1977 Profile: Bob Tucker

Tight End
No. 38
Bloomsburg State
"He caught 42 passes to lead the Giants. He caught 59 in 1971 to become the first tight end to lead the NFL in receiving.
He came to pro football the hard way, having played in places like Lowell, Mass. and Pottstown, PA in the Atlantic Coast Football League after graduating from Bloomsburg State in 1967. He latched on with the Giants as a free agent in 1970."

-John Devaney, Schenley Pro Football Guide 1977

"The pride of Bloomsburg State. And the only pass receiver the Giants have. Tucker led the club last year with 42 receptions and remains one of the best- if not the best- blocking tight ends.
Tucker set NAIA records at dear old Bloomsburg but went undrafted by the pros. The Giants got lucky when they signed him. His 59 receptions in 1971 were high in the NFC and made him the first tight end ever to win the receiving title.
Born in Hazelton, PA, Tucker played semipro ball with Lowell, Mass. and Pottstown, PA before making the NFL on his third try after being let go by the Eagles and Patriots. Now in his eighth year, he no longer has to look back. Gladly."

-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1977 Edition

"The Giants signed Tucker as a free agent in 1970 and he immediately beat out Aaron Thomas as the starting tight end. Bob caught 40 passes for 571 yards and five touchdowns that year and came very close to winning the NFL's Rookie of the Year award. In 1971, he became the first tight end in NFL history to take a receiving title when he caught 59 for 791 [yards] and four touchdowns. Additionally, he was the first Giant end to earn an individual [receiving] title since 1935, when Tod Goodwin led the league.
Tucker came back with another great season in 1972, winning All-NFL honors for the first time, grabbing 55 passes for 764 yards. In 1973, he again led the club with 50 catches to move past the 200 mark and added five more touchdowns, and in 1974 finished second on the club with 41 grabs.
He was again second in that department in 1975, grabbing 34 for 484 yards despite missing one game with an injury. Bob's big day was against the Saints when he had seven for 80 yards before being kayoed in the fourth period. His long gainer of the year was a dazzling 47-yard touchdown run with a screen pass against San Diego.
In 1976, playing 14 games, Bob again led the club in receiving with 42 for 498 yards and a touchdown (against the Rams) and his career total of 321 grabs moved him ahead of Kyle Rote into the third spot on the club's all-time list.
He holds the club record of catching passes in 45 straight games. Big, strong and a great runner, Bob had trials with the Eagles and Patriots and spent two seasons in the minor leagues with Lowell, Mass. and Pottstown, PA.
Bob set three NAIA records with Bloomsburg State in 1967- most receptions, highest single-game yardage and most yardage in a season. As a two-way end, he was named to the Little All-America team in 1967 but, strangely, no pro club took him in the draft.
Robert Tucker was born in Hazelton, Pennsylvania and is of Tyrolean-Polish descent. His father is a construction foreman in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Bob was a top student in college and earned a degree in biology. He represents Walsh & Walsh Insurance Co. in between football seasons."

-1977 New York Giants Media Guide