View source for Tobin Rote

{{Short description|American football player (1928–2000)}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name          = Tobin Rote
| image         = Tobin Rote - 1952 Bowman Large.jpg
| caption       = Rote on a [[1952 Green Bay Packers season|1952]] [[Bowman Gum|Bowman]] football card
| number        = 38, 18, 11
| position      = [[Quarterback]]
| birth_date    = {{birth date|1928|1|18}}
| birth_place   = [[San Antonio, Texas]], U.S.
| death_date    = {{death date and age|2000|6|27|1928|1|18}}
| death_place   = [[Saginaw, Michigan]], U.S.
| height_ft     = 6
| height_in     = 2
| weight_lb     = 211
| high_school   = [[Harlandale High School|Harlandale]] {{nowrap|(San Antonio)}}
| college       = [[Rice Owls football|Rice]]
| draftyear     = 1950
| draftround    = 2
| draftpick     = 17
| pastteams     = 
* [[Green Bay Packers]] ({{NFL Year|1950|1956}})
* [[Detroit Lions]] ({{NFL Year|1957|1959}})
* [[Toronto Argonauts]] ({{CFL Year|1960|1962}})
* [[San Diego Chargers]] ([[1963 AFL season|1963]]–[[1964 AFL season|1964]])
* [[Denver Broncos]] ([[1966 AFL season|1966]])
| highlights    = 
* [[History of the National Football League championship|NFL champion]] ([[1957 NFL Championship Game|1957]])
* 2× Second-team [[All-Pro]] (1955, 1956)
* [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1957 Pro Bowl|1956]])
* [[List of NFL season passing yards leaders|NFL passing yards leader]] (1956)
* 2× [[List of NFL season passing touchdowns leaders|NFL passing touchdowns leader]] (1955, 1956)
* [[List of NFL season passer rating leaders|NFL passer rating leader]] (1952)
*[[List of National Football League annual pass completion percentage leaders#American Football League|AFL completion percentage leader]] (1963)
*[[List of NFL annual passer rating leaders#American Football League|AFL passer rater leader]] (1963)
* [[Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame]]
* [[American Football League#AFL Championship Games|AFL champion]] ([[1963 American Football League playoffs|1963]])
* [[American Football League Most Valuable Players|AFL MVP]] (1963)
* [[AFL All-Star]] ([[American Football League All-Star game|1963]])
| statlabel1    = Passing comp - att
| statvalue1    = 1,329 / 2,907 (45.7%)
| statlabel2    = [[Touchdown|TD]]–[[Interception|INT]]
| statvalue2    = 148–191
| statlabel3    = Passing yards
| statvalue3    = 18,850
| statlabel4    = [[Passer rating]]
| statvalue4    = 56.8
| statlabel5    = Rushing yards
| statvalue5    = 3,128
| statlabel6    = Rushing touchdowns
| statvalue6    = 37
| cflstatlabel1 = Passing comp - att
| cflstatvalue1 = 663 / 1,187 (55.9%)
| cflstatlabel2 = TD–INT
| cflstatvalue2 = 66–58
| cflstatlabel3 = Passing yards
| cflstatvalue3 = 9,872
| cflstatlabel4 = Rushing yards
| cflstatvalue4 = 238
| cflstatlabel5 = Rushing touchdowns
| cflstatvalue5 = 5
| pfr           = RoteTo00
}}

'''Tobin Cornelius Rote''' (January 18, 1928 – June 27, 2000) was an American professional [[gridiron football|football]] player who was a [[quarterback]] for the [[Green Bay Packers]] and [[Detroit Lions]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL), the [[Toronto Argonauts]] of the [[Canadian Football League]] (CFL), and the [[San Diego Chargers]] and [[Denver Broncos]] of the [[American Football League]] (AFL).<ref name=mjsobt>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JbIaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ui8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6830%2C9262841 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | last = Lea | first = Bud | author-link = Bud Lea |title=Tobin Rote dies at 72 |date=June 29, 2000 |page=9C }}</ref> He played [[college football]] for the [[Rice Owls football|Rice Owls]].

