Joseph Robert (Joe) Kapp

March 19, 1938 - May 8, 2023

The clock has run out on Joe Kapp’s long battle with dementia. He was 85. His brain will be sent to UCSF for study. He died surrounded by the love of family— the same enthusiastic love that he had for everyone in his life, from teammates to strangers. In Joe’s world everyone was family, and every day was a fiesta. At a party it would not be unusual for him to pull off one of his brightly colored shirts and offer it to someone who said they liked it. More than one took him up on it. To the very end he was entertaining his caregivers with rousing daily versions of “You Are My Sunshine.” Even though he was known as a fighter in his professional career, as a loved one and friend he was a gentle and generous soul. It was difficult to walk out of a restaurant without him asking someone to dance if he heard a song he liked. The person usually danced with him. As a father, he never missed a sporting event or musical performance. He took his kids to school and sang them to sleep at night. Joe loved his family and California and brought the sunshine wherever he went with his unending charisma, intensity, and good humor.

Joe was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1938. The family migrated to Southern California in 1940, eventually settling in Salinas in 1947. The family moved back to Southern California in 1954. Joe graduated from Hart High school in Newhall in 1955 where he was a foursport athlete, receiving all Southern California honors in basketball. The University of California at Berkeley (Cal) awarded Joe an athletic scholarship in 1955.

Joe was nicknamed “The Toughest Chicano” by Sports Illustrated magazine for his ferocious style of play, competitive spirit, unmatched leadership, and enthusiastic pride in his Latino heritage. On and off the field he was always willing to fight for a cause that was just. He is the first player to successfully sue the National Football

League for free agency. That landmark but often overlooked lawsuit was instrumental in improving rights and pay for professional football players. He worked with Cesar Chavez in support of farmworker rights. He was a lifelong fundraiser for organizations supporting the Latino community, and his alma mater, Cal.

He is the first person in his family to attend and graduate from college (Cal), where he played both basketball and football. In 1956, as a sophomore, Joe led Cal to an upset victory over Stanford and All-American John Brodie. In 1957 he sunk a buzzer beater to beat Stanford in basketball. Joe is the last quarterback to lead Cal to the Rose Bowl in 1958. Later he coached Cal’s Golden Bears from 19821986. It was on Joe’s watch as coach that Cal beat Stanford, and All-American John Elway, in the last four seconds on a five lateral kick-off return. This amazing finish is now known simply as “The Play,” and has been voted the greatest single play in the 150-year history of college football. Joe also coached Cal to victory in the greatest upset (21-point underdogs) in the 125-year history of the Cal vs. Stanford rivalry in 1986.

Joe played the first 8 years of his pro career in Canada. He led the B.C. Lions to their first Grey Cup Championship in 1964. In 1967 he was acquired by the Minnesota Vikings. Joe is the only player to quarterback a team in the Rose Bowl, Canada’s Grey Cup, and the Super Bowl. In 1969 he led the Vikings to the last NFL Championship and to Super Bowl IV. That year, Joe tied an NFL record that stands to this day by throwing 7 touchdown passes in a single game against the Baltimore Colts. Also in 1969, Joe coined the mantra 40 for 60 (40 men doing their best for all 60 minutes of the game). After the Super Bowl season Joe was voted MVP by the Vikings but he refused to accept the award, saying that there were 40 most valuable Vikings. After playing the 1970 season for the Boston Patriots, the NFL locked him out of the league because he refused to sign the standard player contract. That contract was later found to violate federal antitrust laws when he challenged it in court, starting the fight for free agency. In 12 years, Joe played in 187 games in the CFL and NFL.

The NFL’s lock-out gave rise to his significant acting career where he appeared in over 50 roles on television and feature films, including The Longest Yard. Joe’s si se puede spirit has made him known as one of the toughest competitors, and greatest team leaders in sports. Most importantly, that spirit has left a profound positive impact on his loved ones, and anyone fortunate enough to know him.

He is survived by his wife Jennifer, daughters Emiliana and Gabriella, sons J.J. and Will, grandchildren Frank, Kelly, Deviyon, Solana, Emiliano, and Gianna, sisters Suzie and Linda, daughtersin-law Pat and Gina, and sons-in law Deviyon and Kiko. Joe was predeceased by his mother, Florencia, father Robert, sister Joanie, brother Larry, and former spouse Marcia.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Joe Kapp scholarship for first time Latino students at Cal through the ucbclaa.org website. Proceeds of the purchase of his biography at joekappbook.com will also fund scholarships for Latino students at Cal.