Blair Kiel
Encyclopedia
Blair Armstrong Kiel is a former four-year starting
quarterback
for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
team, from 1980-1983. He played professionally
for several teams in the National Football League
, the Canadian Football League
and the Arena Football League, and was inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame
in 1998. Currently Kiel works as an advisor to corporate real estate clients in the Indianapolis
area.
in Indiana
, where he was rated the #3 quarterback in the nation by Parade
. Coach Richard Dangles offered him a scholarship
to the University of Notre Dame
, where Kiel earned the starting quarterback job during his freshman year, four games into the 1980 season. The team achieved a 9-0-1 record and the #1 ranking before closing the season with losses at USC (20-3) and to Georgia
in the Sugar Bowl
(17-10).
Kiel went on to become the sixth all-time leading passer for Notre Dame, and holds the record for the team's longest pass play—a 96-yard bomb to Joe Howard against Georgia Tech
in 1981. In his final game, he led the unranked Irish to victory over 13th-ranked Boston College
in the Liberty Bowl
.
in the 1984 NFL Draft
but only saw playing time in the regular season as a holder
on kick attempts. He later played in seven games over two seasons with the Indianapolis Colts
as both a quarterback and punter, and then spent three years with the Green Bay Packers
. Following stints in the Canadian Football League
and the Arena Football League, he retired at the end of 1993.
Kiel has an extensive and impressive family lineage. His son Brandon was a successful quarterback for Hamilton Southeastern High School
in Fishers, Indiana
, earning a scholarship to Indiana University
before leaving the football team. Blair has two brothers, Pat and Kevin, who also played football for Columbus East at the same time. Kip went on to Butler University
to play football after sustaining an injury. His sons, Blair's nephews, have gone on to have successful quarterbacking careers as well. Drew Kiel is currently quarterback for Illinois State while Dusty Kiel earned a scholarship to Indiana University and the youngest, Gunner, is the second rated quarterback according to ESPN Scouts Inc.
He currently resides in the Indianapolis area (2011)
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
team, from 1980-1983. He played professionally
Professional sports
Professional sports, as opposed to amateur sports, are sports in which athletes receive payment for their performance. Professional athleticism has come to the fore through a combination of developments. Mass media and increased leisure have brought larger audiences, so that sports organizations...
for several teams in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
, the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
and the Arena Football League, and was inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame
Indiana Football Hall of Fame
The Indiana Football Hall of Fame is a sports museum and hall of fame in Richmond, Indiana. It honors persons associated with high school, college and professional American football in Indiana. It also works to establish scholarships and endowments to promote football in the state of Indiana...
in 1998. Currently Kiel works as an advisor to corporate real estate clients in the Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
area.
College
Kiel attended Columbus East High SchoolColumbus East High School
Columbus East High School is one of two high schools in Columbus, Indiana. It was founded in 1972 due to the growing educational demands of the community. As the population of the community rose, Columbus High School could not support all school age students...
in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, where he was rated the #3 quarterback in the nation by Parade
Parade (magazine)
Parade is an American nationwide Sunday newspaper magazine, distributed in more than 500 newspapers in the United States. It was founded in 1941 and is owned by Advance Publications. The most widely read magazine in the U.S., Parade has a circulation of 32.2 million and a readership of nearly 70...
. Coach Richard Dangles offered him a scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
to the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, where Kiel earned the starting quarterback job during his freshman year, four games into the 1980 season. The team achieved a 9-0-1 record and the #1 ranking before closing the season with losses at USC (20-3) and to Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
in the Sugar Bowl
Sugar Bowl
The Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Sugar Bowl has been played annually since January 1, 1935, and celebrated its 75th anniversary on January 2, 2009...
(17-10).
Kiel went on to become the sixth all-time leading passer for Notre Dame, and holds the record for the team's longest pass play—a 96-yard bomb to Joe Howard against Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team represents the Georgia Institute of Technology in collegiate level football. While the team is officially designated as the Yellow Jackets, it is also referred to as the Ramblin' Wreck. The Yellow Jackets are a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
in 1981. In his final game, he led the unranked Irish to victory over 13th-ranked Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
in the Liberty Bowl
Liberty Bowl
The Liberty Bowl is an annual U.S. American college football bowl game played in December of each year from 1959 to 2007 and in January in 2009 and 2010. The Liberty Bowl was sponsored by AXA Financial and was known as the AXA Liberty Bowl from 1997 to 2003...
.
Professional
Kiel was selected by the Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
in the 1984 NFL Draft
1984 NFL Draft
The 1984 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held May 1-2, 1984. No teams elected to claim any players in the regular supplemental draft that...
but only saw playing time in the regular season as a holder
Holder (American football)
In American football the holder is the player who receives the snap during field goal and extra point attempts made by place kick. The holder is usually positioned between seven and eight yards behind the line of scrimmage. The holder kneels down and places the hand farthest from the line of...
on kick attempts. He later played in seven games over two seasons with the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
as both a quarterback and punter, and then spent three years with the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
. Following stints in the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
and the Arena Football League, he retired at the end of 1993.
Personal
Kiel was arrested http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=11085116 on battery charges in Indianapolis on September 5, 2009.Kiel has an extensive and impressive family lineage. His son Brandon was a successful quarterback for Hamilton Southeastern High School
Hamilton Southeastern High School
Hamilton Southeastern High School is a four-star, Blue Ribbon public high school in Fishers, Indiana, a town north of Indianapolis. It is a part of the Hamilton Southeastern School District...
in Fishers, Indiana
Fishers, Indiana
Fishers is a town located in Fall Creek and Delaware townships, Hamilton County, Indiana, with a population of 76,794, according to the 2010 census. A suburb of Indianapolis, Fishers has grown rapidly in recent decades: about 350 people lived there in 1963, 2,000 in 1980, and only 7,200 as recently...
, earning a scholarship to Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
before leaving the football team. Blair has two brothers, Pat and Kevin, who also played football for Columbus East at the same time. Kip went on to Butler University
Butler University
Butler University is a private university located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1855 and named after founder Ovid Butler, the university offers 60 degree programs to 4,400 students through six colleges: business, communication, education, liberal Arts and sciences, pharmacy and health...
to play football after sustaining an injury. His sons, Blair's nephews, have gone on to have successful quarterbacking careers as well. Drew Kiel is currently quarterback for Illinois State while Dusty Kiel earned a scholarship to Indiana University and the youngest, Gunner, is the second rated quarterback according to ESPN Scouts Inc.
He currently resides in the Indianapolis area (2011)