Dan Pastorini
- Houston Oilers (1971-1979)
- Oakland Raiders ( 1980)
- Los Angeles Rams (1981 )
- Philadelphia Eagles (1982-1983)
Dante " Dan " Anthony Pastorini ( born May 26, 1949 in Sonora, California) is an American former American football player at the position of quarterback.
He was selected in the NFL Draft in 1971 by the Houston Oilers, where he was the starting quarterback for eight years and in 1975 elected to the Pro Bowl. Then he went to the Oakland Raiders, where he won as a bench player the Super Bowl XV. After one year each with the Los Angeles Rams and the Philadelphia Eagles, he finished his career.
College
From 1968 to 1970, the Santa Clara University attended in the eponymous city of Santa Clara, California. There he played along with the future NFL referee Mike Carey in the football team, whose assistant coach was his brother Lou. In addition to American Football Pastorini played at the University even baseball.
NFL
Houston Oilers
After Pastorini was drafted in the MLB Draft 1967 already in Major League Baseball ( MLB), followed in 1971 by his second draft, namely in the NFL. There he was selected by Jim Plunkett and Archie Manning in third place by the Houston Oilers. The Oilers Pastorini could in his first season interspersed directly on the position of the quarterbacks and started in 13 of 14 possible games. Nevertheless, he remained with the Oilers relatively unsuccessful over the years and was in season 1972 and 1973 only a game with the Oilers win. In 1975, Bum Phillips coach of the Oilers was the team could for the first time since the beginning of the decade again recorded more victories than defeats and Pastorini was voted at the end of the season for the Pro Bowl. But even under Bum Phillips were the Oilers the Play Offs first not reach before they Earl Campbell chose in the first place the Draft 1978. Pastorini led the team in 1978 with Campbell, directly in his rookie season, the AFC Championship Game. There the Oilers against the Pittsburgh Steelers seemed somewhat chance and lost 34-5, with Pastorini threw five interceptions. In the following season, the Oilers were with Pastorini at quarterback, second in the AFC Central, and were thus qualified for the Wild Card playoffs. There, the Oilers defeated the Denver Broncos with 12-5. In the next the Oilers on Pastorini and Campbell had to do without and still beat the San Diego Chargers. In the AFC Championship Game, the Oilers met again on arch-rivals from Pittsburgh. Although both Pastorini, the one space gain of 203 yards achieved by his passes and only one interception throwing, as well as the entire team handed in a good capabilit it was not enough this time to victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, and thus not reaching the Super Bowl.
Oakland Raiders
In 1980 was Bud Adams, owner of the Houston Oilers, Pastorini from the Oakland Raiders and received in return for quarterback Ken Stabler. So from now on Pastorini played for the Raiders from Oakland and was appointed by coach Tom Flores directly to the starting quarterback. But after only five games to Pastorini injured and had to be replaced by Jim Plunkett. This was so good performances that Pastorini no longer came to the train and just sat on the bench. At the end of the season, the Raiders won the Super Bowl XV, Pastorini did not come here to use.
End of career
Due to its limited use time with the Raiders Patorini moved to the Los Angeles Rams. He only came on Matchday 9 against the Detroit Lions for his first short-term mission. In the next game against the New Orleans Saints coach Ray Malavasi let him play even over the full length. In the games after he came again and again to short assignments, but in the long run he could not free himself from Pat Haden and Jeff Rutledge.
Therefore Pastorini moved on and signed a contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. There he remained until the end of his career in 1983. It was used while at the Eagles only three times and could not play pass.
Away from the Footballs
Pastorini has a passion for Hydroplanes, he drove Drag Boat Racing and took part in wet T -shirt contest. He was also active as an actor and played in 1979, for example, Lee Majors in Piranha II - Revenge of the killer fish. In the 1980s he was also a member of the National Hot Rod Association ( NHRA ) and has won several titles there.
From 1973 to 1982 Pastorini was married to the British model June Wilkinson and had a child with her. Today he lives and works in Houston.