Manchester Haynes Wheeler (March 2, 1939 – August 11, 2018) was an American football quarterback. He played college football at the University of Maine, serving as a versatile utility player who kicked and played defense in addition to quarterbacking in a brief revival of the one-platoon system era. He played four games in the American Football League with the Buffalo Bills, serving as backup to Jack Kemp, before the team signed Daryle Lamonica the following season.[1] He spent much of the next several years as a quarterback in the minor leagues. His most successful season was in 1968, when, mostly acting as a game manager in a run-heavy offense that included Marv Hubbard and Mel Meeks, he led the Hartford Knights to a 15–1 season before being unceremoniously benched in the Atlantic Coast Football League championship in favor of rookie Dick Faucette.[2] Following that season, he left to join his final team, the Continental Football League's Portland Loggers.[3]

Manch Wheeler
No. 12
Position:Quarterback
Personal information
Born:(1939-03-02)March 2, 1939
Augusta, Maine
Died:August 11, 2018(2018-08-11) (aged 79)
Augusta, Maine
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school:Phillips Academy
(Andover, Massachusetts)
College:Maine
Undrafted:1962
Career history
Stats at Pro Football Reference

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Manchester 'Manch' Haynes Wheeler". bangordailynews.com. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  2. ^ "1968-1973 Hartford Knights". October 27, 2012.
  3. ^ "Manch Wheeler remembered for ability, loyalty to school". August 14, 2018.