Erik Affholter

He was born in Detroit, Michigan, to Conrad (a salesman) and Ruth Affholter, and is Jewish.^[2][3] In the early 1970s, the family moved to Agoura, California.^[4] He later lived in Anthem, Arizona.^[5][6]

Affholter played football at Oak Park High School in Ventura County, California.^[6] As a 16-year-old place kicker during his junior season he broke a national record with a 64-yard (59 meter) field goal in 1982, which at the time was the longest field goal kicked at any level.^{[7][4][5][8][9][10]} A sportswriter at the game estimated it could have gone 74 yards (68 meters).^[11] Asked about his kick, Affholter said: "I'd much rather catch touchdown passes."^[2] At the time, as a wide receiver he had caught more touchdown passes than any player in his high school conference.^[2]

In addition to kicking field goals and extra points, he played tailback, wide receiver, defensive back, and linebacker.^[12] In 1983 he was a USA Today All-USA high school football first-team All-American, All-California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), and All-State; he was also a Los Angeles Times running back of the year.^[10][13]

Affholter played college football at the University of Southern California (USC) for the Trojans as a wide receiver, though he had initially received a scholarship as a kicker.^{[12][14][15][16][17]} He was athletic, with a 36-inch (910 mm) vertical jump.^[12]

On November 21, 1987, he made a controversial memorable fourth quarter winning end zone juggling touchdown catch for a 17–13 upset over Troy Aikman's No. 5-ranked UCLA Bruins that sent the unranked 1987 USC Trojans football team to the 1988 Rose Bowl.^{[6][18][19][20][10]} He was named a member of the 1988 College Football All-America Team, and a Pac-10 All-Academic selection.^{[21][9][22][10]} In 1988 as a senior he led USC with 68 catches for 952 yards and eight touchdowns.^[23] He established USC records for most receptions in a season, and in a career (123).^[17][24] Upon graduation, he became a member of the USC Skull and Dagger Society.^[10]

He was drafted in the fourth round of the 1989 NFL draft by the Washington Redskins.^[25][26] On April 23, 1989, the Redskins then immediately traded him and two draft picks to the Green Bay Packers for quarterback Jeff Graham.^[27][10] About a month later he broke his ankle in a pick-up basketball game in New York City, shortly before reporting to Packers training camp.^[6] He spent the entire season on injured reserve.^[24] He played the 1991 season in the NFL for the Packers.^[8]

In 1992, he signed with the San Diego Chargers as a free agent.^[28] He retired in 1995 due to a career-ending knee injury.^[10]

Since retiring, he has coached high school and youth football.^[10][29]

In 2016 he was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.^[30][3][5]

• List of select Jewish football players