He was arguably the first [[dual-threat quarterback]] in NFL history.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://wacotrib.com/sports/john-werner-qb-tobin-rote-a-dual-threat-in-all-leagues/article_4a88dcde-11eb-5a07-8c23-836de4337812.html | title=John Werner: QB Tobin Rote a dual threat in all leagues | publisher=wacotrib.com | date=February 24, 2012 | accessdate=5 September 2024 | author=Werner, John}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://clutchpoints.com/greatest-rushing-quarterbacks-nfl-history-ranked | title=15 greatest rushing quarterbacks in NFL history, ranked | publisher=clutchpoints.com | date=September 18, 2023 | accessdate=5 September 2024 | author=Bassett, Bailey}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://richardpennington.com/2021/05/tobin-rote-an-unfairly-forgotten-gridiron-star/ | title=Tobin Rote, an Unjustly Forgotten Gridiron Star | publisher=richardpennington.com | date=May 31, 2021 | accessdate=5 September 2024}}</ref>

==Early life==
Born in [[San Antonio]], to William Pemberton Rote Jr. (1891–1950) and Augusta Marie (Tietschert) Rote (1896–1969). Rote attended [[Harlandale High School]] in San Antonio and graduated in 1946.  He was named "most athletic boy" by his classmates.

He is the cousin of former [[New York Giants]] receiver and sportscaster [[Kyle Rote]], sharing paternal grandparents.

==College career==
Rote played [[college football]] at [[Rice University|Rice Institute]] in [[Houston]], quarterbacking the [[Rice Owls football|Owls]] under head coach [[Jess Neely]]. As a senior in [[1949 Rice Owls football team|1949]], Rote led the Owls to a 10–1 season, capped by a 27–13 win over [[1949 North Carolina Tar Heels football team|North Carolina]] in the [[1950 Cotton Bowl Classic|Cotton Bowl]] in [[Dallas]] on January 2.<ref name=orscwibg>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=m9gNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SGoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4129%2C619947 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |agency=Associated Press |title=Oklahoma, Rice, Santa Clara win in bowl games |date=January 3, 1950 |page=14}}</ref>

During the fourth game of the season in mid-October against rival [[SMU Mustangs football|SMU]] (that featured cousin [[Kyle Rote]]), he led the Owls back from a 14–0 deficit to a 41–27 win at the Cotton Bowl.<ref name=rwsaoum>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YFJPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bU4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5134%2C157101 |newspaper=St. Petersburg Times |location=Florida |agency=United Press |title=Rote, Williams star as Owls upset Mustangs |date=October 17, 1949 |page=18}}</ref> The next week saw Rote lead a comeback against [[1949 Texas Longhorns football team|Texas]], turning a 9–0 halftime deficit into a 17–15 win at [[Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium|Austin]].<ref name=retaa>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZlJPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bU4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5004%2C2371477 |newspaper=St. Petersburg Times |location=Florida |agency=Associated Press |title=Rice edges Texas on field goal |date=October 23, 1949 |page=31}}</ref> With a flawless conference record, the Owls were outright [[Southwest Conference]] champions for the third time.

==Professional career==

===Green Bay Packers===
The [[Green Bay Packers]] selected Rote in the second round of the [[1950 NFL draft]], the 17th overall pick.  He spent a total of seven seasons in [[Green Bay, Wisconsin|Green Bay]] under head coaches [[Gene Ronzani]] and [[Lisle Blackbourn]], leading the hapless Packers' offense while the defense annually ranked among the league's worst. On November 18, 1951, he set a record for rushing yards in one game by a quarterback (150) against the [[Chicago Bears]] that wasn't surpassed until 2002.<ref>{{cite web | title=Vick's Feat Has Hall Calling For Shoes | website=The Washington Post | date=2002-12-07 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2002/12/07/vicks-feat-has-hall-calling-for-shoes/35e31fac-ed9d-4c9c-9036-63f932bbc163/ | access-date=2025-05-17}}</ref> Besides his passing duties, Rote led the Packers in rushing yards three times and rushing touchdowns five times.  During the span of his Green Bay career, Rote ranked third in the [[National Football League|NFL]] in passing touchdowns, trailing only [[Bobby Layne]] and [[Norm Van Brocklin]].  He also ranked first in the league in rushing yards by a quarterback and second in touchdowns. He was inducted into the [[Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame]] in 1974.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.packers.com/history/hof/tobin-rote | title = Tobin Rote | last = Christl | first = Cliff | author-link = Cliff Christl | website = Packers.com | access-date = September 20, 2023 | archive-date = June 8, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230608045632/https://www.packers.com/history/hof/tobin-rote | url-status = live }}</ref>

