No. 16
Wake Forest
"Ask pro scouts who was 1960's best college quarterback and the majority will give the vote to Norman Snead, the long- and short-throwing marvel from Wake Forest. Snead shook up the Atlantic Conference with his passing tactics and he's supposed to be one of the toughest to keep in check, mainly because of his height (6'4")."
-1961 Pro Football Handbook
"An accurate arm, height which permits him visual freedom, an added year of experience and more confidence in his ability to run the club will make Norman Snead a better quarterback in 1962.
The Halifax (Va.) chucker was one of the few heavy-duty quarterbacks to log less than a 50 per cent completion figure in '61. He rolled up 2,337 yards as a pitcher and connected for 11 touchdowns.
Snead broke all conference records while at Wake Forest."
-Don Schiffer, 1962 Pro Football Handbook
"Norm was the third most active quarterback in the N.F.L. last year, throwing 375 passes."
-1962 Topps No. 164
"In all NFL history, only one quarterback has started every game in his rookie season. That man is Norm Snead, 6 feet 4 inches of pure determination. Despite constant pounding by the enemy, he hasn't weakened a bit. Witness his 1962 record of 184 completions in 354 pass attempts for 2,926 yards and 22 touchdowns.
Born in Halifax County, Virginia, Snead set 15 Atlantic Coast Conference records at Wake Forest. He was the Redskins' No. 1 draft choice in 1961."
-Don Schiffer, Pro Football 1963
"As a rookie Redskin in 1961, Norm Snead was hailed as the brightest young quarterback on the pro horizon. He took over as a regular immediately, a move contrary to NFL thinking on first-year passers, and set freshman records for most completions and yards gained. Born in Halifax County, Virginia, he'd been by scouted Washington since he was a freshman at Wake Forest.
Snead slumped to a No. 11 rating last year and had a league-high of 27 interceptions. He gained a career high of 3,043 yards with 175 completions but continued to have trouble spotting receivers quick enough, and was lax about getting rid of the ball when defenders were blowing in on him. Snead gained 100 yards on the ground in 23 attempts, most of which were of necessity."
-Don Schiffer, Pro Football 1964
"Another new face, Norman Snead, looms as the big man in the Eagle offense this season. Obtained from the Redskins in the controversial trade for Sonny Jurgensen, he's only 24- a five-year edge on Jurgensen. At 6-4 and 215, he's one of the new breed of tall quarterbacks.
In three seasons with the Redskins, Snead completed 531 of 1,092 for 8,306 yards and 46 touchdowns; he also scored eight touchdowns on goal-line sneaks. The fans were down on him in Washington. It'll be interesting to see how the Philly fans react to him."
-Dave Anderson, Pro Football Handbook 1964
"When did Norm become a Redskin regular? In his first year. He started every game."
-1964 Philadelphia No. 138
"Although Norm Snead broke into the NFL as no other rookie had before him, the imperfections were still there, and his inability to overcome them is what prevents him from reaching his estimated potential. He takes too long to pick out his receivers and he has to pick up the refinement of making the out-of-bounds pass when everybody is covered. But you have to admire his arm, his size and his determination to improve.
His rookie year with the Redskins in 1961 saw him take over as first-string quarterback right from the start, and Norm set all-time rookie marks in passes, completions and yardage. He shot for a 51.9 percentage in 1962, passed for 3,043 yards in '63, but fell to 11th among passers last year."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1965
"There are little things about Norm Snead's play at quarterback that irk some people, but he still does most of the big things well. Maybe he is a little slow getting his big and bulky body back into the pocket, but there's nothing wrong with his arm, which last year tossed 150 completions in 288 attempts, for 2,346 yards and 15 touchdowns. Three times during the season he gained more than 300 yards in a game. Norm probably would have done even better had he not injured his right knee in the third game of the year, restricting his mobility. A post-season operation has made it sound again.
Fresh out of Wake Forest in 1961, he started every game at quarterback for the Redskins and set all-time rookie marks in passes, completions and yards gained. He was traded to the Eagles for Sonny Jurgensen in 1964."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1966
"Norm came from Washington in 1964. He has been a starter ever since he became a pro, and he enjoyed another good year last season. He was the seventh leading passer in the league with 150 completions in 288 tries, a 52.1 percentage."
-1966 Philadelphia No. 142
"Maturity often comes late to pro quarterbacks, and the Eagles are hoping this is the year Norm Snead finally comes of age. A six-year veteran, he has had some brilliant seasons, but he has been unable to put two of them back to back.
In 1966, he slumped practically to the bottom of the heap, as he completed 103 passes out of 226 attempts for 1,275 yards for a 45.6 percentage and eight touchdowns. He was replaced after the tenth game of the season by King Hill. Yet in 1965, Norm fired 150 completions in 288 attempts for 2,346 yards and 15 touchdowns. He's a trifle heavy-legged getting set in the pocket, but there is nothing wrong with his arm.
A 6-4, 205-pounder from Wake Forest, he broke in with the Redskins in 1961 and broke several rookie marks."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1967
"Norm was Washington's 1st draft pick in 1961 and came to the Eagles for '64. Last season he completed 103 passes in 226 attempts for 1,275 yards and eight touchdowns.
He is a strong running quarterback and has scored 14 touchdowns himself."
-1967 Philadelphia No. 142
"There has been a baffling good-year, bad-year pattern to Norm Snead's seven seasons in the NFL. Should he revert to a poor one in '68, the Eagles can always re-run his game films from last year.
