Sam Dana Explained

Sam Dana (born Samuel Salemi)
Birth Date:7 August 1903
Birth Place:Brooklyn, New York, US
Death Place:Buffalo, New York, US
Position1:RB
College:Columbia University
Playing Years1:1926
Playing Team1:Hartford Blues
Playing Years2:1928
Playing Team2:New York Yankees
Databasefootball:SALEMSAM01

Sam Dana (August 7, 1903 – October 29, 2007), born Samuel Salemi,[1] was a professional American football player who played running back for two seasons for the Hartford Blues and New York Yankees. At the time of his death, Dana was thought to be the oldest living NFL player. He is the 2nd-longest lived NFL player in history.[2] [3]

Biography

Dana was known as Sam "Smoke" Salemi during his playing days. He became a football player at the suggestion of a teacher at New Utrecht High School in Brooklyn after seeing him weave through desks as a fellow student was chasing him. He attended Columbia University and was a football teammate of Lou Gehrig. Dana attended St John's University and Canisius College. After retiring from football, he became an agent for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). He legally changed his last name to Dana in 1945.[4] [5]

Dana was mistaken for a baseball player who died in 1969, the mixup being published in the NFL's Total Football encyclopedia. He resurfaced in 2003 upon turning 100 when his son notified the Pro Football Hall of Fame that he was living in a nursing home in Kenmore, New York. He was a guest at the Hall of Fame's Senior Citizen Day later that year and was presented with a special jersey by the Buffalo Bills bearing 100 emblazoned on it upon visiting their training camp. Dana died at the age of 104 in 2007.[6]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sam Salemi . Pro Football Reference . Sports Reference . January 4, 2023.
  2. News: Sam Dana, NFL's oldest former player, dies at 104 . October 31, 2007 . . June 27, 2018 . dead . https://archive.today/20120728162749/http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20071031%2FSPORTS%2F710310941%2F1002%2FSPORTS&nclick_check=1 . July 28, 2012.
  3. News: John Wawrow . Sam Dana, 104; called oldest ex-NFL player . 5 February 2023 . . . 1 November 2007 . 49 . Newspapers.com.
  4. News: NFL's oldest living ex-player celebrates No. 100 with Bills . 5 February 2023 . . . 7 August 2003 . 32 . Newspapers.com.
  5. News: Sam Dana should be a lock for NFL's all-century team . 5 February 2023 . . 8 August 2003 . E2 . Newspapers.com.
  6. News: Goldstein . Richard . 2007-11-01 . Sam Dana, 104, Oldest Former N.F.L. Player, Is Dead . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-08-15 . 0362-4331.