====1956 season====
Rote's [[1956 Green Bay Packers season|1956]] season ranks among the greatest in NFL history.  On a 4–8 team, he led the league in passing yards (by 294) and passing touchdowns (18 to [[Ted Marchibroda]]'s 12).  In addition, his 11 rushing touchdowns were second in the league behind only those of [[1956 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]]' [[Rick Casares]].  His 29 total touchdowns were the highest single-season total of his career, and the highest total in the era of the twelve-game schedule.  The entire Packers' offense outside of Rote accounted for just five touchdowns.

Among quarterbacks, he led the league in pass completions, pass attempts, passing yards, passing touchdowns, rushing attempts, rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns.

===Detroit Lions===
In late July [[1957 Green Bay Packers season|1957]], Rote and defensive back [[Val Joe Walker]] were traded to the [[1957 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] for four players (halfback [[Don McIlhenny]], offensive tackles [[Ollie Spencer]] and [[Norm Masters]], and offensive guard [[Jim Salsbury]]).<ref name=ptraw>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=T0gaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WCYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7097%2C2819277 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal |last=Johnson |first=Chuck |title=Packers trade Rote and Walker to Detroit Lions for four players |date=July 26, 1957 |page=11, part 2 |access-date=January 21, 2016 |archive-date=April 26, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160426185703/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=T0gaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WCYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7097%2C2819277 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=rsblldl>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BSoxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ahAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7436%2C3259494 |newspaper=Milwaukee Sentinel |last=Lea |first=Bud |author-link=Bud Lea |title=Rote's surprised, but likes Lion deal |date=July 27, 1957 |page=6, part 2 |access-date=January 21, 2016 |archive-date=April 26, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160426221440/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BSoxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ahAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7436%2C3259494 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Rote split time in [[1957 Detroit Lions season|1957]] with [[Pro Football Hall of Fame|hall of famer]] [[Bobby Layne]], although it was Rote who ended up with more passing touchdowns, fewer interceptions, more rushing yards, more rushing touchdowns, and a better won-lost record as a starter.  Layne broke his ankle midway through the eleventh game, leaving Rote to guide the team to an [[1957 NFL Championship Game|NFL title]].  Detroit tied [[1957 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco]] for the division title, forcing a one-game playoff.  Facing a 27–7 deficit in the third quarter, Rote led the Lions to a 31–27 comeback win and a date with the [[1957 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]].<ref name=ltrwpo>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=d8VRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8GoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7216%2C3734897 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |agency=Associated Press |title=Lions thrilling rally wins playoff, 31-27|page=20}}</ref>  In one of the greatest playoff performances in history, Rote led Detroit to a 59–14 thumping of the Browns.<ref name=rppcscl>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5tZQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=byUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6958%2C3573582 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal |last=Johnson |first=Chuck |title=Rote's passes, play calling smash Cleveland, 59 to 14 |date=December 30, 1957 |page=7, part 2 }}</ref><ref name=lcbtwt>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fcVRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8GoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6947%2C4717014 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |last=Sell |first=Jack |title=Lions crush Browns, 59 to 14, to win title |date=December 30, 1957 |page=18 }}</ref><ref name=bsofcdef>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=43U_AAAAIBAJ&sjid=ylQMAAAAIBAJ&pg=909%2C3837182 |newspaper=Toledo Blade |location=Ohio |last=Jones |first=Eddie T. |title=Browns show off collapsing defense |date=December 30, 1957 |page=11 }}</ref> He completed 12 of 19 passes for 280 yards and 4 touchdowns, adding another touchdown on the ground.

