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.
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