On This Date in Sports History April 17, 1963: Hornung and Karras Suspended for Gambling
In collaboration with the Sportsecyclopedia.com
In news that stuns the NFL, Commissioner Pete Rozelle suspends All-Pros Paul Hornung of the Green Bay Packers and Alex Karras for betting on NFL games. Hornung, who was the NFL MVP in 1961, was accused of betting $500 on NFL games from 1959-to 1961, while Karras admitted to making several bets of $50 or $100. Both suspensions lasted one year as they were reinstated in 1964.
As the NFL was growing in popularity, gambling became a genuine concern. Two of the league’s top stars had their names come up in an investigation that worried owners about the league's integrity. The suspension of Alex Karras and Paul Hornung was the first gambling-related suspension handed out by the NFL.
Paul Hornung, born December 23, 1935, was one of the biggest stars in the NFL. After winning the Heisman Trophy at Notre Dame, Hornung was the first overall pick in the NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. As the Packers became the best team in the NFL, Hornung was one of their key players, winning the NFL MVP in 1961. That was a year after Paul Hornung set a record for 176 points.
Alex Karras was born on July 15, 1935. After playing his college ball at Iowa, Karras was selected with the tenth overall pick in the 1958 draft by the Detroit Lions. Alex Karras quickly became a star defensive tackle, as he regularly made the Pro Bowl and was named a first-team All-Pro three straight years from 1960-to 1962.
The suspensions came at the height of both players’ careers. At first, the suspensions handed out by Pete Rozelle were indefinite. Paul Hornung was contrite upon learning about the suspension, saying, “I made a terrible mistake; I am truly sorry.” Alex Karras, meanwhile, was bitter as five other Detroit Lions, Joe Schmidt, Wayne Walker, John Gordy, Gary Lowe, and Sam Williams, were fined $2,000 for betting on the NFL Championship Game.
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The loss of Paul Hornung had a negative effect on the Green Bay Packers finished in second place after winning back-to-back NFL Championship Games. The Detroit Lions, who finished 11-3 in 1962, slipped to 5-8-1 without Alex Karras in 1963. Both players were reinstated in 1964. While the Packers again finished in second, the Lions improved to 8-5-2. The Packers would again win a championship in 1965, but Paul Hornung was in decline, as Karras was named an All-Pro for the fourth time in his career.
Paul Hornung left the Packers after winning the first Super Bowl when he was exposed in the expansion draft and selected by the New Orleans Saints. However, he would retire during training camp; he would be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986. Alex Karras would retire after the 1970 season and go on to a long career in broadcasting and acting. Karras was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020.
The NFL would not have another gambling-related suspension until 1983, when Baltimore Colts quarter Art Schlichter was suspended for a year. As gambling has become legalized, confusion as led to the suspension of free-agent defensive back Josh Shaw in 2020, while Atlanta Falcons receiver Calvin Ridley will be suspended for the 2022 season.