As for the 1957 Green Bay Packers, they averaged four points per game fewer than the year before in spite of the addition of future hall of famers [[Bart Starr]] and [[Paul Hornung]]. Fourth-year head coach Blackbourn was replaced with [[Ray McLean|Scooter McLean]] for [[1958 Green Bay Packers season|1958]], the Packers' worst-ever season.

Layne was traded to the [[1958 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] after the second game of the [[1958 Detroit Lions season|1958]] season,<ref name=ltoasqb>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0WscAAAAIBAJ&sjid=G08EAAAAIBAJ&pg=7023%2C2284688|newspaper=Pittsburgh Press |last=Livingston |first=Pat |title=Layne takes over as Steeler QB |date=October 7, 1958 |page=27}}</ref><ref name=sglfml>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=19FaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4msDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4681%2C867976 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |last=Sell |first=Jack |title=Steelers get Layne for Morrall |date=October 7, 1958 }}</ref> leaving Rote to guide the aging and rapidly declining Lions.  Rote led the team in rushing, making it the fourth time in his career that he did so (an NFL record for quarterbacks).  After a disastrous [[1959 Detroit Lions season|1959]] season (3–8–1), the Lions informed Rote that he would be released.<ref name=rlicobt>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qa8rAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tv0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=5246%2C210145 |newspaper=Nashua Telegraph |location=New Hampshire |agency=Associated Press |title=Rote, Lions in contract battle 
|date=January 5, 1960 |page=9 }}</ref> Rather than retire, the ten-year veteran headed north of the border to the [[Toronto Argonauts]] of the [[Canadian Football League]] (CFL).<ref name=trswto>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yZVaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SksDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5148%2C223815 |newspaper=Ellensburg Daily Record |location=Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Tobin Rote signs with Toronto |date=January 7, 1960 |page=8}}</ref>

===Toronto Argonauts===
Rote's three seasons in the [[Canadian Football League]] with the [[Toronto Argonauts]] were quite eventful.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cflapedia.com/Players/r/rote_tobin.htm|title=Tobin Rote|website=www.cflapedia.com|access-date=April 6, 2018}}</ref> He completed 662 of 1,187 passes for 9,872 yards and 62 TDs. His 38 TD passes in [[1960 Toronto Argonauts season|1960]] was an all-time CFL record. In Rote's first season with the Argos he became the CFL's second quarterback to exceed 4,000 yards passing in a season with 4,247. He also threw 38 touchdowns that season which was then a league record. Thanks to Rote's leadership the 10–4 Argonauts in 1960 accomplished something they had not done since 1937: finish in first place. However, they lost the conference final series to [[1960 Ottawa Rough Riders season|Ottawa Rough Riders]] who went on to win the [[48th Grey Cup|Grey Cup]]. Rote's 108 yard pass to [[Jim Rountree]] in [[1961 Toronto Argonauts season|1961]] is still a team record, and in 1960 he threw seven touchdown passes in a game twice, a CFL record at the time.   After the 1962 season, the Argonauts traded for future hall-of-fame QB [[Jackie Parker]] and Rote moved to the fledgling AFL.

====CFL Career passing statistics====
{|class="wikitable" 
|- align="center"  style="background:Navy;color:aqua;"
| Season ||Att||Comp||Comp %||Yds||Yds/Comp||TD||INT
|- align="center" bgcolor=""
| 1960||450||256||56.9||4,247||16.6||38||25
|- align="center" bgcolor=""
| 1961||389||220||56.6||3,093||14.1||16||16
|- align="center" bgcolor=""
| 1962||348||187||53.7||2,532||13.5||12||17
|}

