Gerhard Schwedes, WWII Survivor and College Hall of Fame QB, Dies at 88
A WWII survivor who played a key role in Syracuse's only national football championship and was drafted by the Patriots died.
Gerhard H. "Ger" Schwedes, a Syracuse University halfback who led the Orange to a national football championship and was the first draft pick in the history of the Boston Patriots, passed away on August 23 at his Fayetteville, N.Y. home, at the age of 88. Born in Freiburg, Germany on April 23, 1938, Schwedes was raised in Ulm, where his father served as a German Army officer who was a prisoner of war during World War II.
The family relocated to the United States when Schwedes was 12, settling in New Jersey and graduating from Flemington High School in 1956. In an interview with The Athletic in 2020, Schwedes recalled hiding with his family during Allied air raids and witnessing the impact of the war on those around him, including a lack of basic necessities such as shoes and food.
His formative experience with an American football given to him by American soldiers became a pivotal moment in his life, influencing his decision to pursue football. Schwedes received just one college football scholarship offer to Syracuse, where he became a starting halfback in 1957 and played safety and quarterback. He was named an All-American and All-Eastern selection, becoming a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete in 1959.
As a senior in 1959, Schwedes led Syracuse to a perfect 10-0 record in the regular season and a Cotton Bowl berth, throwing an 87-yard touchdown pass to Ernie Davis on the very first play of the game against Texas, securing the team's undefeated season and national championship. This play remains one of the most iconic in Syracuse football history.
The Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame inducted Schwedes in 2014, hailing the pass as one of the most storied plays in Syracuse history. After college, Schwedes was selected as the Boston Patriots' territorial choice in 1959 and played all 10 of his professional games in the AFL with the Patriots and New York Titans from 1960 to 1961.
He is survived by two sons, two brothers, and five grandchildren, including his son Scott, who had a successful NFL career with the Miami Dolphins from 1987 to 1990.
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