1967- that was a year for a quarterback to have, and it certainly was the best Norm has had. He finished fifth in the league with 240 completions out of 434 attempts for 3,399 yards, a 55.3 percentage and 29 touchdowns. In three different games, he threw for four touchdowns. Off such a performance, one would have to conclude that Snead has finally arrived.
He was more relaxed and more confident last year, if no more mobile. This last trait has been his essential problem, an inability to get away from blitzing rushers who drop him before he can let go of the ball. And remember, Norm did all he did last season without big Bob Brown blocking for him in half the games. His strong point has always been a strong arm, and now he's learning to select his plays with more sagacity."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1968
"This tall, strong-armed passer ranked fifth among NFL quarterbacks in 1967. He will be looking to get the Eagles flying high during the '68 season.
Norm played in the 1963 and 1965 Pro Bowls."
-1968 Topps No. 110
"Never known for having much agility, Norm Snead was even more immobile than usual last season when he was forced to sit out the first part of the campaign with a fractured left ankle. He sustained the injury in a pre-season game, and even when he came back, Norm couldn't operate at full efficiency. Which meant he kept his good year, bad year pattern intact. He finished far down in the passing tables with 152 completions in 291 attempts for 1,665 yards, a 52.2 percentage and 11 touchdowns; he also threw for 21 interceptions.
At his best, he's a good mechanical quarterback with a powerful arm, and in good years, such as 1967, can be most effective. That season, his best in his nine-year pro career, he finished fifth in the league in passing with 240 completions out of 434 attempts for 3,399 yards, a 55.3 percentage and 29 touchdowns.
This could be his turn to have a good year again."
-Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1969
"One of the NFL's top passers, Norm came to the Eagles in exchange for Sonny Jurgensen five years ago. His 87-yard touchdown pass in 1967 against St. Louis was the second longest in the Eagles' history. Norm's 240 completions that year set a team record.
Norm threw four touchdown passes for the Redskins in a 1962 game."
-1969 Topps No. 85
"This could be the make-or-break year for the Eagles' veteran quarterback, who has never achieved the greatness which was predicted for him back in 1961, when he was the number one draft pick of the Washington Redskins after a sensational career at Wake Forest. Going into his tenth pro season- his seventh with the Eagles- the rangy Virginian holds most of the Philadelphia passing records; however, he is still plagued by the inconsistency that has marked his pro career.
He hit his high-water mark in 1967, when he completed 240 of 434 passes- a 55.3 percentage- for 3,399 yards and 29 touchdowns. He hadn't come close to that kind of season before then, nor has he approached it since.
His 1969 marks were 190 completions in 379 attempts- 50.1 percent- for 2.768 yards and 19 touchdowns. Add to those figures 23 interceptions- the most in the NFL- and the 21 times that he was tackled with the ball, and you can see why Mr. Snead has to do better in 1970 if the Eagles are to get off the ground. If he doesn't, there's an eager back-up quarterback named George Mira ready to take over."
-Brenda and Jack Zanger, Pro Football 1970
"Norm has quite a list of college credits. He was a 1960 All-American and All-Atlantic Coast Conference. He played in the Blue-Gray, Senior Bowl, All-American Bowl and College All-Star games.
He holds the Eagles club records for most passes attempted in a season (434) and most passes completed in a season (240), both set in 1967. Norm was the 12th leading passer in the NFL in 1969."
-1970 Topps No. 115
"To give the Vikings added strength at quarterback, Minnesota acquired Norm Snead from the Eagles during the off-season. Snead was a starter in each of his first ten years in the NFL, first with the Redskins who drafted him first in 1961, and then with the Eagles who got him by trading Sonny Jurgensen to Washington. Last season he completed 54 percent of his passes for 2,323 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Snead has a good chance to displace Gary Cuozzo as Minnesota's starting quarterback this year. He has good size- 6-4, 215 pounds- and a strong arm and, most important, lots of experience. In the past, Snead has always played with inferior teams. With the Vikings that should be changed; he'll have a chance to prove he's a winner. The rap against him is that his release is slow. The Vikings should protect him so well that it won't matter."
-Brenda Zanger, Pro Football 1971
"Obtained by the Vikings in a trade with the Eagles during the off-season, Norm's best day as a pro occurred on November 11, 1963 as he completed 23 passes in 40 attempts for 424 yards for the Redskins against the Steelers. He threw five touchdowns in one game for the Eagles against the Steelers on September 28, 1969. His longest pass plays have gone for 87 yards, to Timmy Brown for a touchdown against Pittsburgh, October 4, 1964, and to Ben Hawkins for a touchdown against St. Louis, October 22, 1967.
Norm holds six Eagles' passing marks."
-1971 Topps No. 184
"One of the first big quarterbacks, Snead started as a rookie for the Redskins in 1961 and took a savage beating.
'He didn't have the supporting cast,' says his then-coach Bill McPeak, now an assistant with the Lions. There are those who think that the pounding suffered that rookie year affected his progress. 'Never learned to hold the ball until the last possible split-second,' some pro observers have said. Snead has a completion rate of only 50% and a high number of interceptions. Last season he played in only seven games for the Vikings backing up Gary Cuozzo, and completed 49% of his 75 passes and had eight percent intercepted.
He was traded by the Redskins to the Eagles in 1964 in a deal for Sonny Jurgensen. Snead was a starting quarterback for the Eagles for seven years before going to the Vikings last season.
Snead played in the Pro Bowl following the 1963 and 1965 seasons."
-John Devaney, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1972 Edition
"Used sparingly by the Giants last season, Norm came to the Giants in the trade for Fran Tarkenton and hopes to see more action for New York in 1972.
Norm sells insurance in the off-season."
-1972 Topps No. 118
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