===San Diego Chargers===
Looking for a quarterback to lead the team in [[1963 San Diego Chargers season|1963]] while a young [[John Hadl]] developed, the [[1963 San Diego Chargers season|San Diego Chargers]] of the [[American Football League]] (AFL) came calling.  Rote was in his 14th pro season at age 35, but led the Chargers to an 11–3 record and the Western division title.  For his part in directing the league's top offense, Rote was named first-team All-AFL and captured the [[Associated Press]] Player of the Year award.  Proving that his 1957 NFL title performance was no fluke, he led the Chargers to a 51–10 win over the [[1963 Boston Patriots season|Boston Patriots]] in the [[1963 American Football League playoffs|1963 AFL championship game]].<ref name=chrobos>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Vy8gAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VicEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4090%2C2258993 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal |agency=Associated Press |title=Chargers rout Boston, 51-10; compared with NFL teams |date=January 6, 1964 |page=11, part 2}}</ref><ref name=achgefn>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9eoxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EuMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6059%2C902427 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Oregon |agency=Associated Press |title=Are Chargers good enough for NFL opponents? |date=January 6, 1964 |page=3B}}</ref><ref name=palmoo>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rDlWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HekDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7012%2C1917607 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Charger win Lincolnesque; Palouse Moose gains 349 |date=January 6, 1964 |page=12 }}</ref> Individually, he accounted for 173 yards and 2 touchdowns on 10/15 passing, plus another 15 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground.

In [[1964 San Diego Chargers season|1964]], Hadl began receiving more playing time.  The Chargers won the West again but with an 8–5–1 record, and the offense fell from first in the AFL to fourth; and lost three of four to finish the regular season. Rote was the starter for the [[1964 American Football League Championship Game|AFL championship game]] on the road against the [[1964 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]], but neither he nor Hadl could do much against the swarming defense without Hall of Fame receiver [[Lance Alworth]] (knee hyperextension) and running back [[Keith Lincoln]], injured in the first quarter with a broken rib.<ref name=lbkibwn>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EVtYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lfcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2629%2C6810496 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Linebacker key in Buffalo win |date=December 28, 1964 |page=10}}</ref>  Buffalo won 20–7, and Rote announced his retirement.<ref name=mjblpsdup>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BFIaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lCcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5682%2C1592418 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal |agency=UPI |title=Buffalo's Bills bull past San Diego for title, 20-7 |date=December 27, 1964 |page=1, sports }}</ref><ref name=ergapbf>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=W7ZQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_eIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2859%2C5436411 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Oregon |agency=Associated Press |last=Rathet |first=Mike |title=Buffalo gains AFL championship |date=December 27, 1964 |page=1B }}</ref><ref name=bboch>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UTxYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=aPcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2844%2C6636388 |newspaper=The Bulletin |location=Bend, Oregon |agency=UPI |title=Buffalo Bills out-charge Charger 20-7 in finale |date=December 28, 1964 |page=9 }}</ref>

===Denver Broncos===
In [[1966 Denver Broncos season|1966]], Rote briefly came out of retirement to play for the [[1966 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]]. Signed in late September after the winless Broncos lost their third game,<ref name=owrjdc>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VSYxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dgEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3408%2C1929944 |newspaper=Toledo Blade |location=Ohio |title=Old warrior Rote joins Denver club |agency=Associated Press |date=September 28, 1966 |page=73}}</ref> he appeared in three games for a total of five minutes, completing three of eight passes; he was waived by the team after three games in mid-October.<ref name=tbripow>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=umQmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Jf8FAAAAIBAJ&pg=1049%2C975560 |newspaper=Gettysburg Times |location=Pennsylvania |agency=Associated Press |title=Tobin Rote is put on waivers |date=October 19, 1966 |page=5}}</ref>

==NFL/AFL career statistics==
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|
| Won the [[History of the NFL championship|NFL championship]]
|-
| style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"|
| Led the league
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}

