Gary Wood

Infobox NFLretired


caption=1967 Gary Wood football card
position=Quarterback
number=19
birthdate=birth date|1942|2|5
Taylor, New York
deathdate=death date and age|1994|3|2|1942|2|5
debutyear=1964
finalyear=1969
draftyear=1964
draftround=8
draftpick=109
AFLdraftyear=1964
AFLdraftround=17
AFLdraftpick=132
college=Cornell
teams=
* New York Giants (1964-1966)
* New Orleans Saints (1967)
* New York Giants (1968-1969)
stat1label=TD-INT
stat1value=14-23
stat2label=Yards
stat2value=2,575
stat3label=QB Rating
stat3value=55.4
nfl=WOO043713

Gary Fay Wood (February 5, 1942 — March 2, 1994) played professional American football in the NFL from the year 1964 until the year 1969.

The 5'11" quarterback was drafted out of Cornell University in the 1964 NFL Draft by the New York Giants in the eighth round. Wood posted unremarkable stats in his time in the NFL with a career completion percentage of 46.5% and a mediocre passer rating of 54.5 [http://www.jt-sw.com/football/pro/players.nsf/ID/04510100] .

Wood was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame on March 24, 1996 [http://www.jewishsports.org/jewishsports/detail.asp?id=72] .

College Years

After graduating from Cortland High School in Cortland, New York Gary Wood had an outstanding career as the three-year starting quarterback at Cornell beginning in 1961, his sophomore season. Wood was the leading rusher and passer for the Big Red every year in which he was the starter.

Wood was elected team captain in 1963 and continued to perform well for Cornell. During his senior year, Wood was elected to the Sphinx Head Society.

NFL Years

In 1964, he was picked in the 8th round of the NFL Draft by the New York Giants (109th overall).

Wood had a decent rookie season for the Giants backing up starter Y.A. Tittle.

In 1967, Wood was picked up in the expansion draft for the New Orleans Saints. Wood played in only two games for the Saints in the 1967 season and was traded back to New York later for a draft pick.

Wood spent the remainder of his NFL career in New York backing up Fran Tarkenton.

He ended his NFL career in 1969 having played in 63 games.

After the NFL

Once his NFL career had ended, Gary Wood played in the Canadian Football League from 1970—1971 for the Ottawa Rough Riders.

Following his stint in the CFL, Wood opened an insurance firm in New York City and helped build Temple Beth Torah in Melville, New York. He was inducted into the Cornell Athletic Hall of Fame in 1979 and the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.

External links

* http://www.jewishsports.org/jewishsports/detail.asp?id=72
* http://www.jewsinsports.org/profile.asp?sport=football&ID=310
* http://www.jt-sw.com/football/pro/players.nsf/ID/04510100