| Emil Banjavic | |
| Position: | Back |
| Birth Date: | 19 September 1915 |
| Birth Place: | Staunton, Illinois, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. |
| Height Ft: | 6 |
| Height In: | 1 |
| Weight Lbs: | 194 |
| High School: | Staunton (IL) |
| College: | Arizona |
| Draftyear: | 1942 |
| Draftround: | 9 |
| Draftpick: | 75 |
| Pastteams: |
|
| Statlabel1: | Games |
| Statvalue1: | 10 |
| Pfr: | BanjEm20 |
Emil Thomas Banjavic (September 19, 1915 – December 1, 1995) was an American football player.
A native of Staunton, Illinois, Banjavic attended Staunton High School and then played college football at the University of Arizona from 1938 to 1941.[1] He was a triple-threat player who was a good kicker, runner, and passer. He was also captain of the Arizona Wildcats football team.[2] In a feature story on the first 56 years of Arizona football, Banajvaic was called "the hard-driving star" of Arizona's 1939-1941 teams.[3]
He was selected by the Detroit Lions with the 75th pick of the 1942 NFL draft. He was described as having "the ideal build for a wingback."[2] He appeared in 10 NFL games as a back for the Lions during the 1942 season, rushing for 67 yards on 11 carries.[4]
He later worked for an aircraft plant in Arizona and the Railroad Retirement Board in Texas.[5] [6] He died in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 1995 at age 80.[1]