Gary Ballman

Gary John Ballman (July 6, 1940 – May 20, 2004) was an American professional football player who played wide receiver in the National Football League. Born in Detroit, Michigan, he played college football for the Michigan State Spartans, joining the varsity squad as starting right halfback in 1959 as a sophomore.

Ballman entered the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he played halfback and wide receiver from 1962 to 1966 and made the Pro Bowl in his final two seasons with the team. He remains among the Steelers' career leaders in kickoff returns, with 64 returns for 1,711 yards and a 26.7-yard average that ranks second in franchise history. His 93-yard return against Washington on November 17, 1963, is tied for the seventh-longest in team history. He moved to the Philadelphia Eagles, playing there from 1967 to 1972, and split his final season between the New York Giants and the Minnesota Vikings.

After his playing career, Ballman worked for the National Football League Players Association until 1979 before moving to Colorado, where he worked as a building products salesman until his retirement in 2003. He died on May 20, 2004.