Paul Maguire

Early life and college football

Paul Maguire was born on August 22, 1938, and attended Ursuline High School in Youngstown, Ohio where he was a multi-sport athlete. He excelled as an All State wide receiver and punter in football while also competing in basketball and track, demonstrating his athletic versatility from a young age. He continued his football career at The Citadel, where he played the position of tight end and was recruited by Assistant Coach Al Davis, who would later become the owner of the Oakland Raiders. During his senior season in 1959, Maguire led the entire nation in touchdown receptions, a remarkable achievement for a player at his position, and his performance earned him recognition as a third-team Associated Press All American.

Professional football career

Paul Maguire entered professional football in 1960 when he was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers of the American Football League, and he served the team as both a punter and a linebacker. He moved with the franchise when it relocated to San Diego in 1961, playing there until 1964 when he joined the Buffalo Bills, and he was renowned for his precision with the coffin corner punt, a skill that consistently pinned opponents deep in their own territory. He was a key contributor to three Bills Eastern Division titles and their back-to-back AFL championships in 1964 and 1965, with his performance in championship games being particularly memorable. In the 1964 AFL Championship, with two minutes remaining, Maguire kicked a 78-yard punt that went out of bounds at the San Diego two-yard line, effectively sealing the victory for Buffalo. The following year, in the 1965 championship game against the Chargers, he delivered two crushing blocks to spring teammate Butch Byrd for a 74-yard punt return touchdown, a play still celebrated in Bills history. Maguire appeared in six of the ten AFL Championship Games ever played, three with the Chargers and three with the Bills, and he won three championship rings with the Buffalo Bills in 1964 and 1965. When he retired after the 1970 season, Maguire held significant career records, as his 795 career punts were the most in professional football history at the time, and his 29,909 punting yards stood as the AFL's all-time record.

Paul Maguire's career achievements and longevity are marked by several notable distinctions. He played in six of the ten American Football League Championship Games, appearing in three with the Chargers and three with the Bills. He won three AFL Championship rings, all with the Buffalo Bills in 1964 and 1965. Maguire was the AFL's all-time leader in punts with 712 and punting yardage with 29,909. He was one of only twenty players who were in the AFL for its entire ten-year existence.

• He led the AFL in career punts (712) and punting yardage (29,909) upon his retirement.
• He earned three AFL Championship rings with the Buffalo Bills in 1964 and 1965.
• He was inducted into the Youngstown, Ohio Sports Hall of Fame.
• He was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.

These honours reflect his durable and successful career as a player who excelled in the specialized role of punter while also contributing on defence as a linebacker. He played professionally from 1960 to 1970, serving as both a punter and linebacker for the Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers and the Buffalo Bills. His 795 career punts were the most in pro football history when he retired in 1970. He contributed to three Buffalo Bills Eastern Division titles and their AFL championships in 1964 and 1965.

Transition and national broadcast work

Paul Maguire transitioned smoothly from the field to the broadcast booth, beginning his media career in the 1970s as a colour commentator on network NFL telecasts, first with NBC and later with ESPN. His early broadcasting work was not limited to the NFL, as he also called games for ESPN's coverage of college football, the Canadian Football League, and the now-defunct United States Football League, which gave him a broad foundation. In 1986, he rejoined NBC, initially serving as an analyst on their pregame show before moving into the colour commentator role for game broadcasts in 1988, and for his first seven seasons at NBC, Maguire most often worked alongside play-by-play announcer Marv Albert as part of the network's number two broadcast team. In 1995, he was promoted to NBC's lead broadcast team, joining veteran announcer Dick Enberg and former ESPN reporter Phil Simms, and this trio served as NBC's primary NFL voice until the network lost its broadcast rights after the 1997 season.

Following NBC's departure from NFL coverage, Maguire returned to ESPN for the 1998 season, becoming a second colour commentator for ESPN's Sunday Night Football package and also serving as a colour commentator for ABC's Wild Card Saturday playoff games. During his tenure at ESPN and ABC, Maguire called playoff games nearly every year, with the sole exception being 2002 when ABC used its lead college football broadcast team of Brent Musburger and Gary Danielson instead. Maguire worked his final regular season NFL game on January 1, 2006, when the St. Louis Rams and Dallas Cowboys played on ESPN's final Sunday night broadcast, and his last NFL game altogether came on January 7, 2006, when he worked the Washington Redskins-Tampa Bay Buccaneers opening round playoff game. However, Maguire was retained by ESPN to serve as a commentator for ABC's college football with Brad Nessler, former Miami Dolphins quarterback Bob Griese, and field reporter Bonnie Bernstein, extending his broadcasting career.

Maguire worked on several major broadcast assignments and events throughout his media career. He worked as a colour commentator on network NFL telecasts, first with NBC and then ESPN. He called ESPN's telecasts of college football, the Canadian Football League and the USFL. Maguire re-joined NBC in 1986 and was part of their number one broadcast team from 1995 to 1997. He also participated in the WrestleMania VII event in 1991.