===Regular season===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="3"| Games
! colspan="9"| Passing
! colspan="5"| Rushing
|-
! {{abbr|GP|Games played}} !! {{abbr|GS|Games started}} !! {{abbr|Record|Record as a starter}} !! {{abbr|Cmp|Passes completed}} !! {{abbr|Att|Passes attempted}} !! {{abbr|Pct|Completion percentage}} !! {{abbr|Yds|Passing yards}} !! {{abbr|Y/A|Yards per passing attempt}} !! {{abbr|Lng|Longest pass completion}} !! {{abbr|TD|Passing touchdowns}} !! {{abbr|Int|Interceptions}} !! {{abbr|Rtg|Passer rating}} !! {{abbr|Att|Rushing attempts}} !! {{abbr|Yds|Rushing yards}} !! {{abbr|Avg|Yards per rushing attempt}} !! {{abbr|Lng|Longest rushing attempt}} !! {{abbr|TD|Rushing touchdowns}}
|-
! [[1950 NFL season|1950]] !! [[1950 Green Bay Packers season|GNB]]
| 12 || 12 || 3-9 || 83 || 224 || 37.1 || 1,231 || 5.5 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''96''' || 7 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''24''' || 26.7 || 27 || 158 || 5.9 || 29 || 0
|-
! [[1951 NFL season|1951]] !! [[1951 Green Bay Packers season|GNB]]
| 12 || 11 || 3-8 || 106 || 256 || 41.4 || 1,540 || 6.0 || 85 || 15 || 20 || 48.6 || 76 || '''523''' || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''6.9''' || '''55''' || 3
|-
! [[1952 NFL season|1952]] !! [[1952 Green Bay Packers season|GNB]]
| 12 || 8 || 4-4 || 82 || 157 || 52.2 || 1,268 || 8.1 || 81 || 13 || 8 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| 85.6 || 58 || 313 || 5.4 || 30 || 2
|-
! [[1953 NFL season|1953]] !! [[1953 Green Bay Packers season|GNB]]
| 12 || 7 || 2-4-1 || 72 || 185 || 38.9 || 1,005 || 5.4 || 80 || 5 || 15 || 32.4 || 33 || 180 || 5.5 || 21 || 0
|-
! [[1954 NFL season|1954]] !! [[1954 Green Bay Packers season|GNB]]
| 12 || 12 || 4-8 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''180''' || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''382''' || 47.1 || 2,311 || 6.0 || 82 || 14 || 18 || 59.1 || 67 || 301 || 4.5 || 30 || 8
|-
! [[1955 NFL season|1955]] !! [[1955 Green Bay Packers season|GNB]]
| 12 || 12 || 6-6 || 157 || 342 || 45.9 || 1,977 || 5.8 || 60 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| 17 || 19 || 57.8 || 74 || 332 || 4.5 || 49 || 5
|-
! [[1956 NFL season|1956]] !! [[1956 Green Bay Packers season|GNB]]
| 12 || 11 || 4-7 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| 146 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| 308 || 47.4 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| 2,203 || 7.2 || 69 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| 18 || 15 || 70.6 || '''84''' || 398 || 4.7 || 39 || '''11'''
|-
! [[1957 NFL season|1957]] !! style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"| [[1957 Detroit Lions season|DET]]
| 12 || 5 || 4-1 || 76 || 177 || 42.9 || 1,070 || 6.0 || 48 || 11 || 10 || 60.2 || 70 || 366 || 5.2 || 23 || 1
|-
! [[1958 NFL season|1958]] !! [[1958 Detroit Lions season|DET]]
| 12 || 11 || 4-6-1 || 118 || 257 || 45.9 || 1,678 || 6.5 || 65 || 14 || 10 || 69.5 || 77 || 351 || 4.6 || 27 || 3
|-
! [[1959 NFL season|1959]] !! [[1959 Detroit Lions season|DET]]
| 10 || 7 || 1-5-1 || 62 || 162 || 38.3 || 861 || 5.3 || 59 || 5 || 19 || 26.8 || 35 || 156 || 4.5 || 21 || 2
|-
! [[1963 American Football League season|1963]] !! [[1963 San Diego Chargers season|SDG]]
| 14 || 14 || '''11-3''' || 170 || 286 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''59.4''' || '''2,510''' || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''8.8''' || 85 || '''20''' || 17 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''86.7''' || 24 || 62 || 2.6 || 15 || 2
|-
! [[1964 American Football League season|1964]] !! [[1964 San Diego Chargers season|SDG]]
| 14 || 6 || 2-3-1 || 74 || 163 || 45.4 || 1,156 || 7.1 || 82 || 9 || 15 || 49.5 || 10 || -12 || -1.2 || 9 || 0
|-
! [[1966 American Football League season|1966]] !! [[1966 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| 3 || 0 || 0-0 || 3 || 8 || 37.5 || 40 || 5.0 || 20 || 0 || 1 || 14.6 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| Career !! 149 !! 116 !! 48-64-4 !! 1,329 !! 2,907 !! 45.7 !! 18,850 !! 6.5 !! 96 !! 148 !! 191 !! 56.8 !! 635 !! 3,128 !! 4.9 !! 55 !! 37
|}

