Fred Smerlas

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
Fumble recoveries:10
Stats at Pro Football Reference

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.[1] He became a defensive lineman for Boston College before embarking on an NFL career.[2] 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.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5]

Political career

A Boston Herald article [6] 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 Western New York to challenge Brian Higgins or Louise Slaughter, believing that they have not adequately represented Western New York or the upstate region as a whole. He indicated that his son was considering attending the University at Buffalo, and if he were to relocate, he may run either in 2010 or 2012,[7] later ruling out a 2010 run. He said that his first priority "would be to take a big saw and cut New York City off."[8]

See also

Bibliography

  • Fred Smerlas and Vic Carucci, By a Nose: The Off-Center Life of Football's Funniest Lineman, Simon And Schuster, 1990. ISBN 0-671-70532-6

References

  1. ^ "Hail The High School Wrestler | All Sports WNY". Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  2. ^ "Fred Smerlas (1994) - Varsity Club Hall of Fame". Boston College Athletics. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  3. ^ "PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2018". Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  4. ^ Glionna, John M. (December 12, 2019). "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.
  5. ^ Doyle, Bill (January 18, 2007). "DeOssie likes Pats Sunday". Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved May 2, 2007.
  6. ^ "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 April 9, 2007. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ 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.