Vince Papale was born in 1946 in Glenolden Pa

His most impressive play however came in May 2002 when he turned down a $3.6 million contract with the Cardinals to enlist in the United States Army with his brother Kevin, eight months after the Sept 11 attacks. He served as an Army Ranger and was involved in the first invasion of Iraq in 2003.In September 2004 he was killed by friendly fire and it is still a mystery whether his death was purposeful or accidental.Regardless of how his life came to a tragic end, it was the decisions he made throughout his life that made him an American hero both on the football field and in the foxhole. He believed it was a cause greater than football, greater than himself, it was a call to serve, and to this day his selfless courage is admired by all.. Vince Papale was born in 1946 in Glenolden, Pa., outside of Philadelphia.

He was very appreciative even from a young age of his fathers work ethic and the fact that he never had to go without. In high school he played basketball, track and one year of varsity football He was awarded a track scholarship after high school at St. Joseph's College in Philadelphia where he competed in the pole vault, long jump, and triple jump. He earned his degree in 1968 in Marketing although he would later become a teacher. In 1974, Papale tried out for the Philadelphia Bell of the World Football League and made the team as a backup receiver and punt/kickoff returner. He had to overcome a great deal of adversity in the tryout as he was small at 185 pounds and the butt of many jokes as he only played one year of high school football. He would go on to make the final roster after months of workouts, training camps, and preseason.

He was the oldest rookie in the league at 30 and one of the only players to not play in college. He played three season with the Eagles from 1976 through 1978 and played on special teams in 41 of 44 games.He had two fumble recoveries in his career, one of which led to Vermeils first victory as a head coach with the Eagles, as shown in the hit movie, Invincible, which is a biography of his life and story. Vince story is a true rags to riches story and still resonates with people to this day.A man without any credible football experience walked onto a NFL football team and hung in with the best athletes in the world through hard work, determination, and a spirit that never gave up. He embodied the blue collar local boy, but instead of cheering like the masses, he took his childhood dream and made it a reality through perseverance and sheer courage.Today, Vinces legacy in Philadelphia is louder than he ever could have produced with his father in their two bedroom apartment cheering for the Green and White on Sundays in the fall. Football, both at the professional and college level, is one of the most viewed and attended sports in America. What makes the sport so special are the players, the team aspect, and the one-on-one battles all over the field. A running back will only succeed if the QB gives him a clean hand off and the receiver, tight end, and offensive line block to give them holes to run through.