 2013}} but the franchise never came into existence in Los Angeles, and moved to Sacramento as the Attack.{{Cite news |last=Shav Glick |date=April 22, 1992 |title=L.A. Arena Football Team Scrubs Plans for Season |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-04-22-sp-473-story.html |access-date=April 4, 2013}} The franchise went 4–6 under Kapp, losing in the first round of the playoffs to the Detroit Drive.{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/1992arflsac.html|website=Pro Football Archives|title=1992 Sacramento Attack (Arena)}} After the season, the franchise moved to Miami, Florida.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register/124332064/|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|via=Newspapers.com|date=April 25, 1993|page=234|title=A Glance At The Past...}} {{Open access}}

Kapp lived in Los Gatos, California, and made himself available as a guest speaker. He had a wife, four children, and four grandchildren. He was one of the owners of Kapp's Pizza Bar & Grill in Mountain View, California, which contained memorabilia from his career and closed in 2015. His son, Will, followed in his footsteps as a fullback at UC Berkeley.[http://www.calbears.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/kapp_will00.html Cal Bears] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111114041413/http://www.calbears.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/kapp_will00.html |date=November 14, 2011 }} In 2015, grandson Frank Kapp continued the Cal football tradition as a freshman tight end with the Golden Bears.{{Cite web |title=Frank Kapp – Football |url=http://www.calbears.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=30100&ATCLID=210260407}}

Kapp and fellow Canadian Football Hall of Fame player Angelo Mosca came to blows at a 2011 Canadian Football League Alumni luncheon. The source of the bad blood between Kapp and Mosca was a hit Mosca made on Kapp's teammate Willie Fleming in the 1963 Grey Cup game. The hit, which Kapp and many others considered dirty, forced Fleming out of the game. Mosca's Tiger-Cats defeated Kapp's Lions 21–10 for the 1963 championship.{{Cite news |last=Toni Monkovic |date=November 28, 2011 |title=Joe Kapp, the C.F.L. and a 48-Year-Old Grudge |work=New York Times |url=http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/28/joe-kapp-the-c-f-l-and-a-48-year-old-grudge/?_r=0 |access-date=November 4, 2013}}

In February 2016, the San Jose Mercury News reported that Kapp was suffering from Alzheimer's disease.{{Cite web |last=Almond |first=Elliott |date=2016-02-05 |title=The struggles of Joe Kapp: A football family copes with game’s painful aftermath |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2016/02/05/the-struggles-of-joe-kapp-a-football-family-copes-with-games-painful-aftermath/ |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=The Mercury News |language=en-US}} He died from complications of the disease at a care facility in San Jose, California, on May 8, 2023, at age 85.{{Cite web |date=May 9, 2023 |title=Former Vikings, Cal QB Joe Kapp dies at age 85 |url=https://apnews.com/article/joe-kapp-obituary-vikings-cal-fcc8fb445b17a51aa9e365c53aabd416 |access-date=May 10, 2023 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no }}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = California Golden Bears

| conf = Pacific-10 Conference

| startyear = 1982

| endyear = 1986

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1982

| name = California

| overall = 7–4

| conference = 4–4

| confstanding = 6th

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1983

| name = California

| overall = 5–5–1

| conference = 3–4–1

| confstanding = 8th

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1984

| name = California

| overall = 2–9

| conference = 1–8

| confstanding = 10th

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1985

| name = California

| overall = 4–7

| conference = 2–7

| confstanding = 10th

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1986

| name = California

| overall = 2–9

| conference = 2–7

| confstanding = 9th

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = California

| overall = 20–34–1

| confrecord = 12–30–1

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record End

| overall = 20–34–1

| bowls = no

| poll = no

| polltype =

| legend = no

}}

Source:{{Cite web|url=http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/coaching/alltime_coach_year_by_year.php?coachid=1224|website=College Football Data Warehouse|via=Wayback Machine|title=Joe Kapp Records by Year|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907112222/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/coaching/alltime_coach_year_by_year.php?coachid=1224 |archive-date=September 7, 2015 }}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Refbegin}}

• Olsen, Jack (October 19, 1970). "He Goes Where the Trouble Is. He is Joe Kapp, wandering quarterback, and last week he was in Kansas City, playing for the Boston Patriots, who are in deep trouble. Despite Kapp, the Pats lost, but wait until the new boy learns the system". Sports Illustrated.

{{Refend}}

{{commons}}

• {{Sports links}}
• {{cfbhof|id=2141|name=Joe Kapp}}
• {{IMDb name}}

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