Gerry Philbin
Gerald John Philbin is a former American football defensive tackle and four-year starter from the University at Buffalo where he earned several honors including second-team All-American, Little All-America, and All-American Academic team. Drafted by both the Detroit Lions of the National Football League and the New York Jets of the American Football League in the third round of the 1964 draft, he joined the Jets and became an immediate starter and perennial All-AFL selection at defensive end. He played stellar defense for them for nine seasons.
He was selected as an American Football League All-Star in 1968 and 1969. A ferocious pass-rusher, Philbin recorded 14½ sacks of opposing quarterbacks in 1968, helping the Jets win the AFL Championship. In the third AFL-NFL World Championship Game, Philbin anchored the Jets defense in limiting the Colts to seven points.
In 1973, he joined the Philadelphia Eagles for one season and finished his career in the short-lived World Football League as a member of the New York Stars in 1974 where he joined former Super Bowl III alumni George Sauer, Jr, Randy Beverly, John Dockery, John Elliott, and Vito Parilli. He was an All-WFL selection in 1974. Philbin is a member of the All-time American Football League Team.
