Fred Smerlas

Frederic Charles Smerlas (born April 8, 1957) is a former American football nose tackle who 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.

Fred Smerlas
No. 76
Position:Nose tackle
Personal information
Born: (1957-04-08) April 8, 1957
Waltham, Massachusetts
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:295 lb (134 kg)
Career information
High school:
  • Two Time, Two sport All American in Wrestling and Football in High School; Two time New England heavyweight wrestling champ
College:Boston College
NFL Draft:1979 / Round: 2 / Pick: 32
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Sacks:18.5
Interceptions:2
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Smerlas, of Greek-American descent, graduated from Waltham High School in 1975, where he was a star football player and wrestler. He became a defensive lineman for Boston College before embarking on an NFL career. 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 [1]


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.[2]

Political career

A Boston Herald article [3] 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,[4] 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."[5]

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

See also

References
  1. "PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2018". Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  2. Doyle, Bill (January 18, 2007). "DeOssie likes Pats Sunday". Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved May 2, 2007.
  4. "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.
  5. 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.
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