Del Shofner, Giants’ Star WR of the Early 1960s, Dies at 85

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Del Shofner, one the best wide receivers in the 95-year history of the New York Giants, has died. He was 85.

Shofner was the 11th overall selection in the 1957 NFL Draft out of Baylor by the Los Angeles Rams. After two All Pro seasons in L.A., Shofner was traded to the Giants in the summer of 1961 in exchange for a first round selection in 1962 (the Rams used the pick to select QB Roman Gabriel).

Shofner would immediately become quarterback Y.A. Tittle’s favorite target and go on to three more Pro Bowls from ’61-’63 and was the first player in NFL history to register three consecutive 1,000 yard seasons. Injuries would hamper the 6’3″, 185 pound Shofner the next few seasons, which also saw the decline of the Giants. He retired in 1967.

Shofner set a Giants’ franchise record in 1962 with 12 receiving touchdowns, a record that has since been surpassed by Homer Jones (13, 1967), and Odell Beckham, Jr. (13, 2015). It has been matched twice (Beckham, 2014 and Plaxico Burress, 2007). Shofner had 11 touchdown catches in 1961.

Shofner’s 1,181 yards in 1963 was also a team record until Jones broke it in 1967 with 1,209. It stands as the 11th highest total in Giants’ history. Victor Cruz holds the franchise record (1,536 in 2011).

Shofner is a member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1960s. He is not been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame nor has been enshrined in the Giants’ Ring of Honor.