Vince Papale
{{NFL.com player}} template missing ID and not present in Wikidata. Vincent Francis Papale (born February 9, 1946 in Glenolden, Pennsylvania) is a former professional American football player. He played three seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and is the inspiration behind the upcoming movie Invincible.
Career
Papale played just one year of high-school football and had no college football experience. He graduated from Philadelphia's St. Joseph's College, which did not have a football team, having attended on a track scholarship. At age 30, while bartending and substitute-teaching at Interboro High School, Papale joined the former World Football League team, the Philadelphia Bell, as a wide receiver. His performance with them earned him a meeting with Coach Dick Vermeil after general manager Jim Murray got him an invitation to a private work-out held by Coach Vermeil.
Papale, at 6' 2" (1.88 m) and 195 pounds (88.5 kg), eventually made the team, thereby becoming the oldest rookie in the history of the NFL (outside kickers) to play without the benefit of college football experience. He went on to play wide receiver and special teams for the Eagles from 1976 through 1978. During that time, he played in 41 of 48 regular season games, recording 2 fumble recoveries (including one that led to Coach Vermeil's first NFL victory) and 1 reception for 15 yards.
Papale, who earned the nickname "Rocky" (after the 1976 Sylvester Stallone movie and character) while playing with the Eagles, is the subject of the Disney movie Invincible, starring Mark Wahlberg, to be released August 25, 2006. He was also reportedly the inspiration for the 1998 Tony Danza movie, The Garbage Picking Field Goal Kicking Philadelphia Phenomenon. In addition, Papale's legend was cited as a factor in the Eagles' signing of construction-foreman/tight-end Jeff Thomason for 2005's Super Bowl XXXIX.[1]
Diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2001, Papale has since recovered from the disease and has become a spokesman encouraging people to get regular check-ups.
Currently, Papale is the regional director of marketing and senior account executive for higher-education marketing at Sallie Mae. He resides in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, with his wife Janet and two children, Gabriella and Vincent.
