CARDS: Topps 1985, Action Packed Whizzer White Award 1991
ACQUIRED: TTM 2021, C/o Home
TTM 2025, C/o Home
SENT: 5/14/21 RECEIVED: 7/2/21 (49 days)
SENT: 6/4/25 RECEIVED: 6/14/25 (10 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

• Rolf Benirschke was a K for UC-Davis from 1974-76.
• 12th round pick of the Oakland Raiders in 1977.
• Traded to San Diego Chargers before start of the season.
• After rookie season, suffered from Ulcerative Colitis.
• Health problems worsened to a point where he needed emergency surgery during 1979- missing a majority of the season.
• Returned to playing form in 1980 and had a career high 118 points.
• Played with Chargers through the 1986 season, where at the time he was the all-time leading scorer in team history (766 points).
• Traded to Cowboys in 1987- but did not make the squad and subsequently retired.
• He was the third most accurate kicker at the time of his retirement hitting .702 of his field goals.
• Benirschke has remained in the public eye through various charitable causes, public speaking, and financial endeavors.

ACCOLADES:

• Whizzer White Award 1984
• San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame
• George Halas Award 1981
• San Diego Chargers 50th Anniversary Team
• San Diego Chargers 49th Anniversary Team
• Pro Bowl 1982
• Second Team All Pro 1983

NOTES:

Rolf’s last name… ‘Benirschke’ is probably the most difficult last name to spell… EVER.

When Pat Sajak left “Wheel of Fortune” Rolf was the original host that replaced him. Rolf also volunteers time with the San Diego Zoo- a passion that is close to his heart since he has a degree in zoology.

Anyway I sent to Rolf way back in 2021 with these two cards. It took a bit under two months- the problem was he didn’t sign my Action Packed Whizzer White card. It’s rare- but easy to find. I just had to find a vendor that still stocked it and it wouldn’t be that expensive. Eventually I armed up and decided a few years later to send only that card out- to which he kindly signed in about 10 days.