Erik Affholter

Erik Konrad Affholter (born April 10, 1966) is a former professional American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Green Bay Packers. 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. At the University of Southern California, he was an All-American and established USC records for most receptions in a season, and in a career.

Erik Affholter
No. 82
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1966-04-10) April 10, 1966
Detroit, Michigan
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:187 lb (85 kg)
Career information
High school:Agoura (CA) Oak Park
College:Southern California
NFL Draft:1989 / Round: 4 / Pick: 110
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:7
Receiving yards:68
Touchdowns:0
Player stats at NFL.com

Early and personal life

He was born in Detroit, Michigan, to Conrad (a salesman) and Ruth Affholter, and is Jewish.[1][2] In the early 1970s, the family moved to Agoura, California.[3] He later lived in Anthem, Arizona.[4][5]

High school

Affholter played football at Oak Park High School in Ventura County, California.[5] 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.[6][3][4][7][8][9] A sportswriter at the game estimated it could have gone 74 yards (68 meters).[10] Asked about his kick, Affholter said: "I'd much rather catch touchdown passes."[1] At the time, as a wide receiver he had caught more touchdown passes than any player in his high school conference.[1]

In addition to kicking field goals and extra points, he played tailback, wide receiver, defensive back, and linebacker.[11] 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 an LA Times running back of the year.[9][12]

College

He played college football at the University of Southern California (USC; class of 1989) for the Trojans as a wide receiver, though he had initially received a scholarship as a kicker.[11][13][14][15][16] He was athletic, with a 36-inch (910 mm) vertical jump.[11]

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 1988 USC Trojans football team to the 1988 Rose Bowl.[5][17][18][19][9] He was named a member of the 1988 College Football All-America Team, and a Pac-10 All-Academic selection.[20][8][21][9] In 1988 as a senior he led USC with 68 catches for 952 yards and eight touchdowns.[22] He established USC records for most receptions in a season, and in a career (123).[16][23] Upon graduation, he became a member of the USC Skull and Dagger Society.[9]

National Football League

He was drafted in the fourth round of the 1989 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins.[24] On April 23, 1989, the Redskins then immediately traded him and two draft picks to the Green Bay Packers for quarterback Jeff Graham.[25][9] 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.[5] He spent the entire season on injured reserve.[23] He played the 1991 season in the NFL for the Packers.[7]

In 1992, he signed with the San Diego Chargers as a free agent.[26] He retired in 1995 due to a career-ending knee injury.[9]

Coaching

Since retiring, he has coached high school and youth football.[9][27]

Honors

In 2016 he was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.[28][2][4]

References
  1. Tuite, James (October 20, 1982). "Plays". The New York Times.
  2. Ryan Torok (February 9, 2017). "Moving & Shaking: Jewish athletes celebrated, NFL players visit home shul, AIPAC holds gala". Jewish Journal.
  3. Rich Tosches (October 23, 1982). "16-year-old high school kicker nails record 64-yard field goal". UPI.
  4. Eliav Appelbaum (January 26, 2017). "USC football legend will be inducted into hall of fame". Thousand Oaks Acorn.
  5. Jerry Crowe (November 19, 2007). "Memories are something else he can hold on to". Los Angeles Times.
  6. "Ex-NFL player Erik Affholter tells police missing-hiker report a misunderstanding". Ventura County Star. May 14, 2012.
  7. "Ex-USC, NFL player Erik Affholter missing in Simi Valley hike". Los Angeles Times. May 14, 2012.
  8. "Affholter hoping to take long drive to Champions Tour". Ventura County Star. June 12, 2012.
  9. "ERIK AFFHOLTER; Football - 2016". Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
  10. "Scoring". San Bernardino Sun. October 19, 1982.
  11. Wiley, Ralph (November 30, 1987). "USC ROSE TO THE OCCASION". Sports Illustrated.
  12. "OPHS Football Awards & Honors". HomeTeamsONLINE.
  13. Richard J. Shmelter (2014). The USC Trojans Football Encyclopedia.
  14. Tom Kelly, Tom Hoffarth (2012). Tales from the USC Trojans Sideline; A Collection of the Greatest Trojans Stories Ever Told.
  15. "If It's Friday, It's Time For A USC Notes Column". Sports Illustrated. July 31, 2020.
  16. "42 days to USC football: It's not just Ronnie Lott making No. 42 legendary". July 20, 2019.
  17. "How the UCLA rivalry has determined USC coaches' fates". Los Angeles Daily News. November 16, 2016.
  18. "USC football: The best wide receivers". The Orange County Register. October 13, 2011.
  19. "Wolf: What are the most iconic plays in USC history?". Los Angeles Daily News. December 22, 2016.
  20. "Ranking the 15 best USC wide receivers of all-time". April 22, 2019.
  21. Mal Florence (March 27, 2020). "EXCERPT: 'The Trojan Heritage'". USC Athletics.
  22. "68 days to USC football: Keith Van Horne wasn't quality enough for Notre Dame recruiting". June 24, 2019.
  23. "Packers hope Affholter worth wait". Journal Times. August 15, 1990.
  24. Mellor, Cam (April 22, 2020). "Every USC Trojan selected in the NFL draft". Conquest Chronicles.
  25. "The 1989 Green Bay Packers (10-6)". www.packershistory.net.
  26. "Wide Receiver Affholter Signs With Chargers as Free Agent". Los Angeles Times. April 2, 1992.
  27. Keith Jiron (October 19, 2007). "FHS coach Affholter resigns". Arizona Daily Sun.
  28. "ERIK AFFHOLTER; Football - 2016". Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
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