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Greg Latta
Greg Latta
Greg Latta
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Gregory Edwin Latta (October 13, 1952 – September 28, 1994) was an American professional football player. As tight end, he was selected by the Baltimore Colts of the National Football League (NFL), but played instead for the Florida Blazers of the World Football League (WFL) in 1974. He was traded to the Chicago Bears in 1975 for third- and seventh-round draft picks, along with the head coach of the Blazers, Jack Pardee.[1] Latta was a member of the Bears from 1975 to 1979.

Key Information

In his rookie season with the Florida Blazers, Latta caught 39 passes for 815 yards and nine touchdown receptions. The Blazers went to the 1974 World Bowl Championship game falling 22-21 to the Birmingham Americans.

During his 5-year NFL career, the 6-foot-3, 227-pound tight end caught 90 passes for 1,081 yards and 7 touchdowns. On special teams, he returned 3 kickoffs for 22 yards.[2]

Background

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Latta attended South Side High School in Newark[3] and Morgan State College in Baltimore, Maryland.

Death

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He died on September 28, 1994, at St. Michael's Hospital of an apparent heart attack, Newark, New Jersey. He was 41 years old.

References

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Greg Latta

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'''Greg Latta''' is an American former professional football tight end who played in the World Football League (WFL) and the National Football League (NFL). Gregory Edwin Latta was born on October 13, 1952, in Newark, New Jersey, and died on September 28, 1994, in the same city. He was selected by the Baltimore Colts in the 1974 NFL Draft but played the 1974 season with the Florida Blazers of the WFL. He subsequently played five seasons (1975–1979) in the NFL with the Chicago Bears, appearing in 73 games with 90 receptions for 1,081 yards and 7 touchdowns.

Early life and education

Early life and family background

Gregory Edwin Latta was born on October 13, 1952, in Newark, New Jersey. He remained a lifelong resident of Newark, maintaining a deep connection to the city throughout his life, including at the time of his death there on September 28, 1994. Latta was recorded at a height of 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) in his early professional listings. No further details about his family background or childhood prior to high school are documented in available reliable sources.

High school years

Greg Latta attended South Side High School in Newark, New Jersey. He played football there as a two-way performer, catching passes on offense with his large, soft hands suited for receiving and contributing intimidating play on defense. His high school tenure marked his initial impact on the football field in Newark. This participation in the sport at South Side High School laid the groundwork for his subsequent college career at Morgan State University.

College football at Morgan State

Greg Latta played college football at Morgan State University as a tight end for the Morgan State Bears. He participated in the program from 1970 to 1973 and developed into a standout performer during the early 1970s under head coach Earl Banks. During his sophomore season, the Bears captured the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championship. As a senior in 1973, which marked Banks's final season with the program, Latta earned All-MEAC honors. His collegiate performance at Morgan State positioned him for professional opportunities, leading to his selection by the Baltimore Colts in the eighth round of the 1974 NFL Draft.

Professional football career

World Football League beginnings

Greg Latta began his professional football career in the upstart World Football League, signing with the Florida Blazers for the 1974 season as a tight end. Although selected in the eighth round of the 1974 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Colts, Latta chose the WFL opportunity over the Colts, citing his reluctance to displace Ray Chester, another Morgan State product, as Baltimore's incumbent tight end. He wore number 88 and appeared in 20 games for the Blazers during their only season in Florida before the franchise's relocation plans and the league's instability. Latta established himself as a productive receiver, hauling in 39 passes for 815 yards and nine touchdowns while earning selection to the 1974 All-WFL team. His 20.9 yards per reception average highlighted his deep-threat capability at the position, and he contributed significantly to the Blazers' 14-6 regular-season record that advanced them to the playoffs. The Blazers reached the inaugural World Bowl championship game against the Birmingham Americans on December 5, 1974, where Latta scored on a 40-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Bob Davis during a late fourth-quarter rally. Despite the effort, Florida fell short in a 22-21 loss after failing to convert any action points following their touchdowns. Latta's solid WFL performance ultimately facilitated his transition to the National Football League, where the Chicago Bears acquired his rights via trade from the Baltimore Colts and signed him ahead of the 1975 season.

NFL tenure with the Chicago Bears

Greg Latta played tight end for the Chicago Bears from 1975 to 1979, appearing in 73 regular season games and starting 49 of them. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 227 pounds, he provided a sizable target in the Bears' passing attack during this period. Across his NFL tenure with Chicago, Latta accumulated 90 receptions for 1,081 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 12.0 yards per catch. His most productive year was 1977, when he recorded 26 receptions for 335 yards and four touchdowns. In 1975, he caught 16 passes for 202 yards and three touchdowns, including a three-touchdown game against the New Orleans Saints on December 21. Latta also appeared in two playoff games with the Bears, catching four passes for 31 yards. His performance on the field during these years occasionally placed him in nationally televised Bears games.

Television appearances

Appearances as self on NFL broadcasts

Greg Latta appeared as himself on national NFL television broadcasts during his tenure as a tight end with the Chicago Bears. These appearances, credited as "Self - Chicago Bears Tight End," were associated with Bears games selected for national coverage. He featured in nine episodes of The NFL on CBS from 1975 to 1979, four episodes of NFL Monday Night Football from 1977 to 1978, and two episodes of The NFL on NBC from 1975 to 1977. These limited broadcast credits reflected the occasional national telecast of Chicago Bears games while Latta was an active player for the team.

Death

Final years and passing

Greg Latta, a resident of Newark, New Jersey, passed away on September 28, 1994, at the age of 41. He suffered a heart attack and died at St. Michael's Hospital in Newark.
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