Countdown to Canton on Sirius NFL Radio

Pro Football Hall of Fame Presents Countdown to Canton on Sirius NFL Radio. Listen each Friday morning from now through Enshrinement Day on August 8. Hosts Bob Papa and Randy Cross welcome a different Hall of Fame legend each Friday at 10 Eastern to talk some football. Don’t miss as these football greats share stories from their careers, to what it was like on their induction day, and a personal perspective on the

Stop by Profootballhof.com each week leading up to Bob and Randy’s interview. We’ll take a look back at that week’s featured Hall of Famer and recount his enshrinement day. The Hall’s research staff will also dig into the archives and hone in on events that helped shape the careers of these Hall of Fame legends.

 

This week’s guest: JOE DeLAMIELLEURE, Class of 2003

Spartans for life

Four decades ago, Joe DeLamielleure walked onto the campus of Michigan State and the Spartan green and white never left his life. He made connections with teammates that have lasted a lifetime.

DeLamielleure in the Hall of Fame Store

Own a football personally signed by DeLamielleure>>>

Today, the bond between these three former teammates remains stronger than ever. Recently, the three hatched the idea of riding from East Lansing, Michigan to Shinsky’s orphanage in Mexico. DeLamielleure, Shinksy, and Bowron departed at halftime of last Saturday’s “Green-White” spring game at Spartan Stadium and are making their way along the 2,000-mile route.

Joe has been reporting in each day from the road. See Joe D’s travel log>>>

Electric start

Joe DeLamielleure was one of two first round selections made by the Buffalo Bills in the 1973 NFL Draft. He instantly earned a starting spot at guard on the Bills’ offensive line. The front five earned the nickname “Electric Company,” because they ‘turned on the Juice’ (aka Hall of Fame running back O.J. Simpson).

He wasted little time making an impact in the NFL. During his rookie season, Joe was a lead blocker for Simpson when the runner became the first player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season.

Needless to say, Joe was voted to the NFL’s All-Rookie Team that year. It was just the start of a long and storied career that he spent in Buffalo from 1973-79 before moving on to the Cleveland Browns for five seasons. Joe finished his Hall of Fame career with one last stop in Buffalo in 1985. In all, Joe was named to six Pro Bowls and was All-Pro each season from 1975 to 1980. He was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1970s.

Joe paved the way for a 1,000-yard rusher eight times: Simpson (1973-76 Bills), Terry Miller (1978 Bills), and Mike Pruitt (1980-81, 1983 Browns).

Simpson, Bills set rushing record in 1973

In 1973, with Joe DeLamielleure leading the way, O.J. Simpson became the first player in NFL history to reach the 2,000-yard mark. The Bills also set the NFL record for rushing yards in a season with 3,088. Today, that yardage total ranks second most in a season behind only the 1978 New England Patriots.

More from Profootballhof.com
Joe DeLamielleure’s HOF Bio
Team Histories – Bills | Browns
 

Do you have a question for Joe DeLamielleure? Each week, we invite fans to email us questions for the upcoming guest on Pro Football Hall of Fame Presents Countdown to Canton. Then, Randy will pick one of the questions and it will be used on-air during the show. So, if you have a question for Joe DeLamielleure this Friday, go ahead and email us now at: [email protected]  - or - [email protected]  (Please be sure to include your name with city and state)

Randy Cross

Join us this August for one of sports greatest events. Tickets and fan packages for the 2009 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival are on sale now>>>