Joe Kapp

Joe Kapp
Kapp in 1960
No. 82, 22, 11
PositionQuarterback
Personal information
Born(1938-03-19)March 19, 1938
Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S.
DiedMay 8, 2023(2023-05-08) (aged 85)
San Jose, California, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High schoolHart (Santa Clarita, California)
CollegeCalifornia (1956–1958)
NFL draft1959: 18th round, 209th overall pick
Career history
Playing
* Offseason or practice squad member only
Coaching
Operations
Awards and highlights
NFL
CFL
NCAA
NFL record
As a coach
Career NFL statistics
Passing attempts918
Passing completions449
Completion percentage48.9%
TD–INT40–64
Passing yards5,911
Passer rating55.1
Rushing yards611
Rushing touchdowns5
Stats at Pro Football Reference
Career CFL statistics
TD–INT136–129
Passing yards22,725
Passing attempts2,709
Passing completions1,476
Head coaching record
Regular season20–34–1 (.370)

Joseph Robert Garcia Kapp (March 19, 1938 – May 8, 2023) was an American football quarterback, coach, and executive who played professionally for 12 seasons. Kapp spent the majority of his career with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He is the only quarterback to start in the Super Bowl, Rose Bowl, and Grey Cup.

Kapp played college football for the California Golden Bears, winning the Voit and Pop Warner trophies and earning first-team All-American honors in 1958 en route to an appearance in the 1959 Rose Bowl. He began his professional career with the Calgary Stampeders, where he spent two seasons before joining the Lions. During his six seasons with the Lions, he led the team to their first championship title in the 52nd Grey Cup while receiving the Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy and two All-Star selections. Kapp joined the Vikings in 1967, earning Pro Bowl honors two years later en route to a victory in the 1969 NFL Championship and the team's Super Bowl debut in Super Bowl IV. He signed with the Boston Patriots the following year, where he played his last season.

After retiring as a player, Kapp returned to the Golden Bears as head coach, serving from 1982 to 1986 and winning Pac-10 Coach of the Year in his first season. He later returned to the Lions as general manager in 1990. Kapp was inducted to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1984 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004.