Bob Lurtsema

Robert Ross Lurtsema (born March 29, 1942) is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League for the Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants and Seattle Seahawks. He played in two Super Bowls with the Vikings.

Bob Lurtsema
Born: (1942-03-29) March 29, 1942
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Career information
Position(s)Defensive end
Defensive tackle
CollegeWestern Michigan
High schoolOttawa Hills
(Grand Rapids, Michigan)
Career history
As player
1967–1971New York Giants
1972–1976Minnesota Vikings
1976–1977Seattle Seahawks
Career stats

Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Lurtsema attended Ottawa Hills High School and initially went to Michigan Tech in 1962 on a basketball scholarship, but started playing football and would letter in the sport as a Huskie in the 1962 season.[1][2] Lurtsema transferred to Western Michigan University to continue his collegiate career, lettering in football as a Bronco in 1965.[3] Undrafted after graduating, Lurtsema played for the 1966 Harrisburg Capitals of the Atlantic Coast Football League, which was a taxi squad affiliated with the Baltimore Colts.[4] Don Shula, Colts coach, had drafted Bubba Smith in 1967, blocking an opportunity for Lurtsema. Shula arranged a trade to the New York Giants. Lurtsema said of Shula, "I owe everything to Shula. “He basically set up my whole career. I can’t say enough good things about him.”[5]

Lurtsema would play with the New York Giants for 1967, making the all-rookie team in 1967 and the Sporting News All-Star team in 1968.[6] He would become a regular starter for the Giants through the 1971 season, changing positions in 1970 from defensive tackle to defensive end, but the Giants waived him at the end of the 1971 season.[7]

The Minnesota Vikings signed Lurtsema in 1972. In a notable game, the third of the Miami Dolphins 1972 NFL season, the Dolphins appeared to be on the way to losing a game against the Vikings. Lurtsema was flagged for roughing the passer in a pivotal play in the game, and for the Dolphins' season, as they ended up undefeated.[8] Lurtsema would play regularly for the Vikings and back up the famed Purple People Eaters defensive line, but he rarely started, earning the affectionate nickname "Benchwarmer Bob."[9] Lurtsema played for the Vikings in Super Bowl VIII in 1974 and Super Bowl IX in 1975, both losing causes.[10][11][12][13]

The Vikings traded Lurtsema to the Seattle Seahawks, an expansion team in their first season in 1976 in a deal for wide receiver Ahmad Rashad. Lurtsema would play two seasons in Seattle, starting regularly at defensive end.[14] Lurtsema retired after the 1977 NFL season with 82 career starts.[15][16]

After retirement, Lurtsema often appeared as "Benchwarmer Bob" in TCF Bank (TCF Savings and Loan) television commercials.[17]

Lurtsema - TCF Commercials

Lurtsema pitched for the Minnesota Norsemen professional softball team during their 1979 season in the American Professional Slo-Pitch League (APSPL).[18][19] He also owned Benchwarmer Bob's Sports Cafe, which had two locations in the Twin Cities.[20]

Lurtsema would sign in 2013 on to support the lawsuit brought against the NFL in regard to concussions in the sport. Lurtsema advocated for the funds to be used for players impacted by injuries and for research into brain injuries.[21][22] Lurtsema and his wife Aloise are retired and live in Minnesota.

References
  1. "25 greatest football players of all time from the Grand Rapids area". mlive. November 13, 2019.
  2. "All-Time Michigan Tech Football Letterwinners". Michigan Tech Athletics.
  3. "2020 Football Media Guide Guide (PDF)" (PDF). Western Michigan University Athletics.
  4. "1966 Harrisburg Capitols - Pro Football Archives". www.profootballarchives.com.
  5. "Former Vikings defensive lineman Bob Lurtsema says he owes his career to Don Shula". Star Tribune.
  6. "1968 NFL All-Pros". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  7. Harvin, Al (November 11, 1971). "An Embittered Lurtsema Is Dropped by the Giants (Published 1971)" – via NYTimes.com.
  8. "Bob Lurtsema's penalty: the play that changed the course of the 1972 season". Star Tribune.
  9. Range, Peter Ross (December 23, 1973). "A team within a team within a team (Published 1973)" – via NYTimes.com.
  10. "Super Bowl VIII - Minnesota Vikings vs. Miami Dolphins - January 13th, 1974". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  11. "Super Bowl VIII". NFL.com.
  12. "Super Bowl IX - Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Minnesota Vikings - January 12th, 1975". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  13. "Super Bowl IX". NFL.com.
  14. "Bob Lurtsema Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  15. "Throwback: 'Bob Lurtsema Day'". www.vikings.com.
  16. "'Benchwarmer Bob' Trade Started Vikings-Seahawks Exchange". www.vikings.com.
  17. "Charley Walters: Bob Lurtsema warms the bench for his 50 greatest Vikings". December 14, 2010.
  18. "Twins debut ST story". July 22, 1979. p. 34 – via newspapers.com.
  19. "Clipped From The Minneapolis Star". May 18, 1979. p. 51 – via newspapers.com.
  20. "Burnsville / Popular sports bar closes". February 13, 2007.
  21. "Lurtsema: Spend lawsuit money wisely". ESPN.com. August 30, 2013.
  22. "| The Funny Man's Serious SideColumbia Sports Journalism".
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