Rich Kreitling

Richard Allen Kreitling (March 13, 1936 – May 9, 2020) was an American professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the Cleveland Browns.

Early life

Rich Kreitling was born March 13, 1936, in Chicago, Illinois. He attended Fenger High School on the city's South side. Under the limited-substitution rules of the day, players generally played both offensively and defensively, with the 6'2" Kreitling lining up at end on offense and as a safety on the defensive side of the ball.

He was a star on the Fenger football team, catching 10 touchdown passes as a senior in helping to lead the 1954 Titans squad to South-Central City League title with an 8–1 record.

After graduating from high school, Kreitling enlisted in the US Army National Guard, in which he served for five years before gaining his honorable discharge.

Kreitling's Auburn career proved short-lived. In 1956 he transferred back home to his native state to attend the University of Illinois, where he spent 1956 on that school's freshman team. For a second straight year, this time in 1957, Kreitling would see the approach of football season as a highly touted sophomore. "Kreitling was considered best prospect on the freshman team last year and he looks like a sure bet for stardom," one reporter opined. Kreitling got off to a hot start, leading the Illinois squad in pass receiving, but would sustain a back injury that caused him to lose more than a week of practice and miss the team's game against Michigan State, a 19–14 loss.

Illinois would finish the 1957 on a strong note, winning two of three games, including a one-point win over Michigan and a 27–0 shellacking of Northwestern, but the team's overall record of 4 wins and 5 losses was disappointing. Despite a painful rib injury, Kreitling would finish the season with 12 catches for 203 yards and two touchdowns.

The 1958 season began poorly for Illinois, with the Illini dropping three games in a row to start the year. An October 17 game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers helped right the ship, however. Against Minnesota junior quarterback Bob Hickey connected on two massive touchdown strikes to Kreitling — good for 83 and 66 yards respectively

This performance was topped three weeks later against Michigan, in which Kreitling pulled down touchdown passes of 83, 60, and 14 yards, earning him Midwest Lineman of the Week honors from United Press International and vaulting him into the All-America hunt. Head coach Eliot, a veteran of 17 college football seasons at the helm at Illinois, was impressed enough of his junior receiver to proclaim him "the best offensive end I've had — he's got great hands."

Kreitling would be named a third team All-American by the Associated Press, joined by future NFLers Joe Kapp of Cal, Alex Hawkins of South Carolina, and Nick Pietrosante of Notre Dame.

Despite Illinois again finishing with a pedestrian 4–5 record, Kreitling would finish the year with 19 catches for 570 yards and 5 touchdowns in Big Ten Conference action and would shatter the NCAA record by averaging 31.8 yards per reception on the year. The Browns' calculation that Kreitling would leave college before his football eligibility had expired proved well founded, and in June 1959, Kreitling inked a contract with the team. "After careful consideration my parents and I decided I should enter pro football this fall," said the 6'2" receiver at the time of his signing. "I've had my normal four years of college and we feel it is in my best interest to join the Browns."

Kreitling saw action in all 12 games of his 1959 rookie season, but was not involved in the team's passing game.

He made his way into Paul Brown's starting lineup in 1960, becoming the team's regular split end. He made 16 catches during the 12 game season, gaining 316 yards and scoring three touchdowns — including a 69 yard grab that would prove to be the longest pass play of his career.

As the starting left end for the Bears, Kreitling catch 20 passes for just 185 yards and accounting for two touchdowns.

Life after football

In 1970, balloting of Illinois students, alumni, and fans saw the election of Kreitling to the Illini All-Time Eleven first team. Joining him on the list were Illinois legends Red Grange, Dick Butkus, Buddy Young, and others.

In his final years, Kreitling split his time between his home in Hastings, Minnesota, and a winter residence in Clearwater, Florida.

Kreitling died on May 9, 2020, after an extended illness. He was 84 years old at the time of his death.