Don Bitterlich: The Accordion Player Who Scored The First Points In Seahawks History
Don Bitterlich secured his place in National Football League record books on September 12, 1976, when he scored the first regular-season points in the history of the Seattle Seahawks. During the expansion team’s inaugural game against the St. Louis Cardinals, the rookie placekicker converted a 27-yard field goal, marking the franchise’s first offensive success. Bitterlich, a third-round draft pick from Temple University, had previously established himself as a collegiate standout, setting multiple NCAA records including the most points scored by a kicker in a single season.
However, the narrative of Bitterlich as solely a football player overlooks the primary passion that defined his life before and after the NFL. A musical prodigy who began playing the accordion at age seven, Bitterlich notably prioritized his art over athletics even during pivotal moments of his sports career. During his junior year at Temple, he famously left a football tryout early because he was contractually obligated to perform an accordion set at Vitale’s Restaurant in Philadelphia. While sports historians focus on his three-game professional football stint, Bitterlich’s legacy in his native Pennsylvania is equally tied to his decades-long career as a professional musician and accordionist.
Despite his historic kick, Bitterlich’s NFL career was brief; he was released after missing three kicks in a subsequent game against the San Francisco 49ers. He transitioned into a long-term career in civil engineering—a major he chose only because his athletic scholarship prohibited him from majoring in music—and project management. Today, the 72-year-old continues to play the accordion professionally in the Philadelphia area, maintaining the musical identity that predated his brief but historic moment on the football field.
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