Selected 26th overall in the first round of the 1973 NFL Draft from Michigan State, Joe DeLamielleure arrived in Buffalo under immediate pressure to enhance the franchise's offensive line. Paired with tackle Donnie Green and guard Reggie McKenzie, "Joe D" became the central force of the renowned "Electric Company"—the offensive line celebrated for "turning the Juice loose" and propelling O.J. Simpson into the annals of history.

DeLamielleure, a 1970s guard, revolutionized guard play with quick footwork and superior balance. He was effective as a pulling guard, aggressively engaging linebackers on sweep plays. What distinguished him was his leverage and upper-body strength, allowing him to hold off top defensive tackles at the line of scrimmage. Notably, he frequently faced off against the legendary "Mean" Joe Greene of the Pittsburgh Steelers in intense trenches battles.

DeLamielleure received All-Rookie honors in 1973, starting immediately and playing a key role as Simpson became the NFL's first player to surpass 2,000 rushing yards (2,003 yards in 14 games).

His prime individual performance occurred in the mid-1970s. DeLamielleure received his first Pro Bowl nod in 1975, followed by three straight First-Team All-Pro selections in 1975, 1976, and 1977. His pulling blocks were key to Buffalo's 1975 offense, which at the time set an NFL record with 2,975 rushing yards in a single season. During his initial tenure with Buffalo (1973–1979), he appeared in five consecutive Pro Bowls and played in every game.

DeLamielleure was traded to the Cleveland Browns in 1980, where he played five seasons, earning another Pro Bowl in 1980 and supporting Brian Sipe's MVP season. He went back to Western New York in 1985 for one last season with the Bills before retiring. Over his 13-year career, he played in 185 straight regular-season games.

He was named to the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team, confirming his status as one of the top guards of his era. The Buffalo Bills honored him by adding him to the Wall of Fame in 1997. Six years afterward, DeLamielleure received football's highest accolade when he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003.