Fred Smerlas

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Fred Smerlas
No. 76
Position:Nose tackle
Personal information
Born: (1957-04-08) April 8, 1957 (age 67)
Waltham, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:295 lb (134 kg)
Career information
High school:Waltham
College:Boston College
NFL draft:1979 / Round: 2 / Pick: 32
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Sacks:29.0
Interceptions:2
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Frederic Charles Smerlas (born April 8, 1957) is an American former professional football player who was a nose tackle for 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). A five-time Pro Bowl selection with the Buffalo Bills, he also played for the San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots.

Smerlas, of

Greek-American descent, graduated from Waltham High School in 1975, where he was a star football player and wrestler.[citation needed] He became a defensive lineman for Boston College before embarking on an NFL career.[citation needed] Smerlas' 1990 autobiography, By a Nose, recounts his 11 years with the Bills and their climb from cellar-dwellers to Super Bowl
contenders.

Smerlas currently resides in Massachusetts and is a part-time co-host during football season on sports radio WEEI-FM, NBC Sports Boston - The New England Tailgate Show, as well as a contributor to western New York radio station WHAM (AM) in Rochester.

In 2018, the Professional Football Researchers Association named Smerlas to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2018.[1]

Two Time, Two sport All American in Wrestling and Football in High School; Two time New England heavyweight wrestling champ.

During Smerlas' playing career, he was the only player in the NFL who was of Greek descent.[2]

Fred & Steve's Steakhouse

Smerlas, along with friend and colleague Steve DeOssie, opened an award-winning steakhouse at the Twin River Casino in Lincoln, Rhode Island, in March 2007 called Fred & Steve's Steakhouse.[3]

Political career

A Boston Herald article [4] announced on April 6, 2007, that Fred considered seeking the Massachusetts 5th US Congressional seat being vacated by Martin T. Meehan as a Republican candidate.

In 2010, Smerlas expressed an interest in relocating to

take a big saw and cut New York City off."[6]

See also

  • Most consecutive starts by a nose tackle

Bibliography

References

  1. ^ "PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2018". Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  2. ^ Glionna, John M. "The Gore, Guts and Horror of an NFL Fumble Pile". SB Nation. Retrieved October 13, 2022. Now in his 60s, Smerlas was a five-time NFL Pro Bowl selection during a 14-year career as a nose tackle with the Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots. No pushover between the lines, he was then the only Greek player in the NFL, with a 6'3, 270-pound body filled out by dolmades, bougatsa and baklava.
  3. ^ Doyle, Bill (January 18, 2007). "DeOssie likes Pats Sunday". Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved May 2, 2007.
  4. ^ "BostonHerald.com - Local Politics: Ex-Pats could team up to tackle Congress: Radio hosts eye Meehan's empty seat". news.bostonherald.com. Archived from the original on 9 April 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Smerlas For Congress? He Says Maybe... - WBEN NewsRadio 930 : Buffalo & Niagara Falls, NY". Wben.com. Archived from the original on June 14, 2011. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
  6. ^ Rich Newberg Posted by: Eli George (March 29, 2010). "Will former Bill make a run for office". WIVB.com. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved August 23, 2010.

External links

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