===Playoffs===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="3"| Games
! colspan="9"| Passing
! colspan="5"| Rushing
|-
! {{abbr|GP|Games played}} !! {{abbr|GS|Games started}} !! {{abbr|Record|Record as a starter}} !! {{abbr|Cmp|Passes completed}} !! {{abbr|Att|Passes attempted}} !! {{abbr|Pct|Completion percentage}} !! {{abbr|Yds|Passing yards}} !! {{abbr|Y/A|Yards per passing attempt}} !! {{abbr|Lng|Longest pass completion}} !! {{abbr|TD|Passing touchdowns}} !! {{abbr|Int|Interceptions}} !! {{abbr|Rtg|Passer rating}} !! {{abbr|Att|Rushing attempts}} !! {{abbr|Yds|Rushing yards}} !! {{abbr|Avg|Yards per rushing attempt}} !! {{abbr|Lng|Longest rushing attempt}} !! {{abbr|TD|Rushing touchdowns}}
|-
! [[1957 NFL season|1957]] !! style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"| [[1957 Detroit Lions season|DET]]
| 2 || 2 || '''2-0''' || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''28''' || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''49''' || 57.1 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''494''' || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| 10.1 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''78''' || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''5''' || 1 || 117.2 || '''11''' || '''32''' || 2.9 || '''17''' || '''1'''
|-
! [[1963 American Football League season|1963]] !! [[1963 San Diego Chargers season|SDG]]
| 1 || 1 || 1-0 || 10 || 15 || '''66.7''' || 173 || '''11.5''' || 48 || 2 || 0 || '''145.3''' || 4 || 15 || 3.8 || 10 || '''1'''
|-
! [[1964 American Football League season|1964]] !! [[1964 San Diego Chargers season|SDG]]
| 1 || 1 || 0-1 || 10 || 26 || 38.5 || 118 || 4.5 || 22 || 1 || '''2''' || 33.8 || 1 || 6 || '''6.0''' || 6 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| Career !! 4 !! 4 !! 3-1 !! 48 !! 90 !! 53.3 !! 785 !! 8.7 !! 78 !! 8 !! 3 !! 98.6 !! 16 !! 53 !! 3.3 !! 17 !! 2
|}

==Single-season milestones==
* Led the NFL in rushing yards by a quarterback six times (1951, 1954–58)
* Led the NFL in passing yards once (1956)
* Led the NFL in passing touchdowns twice (1955 and 1956)

==Career milestones==
* Rote was the only quarterback to lead his team to both an NFL and AFL championship.
* At the time he retired, Rote had more rushing yards than any quarterback in NFL history.  As of 2024, he ranks fourteenth all-time.
* Rote's 21.0 yards/game rushing average is seventh all-time among quarterbacks with at least 2,000 career passes.
* Rote's 37 career rushing touchdowns ranks sixth all-time among quarterbacks.
* Rote is one of two quarterbacks to lead his team in rushing four times.

In 2005, he was named to the [[Professional Football Researchers Association]] Hall of Very Good in the association's third HOVG class.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.profootballresearchers.org/hall-of-very-good-2004.htm |title=Hall of Very Good |access-date=July 14, 2016 |archive-date=October 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005051004/http://www.profootballresearchers.org/hall-of-very-good-2004.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Death==
Rote died at age 72 in [[Saginaw, Michigan]] from a [[myocardial infarction|heart attack]] on June 27, 2000. In his last 18 months, he had undergone open heart surgery and back surgery. He was survived by wife Julie, former wife Betsy Todd and children Tobin Jr, Robin, Toni and Rock.

==See also==
*[[List of American Football League players]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[https://www.statscrew.com/football/stats/p-rotetob001 StatsCrew profile]
*{{commons category-inline}}

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{{1957 Detroit Lions}}
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{{NFL passing yardage leaders}}
{{Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rote, Tobin}}
[[Category:1928 births]]
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[[Category:American football quarterbacks]]
[[Category:Canadian football quarterbacks]]
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