Why is GU on football helmets?

Answer 1

NFL players wore the initials GU to honor Gene Upshaw, former Oakland Raiders player and Hall of Fame member. He was the executive director of the NFL Player's Association when he passed away on August 20, 2008. Every player in the league wore his initials on their helmets throughout the 2008 season.

Answer 2

The GU stands for Gene Upshaw, the HOF Raiders offensive lineman and long-time NFLPA Chief Executive. He died in August at age 63 of pancreatic cancer, but the 63 on the patch denotes his number as a player. In honor of Gene Upshaw, the entire NFL will wear a black "GU" patch for the 2008-09 season. During Opening week 2008 there was also a patch on the Field, it was only for the first game of the season.

Answer 3

GU stands for Gene Upshaw. He died and in his honor, the NFL has announced that for the 2008-2009 season, every player will wear a "GU" patch. ***** Eugene Thurman Upshaw, Jr. (a.k.a. Uptown Gene) (August 15, 1945 - August 20, 2008) was an American football player for the Oakland Raiders and executive director of the National Football League Players' Association (NFLPA). In 1987, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. While on vacation in mid-August 2008 at his home in Lake Tahoe, Upshaw began to feel ill. His wife Terri noticed that his breathing was labored, so she convinced him to go to the emergency room, where he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on August 17. On August 20, Upshaw died with Terri and his sons Eugene III, Justin, and Daniel by his side. In his honor, the NFL has announced that for the 2008-2009 season, every player will wear a "GU" patch, also with Gene's number 63; for the opening games of the season, the "GU" and "63" are inscribed on the field. However, during week 2 of the 2008 NFL season, the "GU 63" patch was replaced by a helmet decal on all NFL players. Only the Oakland Raiders will wear a jersey patch for the entire season. He died at the age of 63. Coincidentally, the jersey number he wore during his Hall of Fame career was 63, and he graduated from college in 1963.

Answer 4

Gene Upshaw. He was the player union boss before he passed away.

Answer 5

It stands for Gene Upshaw, president of the NFL Players Association, who died just before the season.

Answer 6

Gene Upshaw, the president of the NFLPA (National Football League Players' Association)

Answer 7

In 2008 the NFL placed the "GU" decals on the back of each player's helmet in honor of Gene Upshaw, a retired player and the head of the NFLPA who passed on recently.

Answer 8

It is for the late Gene Upshaw

Answer 9

Gene Upshaw