Blair Kiel, a backup quarterback for the Green Bay Packers in the early 1990s, and of the last Pack signal callers to start at the position before Brett Favre began his phenomenal streak has died. Kiel last started for the Packers in 1991. Favre took over the position from 1992-2007.
Kiel passed away Sunday in Columbus, Ind., of what Bartholomew County authorities said was a heart attack. He also had Crohn’s disease. Blair Kiel’s nephew, Gunner Kiel, is a freshman quarterback on the 2012 Notre Dame football roster, and was the nation’s top rated signal caller by most recruiting services.
According to the Green Bay Gazette:
Kiel played in one game for the Packers in
1988 and rejoined them in 1990 and
1991 at the end of a brief NFL career. He
started two games for Green Bay, losing
both, to Detroit at Lambeau Field on Dec.
22, 1990, and to Dallas at Milwaukee
County Stadium on Oct. 6, 1991.
Kiel played for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish from 1980-83 and started all or major parts of all four seasons, qualifying him as the first four-year starter for Notre Dame at the quarterback position since Gus Dorais in 1910-13. He completed 297 career throws (only Terry Hanratty with 304 had completed more at the time Kiel finished his college career) on 609attempts for 3,650 yards, 17 touchdowns and 32 interceptions.
Kiel was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1984 and played for the Indianapolis Colts in 1985 and 1986.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
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