Erik Konrad Affholter (born April 10, 1966) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). As a 16-year-old place kicker during his junior season of high school he broke a national record with a 64-yard field goal, which at the time was the longest field goal kicked at any level. Playing college football for the USC Trojans, he was an All-American and established school records for most receptions in a season, and in a career.
No. 82 | |||||||
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Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||
Personal information | |||||||
Born: | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | April 10, 1966||||||
Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||
Weight: | 187 lb (85 kg) | ||||||
Career information | |||||||
High school: | Oak Park (Oak Park, California) | ||||||
College: | USC | ||||||
NFL draft: | 1989 / Round: 4 / Pick: 110 | ||||||
Career history | |||||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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Player stats at NFL.com |
He was born in Detroit, Michigan, to Conrad (a salesman) and Ruth Affholter, and is Jewish.[1][2] In the early 1970s, the family moved to Agoura, California.[3] He later lived in Anthem, Arizona.[4][5]
Affholter played football at Oak Park High School in Ventura County, California.[5] As a 16-year-old place kicker during his junior season he broke a national record with a 64-yard (59 meter) field goal in 1982, which at the time was the longest field goal kicked at any level.[6][3][4][7][8][9] A sportswriter at the game estimated it could have gone 74 yards (68 meters).[10] Asked about his kick, Affholter said: "I'd much rather catch touchdown passes."[1] At the time, as a wide receiver he had caught more touchdown passes than any player in his high school conference.[1]
In addition to kicking field goals and extra points, he played tailback, wide receiver, defensive back, and linebacker.[11] In 1983 he was a USA Today All-USA high school football first-team All-American, All-California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), and All-State; he was also a Los Angeles Times running back of the year.[9][12]
Affholter played college football at the University of Southern California (USC) for the Trojans as a wide receiver, though he had initially received a scholarship as a kicker.[11][13][14][15][16] He was athletic, with a 36-inch (910 mm) vertical jump.[11]
On November 21, 1987, he made a controversial memorable fourth quarter winning end zone juggling touchdown catch for a 17-13 upset over Troy Aikman's No. 5-ranked UCLA Bruins that sent the unranked 1987 USC Trojans football team to the 1988 Rose Bowl.[5][17][18][19][9] He was named a member of the 1988 College Football All-America Team, and a Pac-10 All-Academic selection.[20][8][21][9] In 1988 as a senior he led USC with 68 catches for 952 yards and eight touchdowns.[22] He established USC records for most receptions in a season, and in a career (123).[16][23] Upon graduation, he became a member of the USC Skull and Dagger Society.[9]
He was drafted in the fourth round of the 1989 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins.[24][25] On April 23, 1989, the Redskins then immediately traded him and two draft picks to the Green Bay Packers for quarterback Jeff Graham.[26][9] About a month later he broke his ankle in a pick-up basketball game in New York City, shortly before reporting to Packers training camp.[5] He spent the entire season on injured reserve.[23] He played the 1991 season in the NFL for the Packers.[7]
In 1992, he signed with the San Diego Chargers as a free agent.[27] He retired in 1995 due to a career-ending knee injury.[9]
Since retiring, he has coached high school and youth football.[9][28]
In 2016 he was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.[29][2][4]