Joe Orduna

Joseph Manuel Orduna (born November 6, 1948) is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Giants and Baltimore Colts from 1972 to 1974.

Biography

Joe Orduna played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, where he ran for over 100 yards 4 times. He was the Cornhusker's leading rusher in their 1970 National Championship season with 834 yards. He was the most valuable player of the 1971 Coaches All-America Game. Over his career at Nebraska he rushed for 1958 yards. He spent the 1971 season on the 49ers taxi squad due to a leg injury suffered in the final preseason game and did not play a game for them.

The Giants acquired Orduna on waivers from the 49ers just before the beginning of the 1972 season. Orduna ended up playing 11 games for the Giants in 1972, starting 4. He rushed for 129 yards on 36 carries with 1 touchdown. Although he played in all 14 games for the Colts in 1974, he rushed only twice for 3 yards and 1 touchdown, all coming in an October 20 game against the New York Jets. The Colts waived him before the 1975 season due to an excess of running backs on the team, and he was not picked up by any other team.