George Arthur Reihner (April 27, 1955 – March 11, 2021) was a former professional

American football American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team with ...

player who played

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for four seasons for the

Houston Oilers The Houston Oilers were a professional American football team that played in Houston from its founding in 1960 to 1996 before relocating to Memphis, and later Nashville, Tennessee becoming the Tennessee Titans. The Oilers began play in 1960 as ...

. He was the chosen in the 2nd Round of the 1977 NFL Draft (38th pick overall), after a successful playing career at Penn State. A three-year starter at guard for coach Joe Paterno's offense, Reihner played in four bowl games (Orange, Cotton, Sugar, Gator) as well as in the Senior Bowl. Prior to the 1976 season, Reihner was named team captain for the Nittany Lions. In 1975 and 1976, he was named 1st Team, All East. In 1976 Reihner received 2nd Team All-Honors. Reihner graduated from Washington High School, Washington, PA in 1973. In his senior year, Reihner played an influential part in the Prexies football team reaching the WPIAL Class AA Semi-Finals. His post-season honors included being named All-State, voted WPIAL Most Valuable Lineman, and named captain of the Big 33 Pennsylvania team which beat the Ohio All-Stars, 21–19.

NFL career

Reihner played in 13 games his rookie season and was named the American Football Conference Offensive Rookie of the Year. He also make the NFL's All-Rookie team. In 1979, Reihner was part of the Houston offensive line to win the league's Outstanding Offensivel Line award. The Oilers line became the first NFL unit in the same season to produce the league's leading rusher (Earl Campbell) and giving up the fewest quarterback sacks (12). A back injury cut Reihner's professional career short, retiring after the 1982 season. He played in a total of 27 games for the Oilers.

Post-NFL

In 1984, Reihner graduated from Dickinson School of Law, working as a Pennsylvania Superior Court law clerk. He later became a prominent lawyer in Scranton. 1955 births 2021 deaths Players of American football from Pittsburgh American football offensive guards Penn State Nittany Lions football players Houston Oilers players {{offensive-lineman-1950s-stub