Fisher was born on March 10, 1947, in Fresno, California.[1] He attended Monroe Junior High School[2] and later Caruthers High School, at which he was one of the top track and field players in the state,[3] specializing in the discus throw and shot put.[4] He set a divisional record in discus and tied one in shot put.[5] Fisher also played football for the school,[6] and is their only attendee to ever play in the National Football League (NFL).[7] Standing at 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) and weighing 225 pounds (102 kg),[8] he was described in newspapers as a "mountain of muscle"[9] and was nicknamed "Locomotive."[10]
After graduating from Caruthers, Fisher began attending Reedley Junior College in 1965.[1] He played for their track and field and football teams, and played both fullback on offense and guard on defense.[11] In a game near the end of the 1965 season, Fisher scored two touchdowns and helped Reedley win the CCJCAA championship.[12] He received the team's Most Outstanding Lineman award for the year and was an all-conference selection.[13][14]
In his first season with the Reedley track team, Fisher broke the school record for discus throw with a toss measuring 173 ft 1+1⁄2 in (52.77 m)[15] and was awarded the team's MVP trophy.[16] He placed second at that season's state junior college championship tournament.[17] The following year, he won the state discus championship over Joe Keshmiri[18] and posted a throw that was the best in the nation among junior colleges.[19] Fisher also was ranked in one list as one of the top 20 track and field participants in the US, and top 10 in college.[20]
Fisher was scouted by San Diego State University, and upon graduating from Reedley JC, was offered a full scholarship by the school.[21] He continued playing track[22] and football there, although he changed his position to linebacker in the latter.[23] He received praise from coach Don Coryell, who said that Fisher could be a great professional player.[23] As a senior in 1968, he was named first-team All-Coast by United Press International (UPI).[24] Fisher graduated with a double degree in marketing and sociology.[21]
Professional career
Fisher was selected in the 12th round (290th overall) of the 1969 NFL/AFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.[25] He was waived at the start of September[26] and afterwards was brought back as a member of the taxi squad.[27] He was activated near the end of October after the team released John Campbell, and was put back on the taxi squad in late November after Jerry Hillebrand was activated.[28] Fisher was activated once further in 1969, for the season finale against the New Orleans Saints.[28][29] He finished his rookie season having appeared in a total of six games, one of which he started.[8]
Fisher was released by the Steelers on August 30, 1970,[30] partially due to an injury sustained in training camp.[31] He was afterwards re-signed to the taxi squad, and was signed to the active roster prior to their week six game against the Oakland Raiders.[31] Fisher appeared in the game against Oakland, and in their subsequent three matches, against the Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets, and Kansas City Chiefs,[32] before suffering an injury which required surgery.[33][34] He finished the season with four games played, none as a starter.[8]
Fisher was released by the Steelers for a final time in July 1971, which ultimately ended his career.[35] He played in a total of ten games with the Steelers, starting one.[8]Art Rooney Jr. described his career as "much less successful" than players such as Jon Kolb, L. C. Greenwood, and Joe Greene, "but not insignificant."[36]
Later life and death
Fisher returned to California after his football career, and spent the rest of his life living in San Diego.[21] He later worked for the Union Oil, General Dynamics, and Compton's New Media businesses.[21] He was married to Cheryl Fisher and had two daughters with her.[21] In 1997, Fisher was inducted into the Reedley Athletic Hall of Fame.[37] He was a lifelong football fan and watched every Super Bowl until his death.[21] Fisher died on the evening of February 12, 2023, at age 75, shortly after watching Super Bowl LVII.[21]
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