Gayle Knief Explained

Gayle Knief
Number:84
Position:Wide receiver
Birth Date:28 December 1946
Birth Place:Denison, Iowa
Height Ft:6
Height In:3
Weight Lbs:205
High School:Schleswig (IA)
College:Morningside
Undraftedyear:1968
Pastteams:
Statlabel1:Games
Statvalue1:3
Pfr:KnieGa00

Gayle C. Knief (born December 28, 1946) is a former American football wide receiver.

Knief was born in Denison, Iowa, in 1946. He attended Schleswig High School in Schleswig, Iowa, and played college football and basketball at Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa. He received All-North Central Conference honors in football in 1966 and 1967.[1]

He signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 1968. He played on the Vikings' taxi squad during the 1968 and 1969 seasons. He signed with the Boston Patriots in 1970. He appeared in three games during the 1970 season.[2] He entered his first NFL game with two minutes and 18 seconds remaining and caught two passes, including a 22-yard touchdown reception.[3] He was cut by the Patriots in 1971 and returned to the Vikings' taxi squad that fall.[4]

Knief married Diane McClintock, and they had two son, Jason and Derek.[4] After retiring from football, he owned and operated a construction and real estate firm in Carroll, Iowa. In 1997, he was inducted into the Morningside College M-Club Hall of Fame.[5]

Notes and References

  1. News: Vikings Sign Gayle Knief. Sioux City Journal. March 28, 1968. B1. Newspapers.com.
  2. Web site: Gayle Knief. Sports Reference LLC. Pro-Football-Reference.com. November 7, 2020.
  3. News: Knief's debut quiet -- and successful. The Boston Globe. December 9, 1970. 49. Newspapers.com.
  4. News: Void Pushes Knief Into Viking Lineup. The Des Moines Register. Buck Turnbull. August 6, 1972. D1, D3. Newspapers.com.
  5. News: M-Club Hall of Fame will add Knief, Winkel to rolls. Sioux City Journal. September 24, 1997. Newspapers.com.