The problem with running a Hall of Fame-related website is that many of the big ones we cover all have announcements within months of each other.  The backbone of what we do is list-related, resulting in a long push to revise what we already have, specifically now with our Football and Basketball Lists.

At present, we have a minor update as we have completed the next twenty-five of the 2024 Football List, which you can comment on and vote on:

The new 226 to 250:

226. Carl Banks
227. Duane Putnam
228. Bob Gain
229. Dan Towler
230. Fuzzy Thurston
231. Derrick Mason
232. Kyle Rote
233. Lyle Alzado
234. Matt Forte
235. Earl Faison
236. Fred Smerlas
237. Ray Donaldson
238. Jamal Lewis
239. Len Younce
240. Ed White
241. Eugene Robinson
242. Mike Stratton
243. Jim Plunkett
244. George Saimes
245. Mark Clayton
246. Ted Washington
247. Len Hauss
248. Jim Ray Smith
249. Al Nesser
250. Dave Butz

Rankings are impacted annually based on your comments and votes.

Thank you all for your patience. We will soon unveil more changes to the football and basketball lists.

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 the rust belt fans of Western New York.  Smerlas was a punishing interior defender and went to four straight Pro Bowls (1980-83), which coincidentally saw the Bills go from playoff to contenders to cellar dwellers.   As the Bills rebuilt through the rest of the 1980s, the constant was Smerlas, who was still there when the team rebuilt themselves to eventual Super Bowl contenders, though he was not there when they finally reached one as Smerlas 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 his tenacity and leadership were forever remembered by those who saw him play.

Drafted in the second round (32nd overall) of the 1979 NFL Draft out of Boston College, Fred Smerlas arrived in Western New York as a relentless, physical force. Tipping the scales at 6 feet 3 inches and 275 pounds, he redefined nose tackle play in Chuck Knox’s 3-4 defense, anchoring the center of Buffalo's front line during an era of massive franchise transition.

Smerlas operated with a low center of gravity, aggressive hand techniques, and relentless energy. Positioned centrally, he excelled at breaking double-teams and absorbing hits in the interior, enabling linebackers like Shane Conlan and Darryl Talley to make tackles. Unlike typical nose tackles of his time, Smerlas was noteworthy for his lateral agility—he often shed blocks to disrupt running lanes or collapse the pocket during passing plays.

Smerlas became the starting nose tackle full-time in 1980 during his sophomore year, earning his first Pro Bowl selection as he led a defense that helped Buffalo win its first AFC East title in four years. He reaffirmed his status in 1981 with another Pro Bowl appearance, cementing his reputation as one of the top interior defensive linemen in the league.

His peak performance came in the limited 1982 season. As the key threat on a defense that helped Buffalo stay competitive, Smerlas had a standout run that earned him his only First-Team All-Pro honor and his third straight Pro Bowl selection.

Despite the Bills experiencing several tough losing seasons in the mid-1980s, Smerlas remained a fan favorite and a standout player in Western New York. He earned two more Pro Bowl selections in 1983 and 1988, playing a key role on the defense as young stars like Bruce Smith, Cornelius Bennett, and Jim Kelly helped turn Buffalo into a powerhouse. By the late 1980s, Smerlas's efforts paid off as the team became a consistent contender, winning back-to-back AFC East titles in 1988 and 1989.

After 11 seasons in Buffalo, Smerlas departed after the 1989 campaign as the Bills transitioned to younger defensive linemen. He played one season for San Francisco in 1990 and finished his career with New England in 1991 before retiring.

With the Bills, Smerlas played in 162 regular-season games, accumulating 29 official sacks and recovering 11 fumbles. In recognition of his stellar play and lasting popularity, Smerlas was inducted into the Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame in 2001.