Roy Gerela
Encyclopedia
Roy Gerela is a former American football
placekicker
best known for his years with the Pittsburgh Steelers
, with whom he won three Super Bowl
rings.
Gerela graduated from Kalani High School in Honolulu, and played college football at New Mexico State University
. He was selected in the fourth round of the 1969 AFL Draft
by the Houston Oilers and played for them in the American Football League
in 1969, as well as their first NFL season of 1970. He signed with the Steelers before the 1971 season, and quickly became popular with Steelers fans, inspiring a fan club, "Gerela's Gorillas." He led the AFC
in scoring in 1973 and 1974, and was named to the Pro Bowl
in 1973 and 1975.
Gerela was a member of the Steelers' Super Bowl championship teams in 1973-74, 1974–75, and 1978–79, but was released by the Steelers before the 1979-80 season in favor of Matt Bahr
. He appeared in three games for the San Diego Chargers
in 1979 before a torn groin muscle ended his career.
Gerela ranks third on the Steelers' all-time scoring list, behind Gary Anderson and Jeff Reed.
Since his playing career ended, Gerela has worked as both a high school and college assistant football coach.
Gerela came from a particularly gifted family. His brothers were also professional kickers in the Canadian Football League
; Ted Gerela
with the BC Lions
and Metro Gerela
briefly with the Montreal Alouettes
(Metro is enshrined in the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame.) In 1993, his son Ted Gerela was drafted in the 7th round of the 1993 CFL Draft
by the BC Lions as a linebacker from Rocky Mountain College
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
best known for his years with the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
, with whom he won three Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
rings.
Gerela graduated from Kalani High School in Honolulu, and played college football at New Mexico State University
New Mexico State University
New Mexico State University at Las Cruces , is a major land-grant university in Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States...
. He was selected in the fourth round of the 1969 AFL Draft
American Football League Draft
The American Football League stocked its teams in two ways:# Signing free agents ....
by the Houston Oilers and played for them in the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
in 1969, as well as their first NFL season of 1970. He signed with the Steelers before the 1971 season, and quickly became popular with Steelers fans, inspiring a fan club, "Gerela's Gorillas." He led the AFC
American Football Conference
The American Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the National Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL....
in scoring in 1973 and 1974, and was named to the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
in 1973 and 1975.
Gerela was a member of the Steelers' Super Bowl championship teams in 1973-74, 1974–75, and 1978–79, but was released by the Steelers before the 1979-80 season in favor of Matt Bahr
Matt Bahr
Matthew David Bahr is a former professional American football placekicker in the National Football League. He attended Neshaminy High School in Langhorne, Pennsylvania where he excelled in both football and soccer...
. He appeared in three games for the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1979 before a torn groin muscle ended his career.
Gerela ranks third on the Steelers' all-time scoring list, behind Gary Anderson and Jeff Reed.
Since his playing career ended, Gerela has worked as both a high school and college assistant football coach.
Gerela came from a particularly gifted family. His brothers were also professional kickers 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....
; Ted Gerela
Ted Gerela
Ted Gerela is a former award winning kicker in the Canadian Football League.Gerela, a graduate of Washington State University joined the British Columbia Lions in 1967 and played with them for 7 seasons...
with the BC Lions
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
and Metro Gerela
Metro Gerela
Metro Gerela is a Canadian soccer coach and former professional Soccer player in Vancouver and British Columbia.In 1953, during the first Vancouver Sun Tournament of Champions played in Callister Park, Gerela was chosen to be the first "Sun Soccer Boy".On October 17, 1964, Gerela led the New...
briefly with the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
(Metro is enshrined in the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame.) In 1993, his son Ted Gerela was drafted in the 7th round of the 1993 CFL Draft
1993 CFL Draft
The 1993 CFL Draft saw the British Columbia Lions have the first overall draft pick while the Grey Cup champion Calgary Stampeders drafted last in the first round. This draft consisted of only seven rounds and 54 selections, which made it smaller than many of its predecessors.-1st Round:1...
by the BC Lions as a linebacker from Rocky Mountain College
Rocky Mountain College
Rocky Mountain College , located in Billings, Montana, is a private comprehensive college offering more than 25 liberal arts- and professionally oriented majors. In fall 2009, the college had 894 enrolled students...
.