| 1 | {{Short description|Argentine gridiron football player (1943–2023)}} |
| 2 | {{use mdy dates|date=March 2023}} |
| 3 | {{Infobox NFL biography |
| 4 | | image = |
| 5 | | caption = |
| 6 | | height_ft = 6 |
| 7 | | height_in = 3 |
| 8 | | weight_lbs = 265 |
| 9 | | position = [[Tackle (gridiron football position)|Offensive tackle]], <br> [[Guard (gridiron football)|Guard]] |
| 10 | | number = 76, 75, 65 |
| 11 | | birth_date = {{birth date|1943|5|8}} |
| 12 | | birth_place = [[Buenos Aires]], [[Argentina]] |
| 13 | | death_date = {{death date and age|2023|3|13|1943|5|8}} |
| 14 | | death_place = |
| 15 | | high_school = [[Farmington High School (New Mexico)|Farmington (NM)]] |
| 16 | | college = [[Tulsa Golden Hurricane football|Tulsa]] |
| 17 | | draftyear = 1965 |
| 18 | | draftround = 2 |
| 19 | | draftpick = 21<br>(by the [[Washington Redskins]])<ref name="dbfb_2011_waredskins"/> |
| 20 | | afldraftyear = 1965 |
| 21 | | afldraftround = [[1965 American Football League draft#Round five|5]] |
| 22 | | afldraftpick = 33<br>([[Denver Broncos]])<ref name="rtafl_2004_1965draft"/> |
| 23 | | pastteams = |
| 24 | * [[Denver Broncos]] ([[1965 AFL season|1965]]–[[1967 AFL season|1967]]) |
| 25 | * [[Minnesota Vikings]] ({{NFL Year|1967}}) |
| 26 | * [[Chicago Bears]] ({{NFL Year|1968}}) |
| 27 | * [[Atlanta Falcons]] ({{NFL Year|1969}}–{{NFL Year|1970}}) |
| 28 | | highlights = |
| 29 | * 2× [[Missouri Valley Conference|All-MVC]] (1963, 1964) |
| 30 | | statlabel1 = Games played |
| 31 | | statvalue1 = 58 |
| 32 | | statlabel2 = Games started |
| 33 | | statvalue2 = 40 |
| 34 | | nflnew = bobbreitenstein/2510136 |
| 35 | | pfr = BreiBo20 |
| 36 | }} |
| 37 | |
| 38 | '''Robert Corr Breitenstein''' (May 8, 1943 – March 13, 2023) was a professional [[American football]] player in the [[American Football League]] and [[National Football League]] for the [[Denver Broncos]], [[Minnesota Vikings]], and [[Atlanta Falcons]]. He played [[college football]] at the [[University of Tulsa]]. He is distinguished as being the first [[Argentine]] to play in the [[National Football League]]. |
| 39 | |
| 40 | ==Early years== |
| 41 | Breitenstein attended [[Farmington High School (New Mexico)|Farmington High School]], where he was a teammate of future [[NFL]] player [[Ralph Neely]].<ref name="tulsaworld_19910530_halloffame" /> |
| 42 | |
| 43 | Breitenstein accepted a scholarship from the [[University of Tulsa]] and was a part of the team that defeated [[1964 Ole Miss Rebels football team|Ole Miss]], 14-7 in the [[1964 Bluebonnet Bowl]]. |
| 44 | |
| 45 | In 1994, he was inducted into the [[University of Tulsa]] Athletic Hall of Fame. |
| 46 | |
| 47 | ==Professional career== |
| 48 | ===Denver Broncos=== |
| 49 | Breitenstein was selected in the fifth round (33rd overall) of the [[1965 AFL draft]] by the [[Denver Broncos]]. He was also selected by the [[Washington Redskins]] in the second round (21st overall) of the [[1965 NFL Draft]].<ref name="pg_19650109_redskinspick" /> He signed with the Broncos, although he later tried to invalidate the contract.<ref name="flc_19650317_broncoscontract" /> |
| 50 | |
| 51 | As a rookie, he shared the starter [[left tackle]] position with [[Lee Bernet]].<ref name="fls_19650827_lefttackle" /> The next year, he became the regular starter. He was traded to the [[Minnesota Vikings]] in exchange for a fifth round draft choice (#117-[[Mike Bragg]]). |
| 52 | |
| 53 | ===Minnesota Vikings=== |
| 54 | On October 4, 1967, he was activated from the [[taxi squad]] and played in 11 games. On August 5, 1968, he walked out of [[Training camp (National Football League)|training camp]] in a contract dispute and was placed on the reserve list.<ref name="ei_19680806_vikingsdrop" /> On October 19, he was traded to the [[Chicago Bears]] in exchange for a draft pick.<ref name="ar_19681020_transactions" /> |
| 55 | |
| 56 | ===Chicago Bears=== |
| 57 | In 1968, he was declared inactive in 9 games. He was waived on September 16, 1969.<ref name="mr_19690917_bearsrelease" /> |
| 58 | |
| 59 | ===Atlanta Falcons=== |
| 60 | In 1969, he signed with the [[Atlanta Falcons]] and played in 10 games. In 1970, after playing in 7 games, he was lost for the year with a knee injury.<ref name="ms_19701104_falconsinjury" /> An automobile accident 9 days before the 1971 [[Training camp (National Football League)|training camp]] complicated the injury and he was not able to recover. He was released on August 23.<ref name="hj_19710824_falconscut" /> |
