One of Football’s great Nose Tackles, Fred Smerlas began his pro career with the Buffalo Bills after he was chosen in the Second Round of the 1979 Draft.
The Boston College product was an instant defensive star for the Bills, and his blue-collar look and style fit perfectly with Western New York's rust-belt fans. Smerlas was a punishing interior defender and went to four straight Pro Bowls (1980-83), which coincided with the Bills going from playoff contenders to cellar dwellers. As the Bills rebuilt through the rest of the 1980s, Smerlas was the constant, still there when the team became eventual Super Bowl contenders, though he wasn’t there when they finally reached one, as He played his last game in Buffalo in 1989. He finished his career as a veteran depth player with a year in San Francisco and two in New England.
Smerlas was named to the Bills Wall of Fame, and those who saw him play forever remembered his tenacity and leadership.
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