Joe Pisarcik
Quick Facts
Biography
Joseph Anthony "Joe" Pisarcik (born July 2, 1952) is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League for eight seasons, from 1977 through 1984 after playing high school football at West Side Central Catholic H. S. (later Bishop O'Reilly, now closed), and college football at New Mexico State University. His first professional team was the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League, where he played from 1974 to 1976. He began his NFL career with the New York Giants, and is best remembered for his role in a November 19, 1978, game where the Giants, ahead 17–12 with only seconds to play and their opponent out of time-outs, lost after his handoff (a play called by offensive coordinator Bob Gibson over Pisarcik's objections) to Larry Csonka was fumbled and returned for a touchdown by Herman Edwards of the Philadelphia Eagles. The play has since been referred to as "The Fumble" by Giants fans and "The Miracle at the Meadowlands" by Eagles fans. Pisarcik signed with the Eagles in 1980 after the Giants had released him, where he played until retiring after the end of the 1984 season.
A resident of Mount Laurel, New Jersey, Pisarcik is the CEO of the NFL Alumni Association in Newark. He has five children: Kristin, Lindsey, Jake, Joseph and Katie. Jake is an offensive lineman for the University of Oregon.