Peter Neft, who played quarterback for Pitt in the historic 1956 Sugar Bowl, dies at age 89
Peter Paul Neft, one of three Pitt quarterbacks who shared the backfield with Bobby Grier when he became the first Black player to play in the Sugar Bowl, died Tuesday. Neft, a native of Sharon, was 89.
Neft helped make history Jan. 2, 1956, when he joined Grier and their Pitt teammates in the Sugar Bowl against Georgia Tech at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans.
Despite opposition from Georgia Gov. Marvin Griffin, Grier was permitted to play. His pass interference penalty set up the game’s only touchdown in the first quarter and Georgia Tech went on to win, 7-0.
Neft, who earned letters in 1952, 1953 and 1955, helped lead Pitt to a 7-4 record in ‘55, which was coach John Michelosen’s first season.
After his Pitt career, Neft, an avid golfer and fly-fisherman, played quarterback for the British Columbia Lions in the Canadian Football League, eventually earning induction into the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame of Western Pennsylvania.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., Centre Avenue in Pittsburgh before a private burial. Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m.
Contributions may be made to UPMC Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Attn: Leslie Dunn, MPH, ADRC, Administrator, University of Pittsburgh, UPMC Montefiore, Four West, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2582.
Jerry DiPaola is a TribLive reporter covering Pitt athletics since 2011. A Pittsburgh native, he joined the Trib in 1993, first as a copy editor and page designer in the sports department and later as the Pittsburgh Steelers reporter from 1994-2004. He can be reached at jdipaola@triblive.com.
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