Robert Guy Talamini (January 8, 1939 – May 30, 2022) was an American professional football player who was a guard in the American Football League (AFL). He played college football for the Kentucky Wildcats, earning third-team All-SEC honors. He was selected by the Houston Oilers of the American Football League (AFL). His professional career began with the AFL's first training camp in 1960, and was capped the day the New York Jets stunned the NFL's Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III on January 12, 1969. He was named first- or second-team All-AFL during the majority of his playing years.
Early life
Talamini was born on January 8, 1939, in Louisville, Kentucky. He attended St. Xavier High School in Louisville, where he was a standout on the football team playing guard, tackle and fullback. He weighed 160 to 170 pounds (72.6–77.1 kg) during his senior year in 1955. He was selected to replace a teammate in an East-West high school all-star game held in Lexington, Kentucky in August 1956. Up to that point he had not received any college football scholarship offers. After being impressed by Talamini's play in the all-star game, University of Kentucky Wildcats head coach Blanton Collier offered Talamini a scholarship. After his senior year, the Associated Press (AP) selected Talamini as third-team All-Southeastern Conference at guard.
Professional career
Houston Oilers
thumb|left|150px|Talamini playing for the Jets in Super Bowl III
The Houston Oilers of the newly formed American Football League (AFL) selected Talamini in the second round of the 1960 AFL draft. He played his entire eight-year career in the AFL, before the merger of the AFL with the National Football League (NFL).
Talamini played for the Houston Oilers from 1960 to 1967. and lost the 1962 championship in double-overtime to the Dallas Texans, 20–17 (the second longest game in AFL/NFL history). Talamini started eight games at left guard in 1960 and all 14 games at left guard in 1961. He started every Oilers' game at left guard from 1962 through 1967, and was selected to the AFL All-Star game each of those years.
The Oilers championship teams included Professional Football Hall of Fame quarterback George Blanda, who played behind Talamini from 1960 through 1966. Like Talamini, Blanda attended the University of Kentucky. His Oiler teammates also included Heisman Trophy winner and College Football Hall of Fame inductee Billy Cannon, who played in the backfield behind Talamini from 1960 through 1963. Talamini played alongside three-time AFL All-Star center Bob Schmidt (1961–63), three time second-team All-AFL left tackle Walter Suggs (1963–67), and two time AFL All-Star right tackle Rich Michael (1960–63, 1965–66), anchoring an offensive line that gave Blanda time to set passing records that would last for decades Sid Blanks and Hoyle Granger to run through.
After participating in the AFL's first three championship games, the Oilers rapidly declined. The Oilers record fell to 6–8 in 1963. In 1964, coach Pop Ivy was replaced by Hall of Fame quarterback Sammy Baugh, but the team's record fell again to 4–10. Hugh Taylor replaced Baugh in 1965, but the team was once more 4–10. Wally Lemm replaced Taylor, with a 3–11 record in 1966. In 1967, the team moved on from the 40-year old Blanda, and went 9–4–1 under Lemm. Talamini reached the AFL championship game one final time with the Oilers in 1967, losing to the Oakland Raiders, 40–7.
New York Jets
Talamini held out before the 1968 season, and did not report to the Oilers training camp. The Oilers traded him to the New York Jets in August 1968, for a third round draft choice. Namath said years later, "Without Talamini, we don't win [the Super Bowl] . . . Maybe we don't even get there. But we don't win without Bob Talamini." During his career, Talamini played in 126 games, and started in 110 consecutive games.
Talamini, Don Floyd and Jim Norton were the last of the original Oilers.
Personal life
After retiring from football, Talamini worked in the financial consulting business with thousands of clients. He was president of the NFL Alumni Association. He was also president of the Houston Touchdown Club. Talamini lived with his wife in Las Cruces, New Mexico until his death.