Peter Armstrong

Peter Gomez Armstrong (April 9, 1929 – November 17, 2009), The Pigskin Priest, was an American Roman Catholic priest incardinated in the Archdiocese of San Francisco. He served as the chaplain for the San Francisco 49ers for all five of their Super Bowl victories. Armstrong was named a monsignor in the Catholic Church in 1966. He served in active ministry as a priest for 55 years before retiring in 2001 and held many civic and ministerial positions related to youth, sports, and social justice.

Personal life Armstrong was born in San Francisco, California. His father was a banker and his mother was a teacher. He said that he knew from a young age that he was called to be a priest. When he was in high school, he went on a religious retreat where he felt the call to the priesthood.