Vince Ferragamo
Vincent Anthony Ferragamo is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League and the Canadian Football League. He played college football for the California Golden Bears and Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Early life
Born in Torrance, California, Ferragamo was an All-American high school quarterback while at Phineas Banning High School in nearby Wilmington and was selected as that year's Los Angeles City Schools Most Valuable Player. Ferragamo was heavily recruited by colleges, and he accepted a football scholarship to the University of California, Berkeley.College football
Ferragamo became Cal's starting quarterback for the final three games of his true freshman season in 1972 [California Golden Bears football team|1972] and remained the starter through the California Golden Bears football team|following year]. Ferragamo chose to transfer to top-ranked Nebraska in 1974 [Nebraska Cornhuskers football team|1974]. As a Cornhusker, he lettered in Nebraska Cornhuskers football team|1975] and Nebraska Cornhuskers football team|1976].Nebraska was ranked No. 1 to open the 1976 season but managed only a 6–6 tie with 1976 [LSU Tigers football team|LSU] at Tiger Stadium on September 11. Ferragamo capped his college career by leading the Cornhuskers to a victory over Texas Tech in the Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl in the Houston Astrodome. During his senior season, he was All-Big Eight Conference, All-American and also an Academic All-American.
Professional football career
National Football League
Ferragamo played in the National Football League for the Los Angeles Rams, Buffalo Bills, and Green Bay Packers.Drafted 91st overall in the fourth round of the 1977 NFL draft, Ferragamo mostly sat on the bench in 1977 and 1978, behind Pat Haden. In 1979 [Los Angeles Rams season|1979], Haden broke a finger in mid-season, giving Ferragamo his shot. After leading the 9–7 Rams to road victories over the Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys] and Tampa Bay Buccaneers season|Tampa Bay Buccaneers] in the NFC playoffs, Ferragamo started in Super Bowl XIV in Pasadena, making him the first quarterback to start a Super Bowl in the same season as his first career start. The underdog Rams led after three quarters of play before falling to the Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers], 31–19.
Ferragamo enjoyed his best statistical season in 1980 [Los Angeles Rams season|1980] in which he threw for 30 touchdowns, tied for second most in the NFL. The Rams again made the playoffs, but were defeated by Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas], 34–13, in the wild card game.
Canadian Football League
In 1981, Ferragamo jumped to the Montreal Alouettes season|Montreal Alouettes] of the Canadian Football League, thanks to a $600,000-a-year contract However, Ferragamo had a difficult time adjusting to the style of Canadian football, completing 175 of 342 passes for 2,175 yards, with only seven touchdown passes against 25 interceptions. He was demoted to backup to Gerry Dattilio in the latter half of the season and then to third-string quarterback for the final three games after Ken Johnson arrived in a trade. Montreal went on to a disastrous 3–13 season, but made the playoffs anyway due to weak East Division.In a span of less than eight months, he was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated twice, in December 1980, and July 1981.
Return to NFL
Ferragamo returned to the Rams in 1982, as the backup to Bert Jones, who was sidelined with a neck injury. Late in the strike-shortened season on December 26, Ferragamo threw for 509 yards in a home loss to the Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears], at the time the second highest mark for passing yards in a game in league history behind former Ram Norm Van Brocklin in 1951.Ferragamo led the Rams back to the playoffs in 1983, behind the running of rookie Eric Dickerson. After beating the favored Cowboys in Irving in the wild card matchup, 24–17, the Rams were drubbed, 51–7, by the defending Super Bowl champion Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins].
In 1984, Ferragamo was again the Rams' starting quarterback. But in a 24–14 loss at Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh] on September 16, he broke a finger on his throwing hand in what became his last game for the Rams. In 1985, Ferragamo moved on to the Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills], but won only one of nine starts, eventually losing the starter's job to Bruce Mathison. In 1986, he served as Randy Wright's backup for the Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers], then retired from football.