| 61 | |
| 62 | ==Personal life and death== |
| 63 | After football, he owned and operated an insurance agency. He was a vice president of the [[National Football League Players Association ]] for the state of Oklahoma. He appeared in the movie ''[[Brian's Song]]'', when the director used actual footage, showing him helping cart [[running back]] [[Gale Sayers]] off on a stretcher.<ref name="tw_19950215_moviecameo" /> |
| 64 | |
| 65 | Breitenstein died on March 13, 2023, at the age of 79.<ref name="th_20230316_obit"/> |
| 66 | |
| 67 | ==References== |
| 68 | {{Reflist|30em|refs= |
| 69 | |
| 70 | <ref name="ar_19681020_transactions">{{cite web |
| 71 | |url = https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/20214516/ |
| 72 | |title = Transactions |
| 73 | |work = [[The Arizona Republic]] |
| 74 | |date = October 20, 1968 |
| 75 | |access-date = April 17, 2016 |
| 76 | }} {{subscription required|s}}</ref> |
| 77 | |
| 78 | <ref name="dbfb_2011_waredskins">{{cite web |
| 79 | |url = http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=WAS&lg=NFL&yr=1965 |
| 80 | |title = 1965 Washington Redskins |
| 81 | |website = databaseFootball.com |
| 82 | |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060901003756/http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=WAS&lg=NFL&yr=1965 |
| 83 | |access-date = July 9, 2020 |
| 84 | |archive-date = September 1, 2006 |
| 85 | }}</ref> |
| 86 | |
| 87 | <ref name="ei_19680806_vikingsdrop">{{cite web |
| 88 | |author = <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |
| 89 | |title = Vikings Drop Two, Add One |
| 90 | |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19680806&id=pkBQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=e1cDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4724,1174017&hl=es |
| 91 | |date = August 6, 1968 |
| 92 | |work = [[Evening Independent|The Evening Independent]] |
| 93 | |access-date = April 17, 2016 |
| 94 | }}</ref> |
| 95 | |
| 96 | <ref name="flc_19650317_broncoscontract">{{cite web |
| 97 | |author = <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |
| 98 | |title = Breitenstein Wants Out Of Contract |
| 99 | |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19650317&id=a8pNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MooDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6168,5849731&hl=es |
| 100 | |date = March 17, 1965 |
| 101 | |work = [[The Free Lance-Star]] |
| 102 | |access-date = November 28, 2018 |
| 103 | }}</ref> |
| 104 | |
| 105 | <ref name="fls_19650827_lefttackle">{{cite web |
| 106 | |last = Rathet |
| 107 | |first = Mike |
| 108 | |title = Camp-Walking Makes Denver Coach Happy |
| 109 | |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19650827&id=x_5NAAAAIBAJ&sjid=z4sDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4142,3117444&hl=es |
| 110 | |date = August 27, 1965 |
| 111 | |work = [[The Free Lance-Star]] |
| 112 | |agency = Associated Press |
| 113 | |access-date = April 17, 2016 |
| 114 | }}</ref> |
| 115 | |
| 116 | <ref name="hj_19710824_falconscut">{{cite web |
| 117 | |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=19710824&id=lV8sAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XM0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=2823,4140686&hl=es |
| 118 | |title = Falcons Trim Roster By 4; Small, Snyder Rejoin Team |
| 119 | |date = August 24, 1971 |
| 120 | |work = [[Spartanburg Herald-Journal|Herald-Journal]] |
| 121 | |access-date = April 17, 2016 |
| 122 | }}</ref> |
| 123 | |
| 124 | <ref name="pg_19650109_redskinspick">{{cite news |
| 125 | |author = <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |
| 126 | |title = 'Skins Lose First Two Choices |
| 127 | |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19650109&id=VWQwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mWwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1347,1337238&hl=es |
| 128 | |work = [[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]] |
| 129 | |agency = Associated Press |
| 130 | |date = January 9, 1963 |
| 131 | |access-date = April 17, 2016 |
