NFL Players Wear GU 63 Patch to Honor Gene Upshaw

Thursday, September 4, 2008, the New York Giants opened the NFL season by hosting the Washington Redskins at Giants Stadium. All the players sported a new patch on their jerseys. The new uniform item this season is to honor NFL Players' Association leader Gene Upshaw, who died August 20, of pancreatic cancer.

The patch will have the initials GU and the number 63, which Gene wore while playing for the Oakland Raiders. Gene Upshaw died at the age of 63. The Oakland Raiders will also honor Upshaw in their opening game Monday night with a video tribute, and a replica of the uniform patch will be painted on the field in Oakland.

At Giants Stadium, the Upshaw family participated in the coin toss to kick off the season. The New York Giants returned as Super Bowl champs and won the game that night defeating the Washington Redskins (NY 17 - Wash 6).

Gene Upshaw was the only player in Pro Football history to play in three Super Bowls with the same team in three different decades. He is the older brother of Marvin Upshaw, who was a defensive lineman with the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs and St. Louis Cardinals.

Gene Upshaw played his entire 15-year career with the Oakland Raiders. After retiring in 1983, Upshaw became the executive director of the NFL Players' Association (NFLPA) and held that post until his death. Upshaw was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987 for his achievements on the field and as a union leader.

Upshaw's position as offensive guard (G) earned him a reputation for fiercely protecting the quarterback and leading the running backs on sweeps. He was affectionately nicknamed Uptown Gene.

Gene's good reputation for protecting the players in his capacity as union leader was not always without controversy. Upshaw dealt with one strike in 1987, and later negotiated free agency and salary cap provisions. It was also reported that Gene made dismissive comments regarding retired players complaining about their benefits.

"No one in our game has ever combined Gene's level of achievement both as a Hall of Fame player and as an executive leader. No one did more for NFL players than Gene Upshaw. He deserves our everlasting respect and thanks."- NFL commissioner Roger Goodell

While vacationing in August at the family's Lake Tahoe home, Gene Upshaw began to have difficulty breathing. His wife took him to the emergency room. On August 17, he was diagnosed with late stage pancreatic cancer, three days later Gene Upshaw died with his family at his side.

After his sudden death, the NFL announced that for the entire 2008 season, all 32 teams would wear a patch on the left chest of the jerseys with the initials "GU" and his number 63.

Sources;

1. Gene Upshaw - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2. ESPN - NFL players to wear uniform patch this season in honor of Upshaw - NFL

3. Bloomberg.com: North American