George Bork, one of the most influential quarterbacks in college football history, passed away on May 27 at the age of 84.

He played for Northern Illinois from 1960 to 1963 and left behind a legacy that the sport had genuinely never seen before he arrived. The Huskie community and the college football world are mourning his loss.

Bork was the first player in college football history to throw for more than 3,000 yards in a single season. He did it in 1963, finishing with 244 completions for 3,077 yards and 32 touchdown passes while running the Shotgun Spread offense under Coach Howard Fletcher.

That same year, he led Northern Illinois to a perfect 10-0 season and a College Division national championship.

His presence meant so much to the program that Huskie Stadium was nicknamed "The House That Bork Built" after his senior year. The NIU marching band spelled out his name on the field that year while playing "You Gotta Be a Football Hero" in his honor.

NFF Chairman Archie Manning spoke about what Bork meant to the sport when the news broke.

"George Bork helped revolutionize the passing game in the early 1960s," Manning said, "More than six decades after leading the Huskies to an undefeated season and a national championship, Bork remains one of the most influential figures in Northern Illinois history and one of the true pioneers of the modern passing game."

Manning also extended condolences to everyone who knew and loved him.

"As one of our sport's all-time greats, we are deeply saddened to hear of his passing and our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and the entire Huskie community," Manning added.

Bork was a two-time First Team Little All-American and the first Northern Illinois player to ever receive Heisman Trophy votes. He also starred on the basketball court at NIU, earning team MVP honors, First Team All-IIAC and IIAC Player of the Year recognition.

Bork Missed Out On NFL Stardom But Made His Mark Anyway

Despite rewriting the college record books, no NFL team drafted him. His size, at six feet one and 178 pounds, was the reason. He signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League instead and played four seasons there from 1964 to 1967.

The recognition for what Bork built at Northern Illinois kept coming long after he left. He was inducted into the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1983 and had his number 11 jersey retired in 1996.

In 1999, Bork became the first Northern Illinois player ever inducted into the NFF College Football Hall of Fame.

A celebration of life is being planned. George Bork was born on February 8, 1942, in Mount Prospect, Illinois. He is remembered by everyone whose love for the game he helped shape.

What are your thoughts on his historic career and his incredible impact on the sport? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Farheen Fathima

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore