Gary Beban
- Actor
Gary Beban is an American former professional football player. Beban won the 1967 Heisman Trophy, narrowly beating out O.J. Simpson and the Maxwell Award while playing quarterback for the UCLA Bruins. He played professional football for two seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with Washington Redskins. Beban was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1988.
After graduating from UCLA, Beban was drafted by The Los Angeles Rams in the second round (30th overall) of the 1968 NFL draft. His draft rights were traded to the Washington Redskins on June 14, 1968, after failing to agree to terms on a contract with the Rams, in exchange for a first-round draft pick in 1969 (the Rams used the pick, 10th overall, to select split end Jim Seymour). Beban signed a reported three-year contract three days later. He played for the Redskins in 1968 and 1969. But, sitting behind veteran quarterback and future NFL Hall-of-Famer Sonny Jurgensen, Beban was not given much game time, and the professional stardom portended by his college career was not forthcoming. After being released from the Redskins on September 8, 1970, Beban signed with the Denver Broncos following the 1970 season. However, he was placed on waivers on August 5, 1971, and retired from professional football immediately.
After graduating from UCLA, Beban was drafted by The Los Angeles Rams in the second round (30th overall) of the 1968 NFL draft. His draft rights were traded to the Washington Redskins on June 14, 1968, after failing to agree to terms on a contract with the Rams, in exchange for a first-round draft pick in 1969 (the Rams used the pick, 10th overall, to select split end Jim Seymour). Beban signed a reported three-year contract three days later. He played for the Redskins in 1968 and 1969. But, sitting behind veteran quarterback and future NFL Hall-of-Famer Sonny Jurgensen, Beban was not given much game time, and the professional stardom portended by his college career was not forthcoming. After being released from the Redskins on September 8, 1970, Beban signed with the Denver Broncos following the 1970 season. However, he was placed on waivers on August 5, 1971, and retired from professional football immediately.