• He participated as a special guest in the WrestleMania VII event in 1991.
• He worked his final regular season NFL game on January 1, 2006 (Rams vs. Cowboys on ESPN).
• He called his last NFL playoff game on January 7, 2006 (Redskins vs. Buccaneers).
• He served as a commentator for ABC college football with Brad Nessler and Bob Griese after 2006.
• He worked as an in-studio analyst for ESPN's NFL Live starting in March 2007.
• He broadcast games for the United Football League on HDNet from 2009 to 2010.

This varied portfolio demonstrates his adaptability and enduring presence in sports media long after his playing days ended. After rejoining ESPN in 1998, he became a colour commentator for Sunday Night Football and called ABC's Wild Card Saturday playoff games. He later served as an in-studio analyst for ESPN's NFL Live starting in March 2007. His work also included broadcasting for the regional Empire Sports Network in Buffalo and for the United Football League on HDNet from 2009 to 2010.

Local media and career statistics

Beyond his national broadcast work, Paul Maguire maintained a strong local presence in Buffalo, New York. He had a residence there after his playing days and hosted a locally produced call-in show called the Budweiser Sportsline. The program was later broadcast on the regional Empire Sports Network. His career statistics solidify his place as one of the most accomplished specialists of the AFL era. He was the AFL's all-time leader in punts and punting yardage, and his 795 career punts were a pro football record upon his retirement.

The figure of 795 career punts led all professional football players upon his retirement in 1970. His 29,909 punting yards were an American Football League record. Appearing in six AFL Championship games demonstrates his value to contending teams. He played in three championship games with the Chargers and three with the Bills. His three championship rings were all earned with the Buffalo Bills in 1964 and 1965.

Questions about Paul Maguire

Which TV networks did Paul Maguire work for as a broadcaster?

Paul Maguire worked for several major television networks as a football commentator. He worked for NBC in two separate stints, first in the 1970s and again from 1986 to 1997. He also had lengthy tenures with ESPN and ABC, calling NFL, college football, and CFL games. Later, he called games for the United Football League on HDNet.

What teams did Paul Maguire play for in the AFL?

Paul Maguire played for the Los Angeles Chargers and the Buffalo Bills in the American Football League. He began his professional career with the Los Angeles Chargers in 1960, moving with the team to San Diego in 1961 and playing there until 1964. He then joined the Buffalo Bills, where he played from 1964 through his retirement after the 1970 season. With the Bills, he contributed to three Eastern Division titles and their AFL championships in 1964 and 1965. Maguire was one of only twenty players who were in the AFL for its entire ten year existence.

What is Paul Maguire known for in the 1965 AFL Championship game?

In the 1965 AFL Championship game, Paul Maguire is known for delivering two key blocks on a spectacular punt return touchdown. The play involved teammate Butch Byrd returning a John Hadl punt 74 yards for a touchdown against the San Diego Chargers. Maguire provided the last two blocks on Chargers players, which were described as crushing and helped spring Byrd into the end zone. This play is remembered as one of the most spectacular in Buffalo Bills history. Maguire played in six total AFL Championship Games during his career, winning three championship rings.

Did Paul Maguire ever broadcast Canadian Football League games?

Yes, Paul Maguire did broadcast Canadian Football League games. During his media career, he worked as a colour commentator for ESPN's telecasts of the Canadian Football League. This broadcasting work occurred alongside his coverage of other sports including college football and the now defunct USFL. His role with ESPN began in the 1970s, and he provided commentary for various football leagues throughout his tenure. This demonstrated the breadth of his sportscasting portfolio beyond the National Football League.

What local show did Paul Maguire host in Buffalo?

Paul Maguire hosted a locally produced call in show in Buffalo called the Budweiser Sportsline. He hosted this program after his playing days had ended, maintaining a connection with the Buffalo community where he had a residence. The show was a call in format, allowing for fan interaction. Later, the program was broadcast on the regional Empire Sports Network, extending its reach within Western New York. This role showed his continued involvement in the local sports media scene.

When was Paul Maguire's final NFL broadcast?

Paul Maguire's final regular season NFL broadcast was on January 1, 2006, for the St. Louis Rams versus Dallas Cowboys game on ESPN's Sunday night broadcast. His last NFL broadcast altogether was a playoff game on January 7, 2006, when he worked the Washington Redskins versus Tampa Bay Buccaneers opening round playoff game. Following these NFL broadcasts, ESPN retained him to serve as a commentator for ABC's college football coverage. His broadcast team for college football included Brad Nessler and Bob Griese. He later worked as an in studio analyst for ESPN's NFL Live starting in March 2007.

Sources and further reading

• Paul Maguire (Wikipedia)
• Paul Maguire on his best moments on and off the field (buffalobills.com)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-11-07.