| 132 | }}</ref> |
| 133 | |
| 134 | <ref name="mr_19690917_bearsrelease">{{cite web |
| 135 | |title = Some Veterans Players Go |
| 136 | |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2512&dat=19690917&id=wbNYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GwANAAAAIBAJ&pg=2758,2319036&hl=es |
| 137 | |date = September 17, 1969 |
| 138 | |work = [[Record-Journal|The Morning Record]] |
| 139 | |access-date = April 17, 2016 |
| 140 | }}</ref> |
| 141 | |
| 142 | <ref name="ms_19701104_falconsinjury">{{cite web |
| 143 | |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19701104&id=uc4VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KhEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4610,592827&hl=es |
| 144 | |title = Falcons Lose Vet Tackle |
| 145 | |date = November 4, 1970 |
| 146 | |work = The Milwaukee Sentinel |
| 147 | |access-date = April 17, 2016 |
| 148 | }}</ref> |
| 149 | |
| 150 | <ref name="rtafl_2004_1965draft">{{cite web |
| 151 | |last = Phillips |
| 152 | |first = Robert |
| 153 | |year = 2004 |
| 154 | |title = American Football League Draft - 1965 |
| 155 | |url = http://www.remembertheafl.com/1965AFLDraft.html |
| 156 | |website = remembertheafl.com |
| 157 | |access-date = July 9, 2020 |
| 158 | |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081224112426/http://www.remembertheafl.com/1965AFLDraft.html |
| 159 | |archive-date = December 24, 2008 |
| 160 | |url-status = live |
| 161 | }}</ref> |
| 162 | |
| 163 | <ref name="th_20230316_obit">{{cite web |
| 164 | | title = TU Mourns Loss of Golden Hurricane Hall of Famer Bob Breitenstein |
| 165 | | date = March 16, 2023 |
| 166 | | location = Tulsa, Oklahoma |
| 167 | | website = tulsahurricane.com |
| 168 | | url = https://tulsahurricane.com/news/2023/3/16/football-tu-mourns-loss-of-golden-hurricane-hall-of-famer-bob-breitenstein |
| 169 | | access-date = March 31, 2023 |
| 170 | | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230330212130/https://tulsahurricane.com/news/2023/3/16/football-tu-mourns-loss-of-golden-hurricane-hall-of-famer-bob-breitenstein |
| 171 | | archive-date = March 30, 2023 |
| 172 | | url-status = live |
| 173 | }}</ref> |
| 174 | |
| 175 | <ref name="tulsaworld_19910530_halloffame">{{cite web |
| 176 | |url = https://www.tulsaworld.com/archives/bill-connors/article_d12daf39-b455-584a-a047-1c28921e3479.html |
| 177 | |title = Bill Connors |
| 178 | |publisher = Tulsa World |
| 179 | |access-date = April 17, 2016 |
| 180 | |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181128065446/https://www.tulsaworld.com/archives/bill-connors/article_d12daf39-b455-584a-a047-1c28921e3479.html |
| 181 | |archive-date = November 28, 2018 |
| 182 | |url-status = live |
| 183 | }}</ref> |
| 184 | |
| 185 | <ref name="tw_19950215_moviecameo">{{cite web |
| 186 | |last = O'Kane |
| 187 | |first = Dan |
| 188 | |url = https://www.tulsaworld.com/archives/breitenstein-s-induction-set/article_8f5cceee-3572-5f16-90f4-9d23323760f3.html |
| 189 | |title = Breitenstein's Induction Set |
| 190 | |work = [[Tulsa World]] |
| 191 | |access-date = April 17, 2016 |
| 192 | |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181128081821/https://www.tulsaworld.com/archives/breitenstein-s-induction-set/article_8f5cceee-3572-5f16-90f4-9d23323760f3.html |
| 193 | |archive-date = November 28, 2018 |
| 194 | |url-status = live |
| 195 | }}</ref> |
| 196 | |
| 197 | }} |
| 198 | |
| 199 | ==External links== |
| 200 | * [https://tulsahurricane.com/sports/2015/4/21/GEN_20140101142.aspx University of Tulsa Athletic Hall of Fame bio]. |
| 201 | |
| 202 | {{Redskins1965DraftPicks}} |
| 203 | {{Broncos1965DraftPicks}} |
| 204 | |
| 205 | {{DEFAULTSORT:Breitenstein, Bob}} |
| 206 | [[Category:1943 births]] |
| 207 | [[Category:2023 deaths]] |
| 208 | [[Category:American football offensive linemen]] |
| 209 | [[Category:Denver Broncos (AFL) players]] |
| 210 | [[Category:Minnesota Vikings players]] |
| 211 | [[Category:Chicago Bears players]] |
| 212 | [[Category:Atlanta Falcons players]] |
| 213 | [[Category:Tulsa Golden Hurricane football players]] |
| 214 | [[Category:Sportspeople from Buenos Aires]] |
| 215 | [[Category:Argentine emigrants to the United States]] |
| 216 | [[Category:Argentine players of American football]] |