Early life and influences
Schwedes was born on April 23, 1938, in Freiburg, Germany, and grew up in Ulm. His father served as a German Army officer and spent part of World War II as a prisoner of war. The family relocated to New Jersey when Gerhard was 12. In a later reflection, Schwedes recalled taking shelter from Allied air raids and witnessing the war’s impact firsthand. An American gesture during the war—American soldiers giving children a football—later helped steer him toward the sport that would define his college career.
College career at Syracuse
Schwedes accepted Syracuse University’s sole college football offer and became a starting halfback in 1957, while also playing safety and quarterback. He earned All-American and Academic All-American honors and was named a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete in 1959.
As a senior in 1959, Schwedes captained Syracuse to a 10-0 regular-season record and earned a berth in the Cotton Bowl. In the January 1, 1960, matchup against Texas, he connected on an 87-yard touchdown pass to Ernie Davis on Syracuse’s third play from scrimmage. He later scored on a three-yard run as the Orange defeated Texas 23-14, completing an undefeated season and securing the national championship. This remains Syracuse’s only NCAA football national title.
Professional football and later life
Schwedes finished ninth in the 1959 Heisman Trophy voting and played in the Senior Bowl. In November 1959, he was selected by the Boston Patriots in the first-ever AFL draft. He was also drafted by the NFL’s Baltimore Colts but spent his professional career in the AFL, appearing in 10 games for the New York Titans (the franchise that would become the Jets) and the Patriots from 1960 to 1961.
Military service and honors
Schwedes later served in the U.S. Army, rising to the rank of captain. In 2014, he was inducted into the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame. He is survived by two sons, two brothers, and five grandchildren. His son Scott played four seasons in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins as a wide receiver and returner.
Legacy
Schwedes is remembered for his pivotal role on a Syracuse team that remains a landmark in the program’s history, culminating in the school’s lone national championship. His life bridged international beginnings, elite collegiate achievement, professional football, and military service, leaving a lasting imprint on Syracuse athletics and its enduring legacy in college football.
