| Paul Governali | |
| Number: | 4, 41 |
| Position: | Quarterback |
| Birth Date: | 5 January 1921 |
| Birth Place: | The Bronx, New York, U.S. |
| Death Place: | San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Height Ft: | 5 |
| Height In: | 11 |
| Weight Lb: | 194 |
| High School: | Evander Childs (Bronx, New York) |
| College: | Columbia (1940–1942) |
| Draftyear: | 1943 |
| Draftround: | 1 |
| Draftpick: | 4 |
| Pastteams: | |
| Pastcoaching: |
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| Highlights: |
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| Statlabel1: | Passing attempts |
| Statvalue1: | 500 |
| Statlabel2: | Passing completions |
| Statvalue2: | 218 |
| Statlabel3: | Completion percentage |
| Statvalue3: | 43.6% |
| Statlabel4: | TD–INT |
| Statvalue4: | 31–33 |
| Statlabel5: | Passing yards |
| Statvalue5: | 3,348 |
| Statlabel6: | Passer rating |
| Statvalue6: | 59.5 |
| Pfr: | G/GovePa20 |
| Collegehof: | 1609 |
Paul Vincent Governali (January 5, 1921 – February 14, 1978), nicknamed "Pitchin' Paul", was an American football player and coach. He played college football for the Columbia Lions, where he played as a halfback. He was a consensus All-American in 1942, won the Maxwell Award and was runner-up to Frank Sinkwich for the Heisman Trophy. Governali passed for 1,442 yards in nine games that season, threw for 19 touchdowns, and completed 52% of his passes, all new collegiate records. He was also among the leading punters in the nation. He still holds the Columbia Lions record for touchdown passes in one game, with five. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1986.
Upon graduating in 1943, he passed up offers from both professional baseball and football teams to enlist in the United States Marine Corps, where he served for three years. After the war, he played play in the National Football League (NFL) from 1946 to 1948 with Boston Yanks and the New York Giants.
Governali retired from playing following the 1948 season and returned to Columbia, where he worked as an assistant coach while pursuing his doctorate in education, which he received in 1951.
He served as the head football coach at San Diego State University from 1956 to 1960, compiling a record of 11–27–4. He was succeeded as head coach of the San Diego State Aztecs by Don Coryell.
Governali also had a minor stint as an actor, portraying a professional football player in the 1948 film titled, Triple Threat.[1]
He and his wife, Edna, had four children: Paul, Jeannie, Nicole, and Sam.
Governali died on February 14, 1978, at Kaiser Hospital, in San Diego, following a long illness.[2]