Gold Jacket Spotlight: Orlando Pace went from local standout to ‘Pancake Man’

ORLANDO PACE was never meant to be ordinary. 

Growing up in a small town (Sandusky, Ohio) just over 100 miles from the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Orlando grew up with big dreams. In his Enshrinement speech, he mentioned his first visit and how it inspired a youngster focusing on basketball at the time.

“For at 13, following a basketball tournament here in Canton, I toured the Hall of Fame and was inspired; me, a kid from Sandusky, that I, too, could be here one day as well,” he said. “This became my first goal, and now here I am, 27 years later, standing in Canton, Ohio, accepting this incredible honor. From high school, through college, to the final game of my career, my goal never wavered.”

Pace's towering stature and natural athleticism made him a standout in any sport he tried, but it was football that became his calling. 

At Sandusky High School, his combination of size, agility and a sharp mind for the game quickly caught the attention of college scouts nationwide. At 6 feet, 7 inches tall and 325 pounds, Pace was a tantalizing prospect for the top programs in the country, with Miami, Michigan, Ohio State and USC recruiting him heavily. Ultimately, Pace decided on Ohio State University, where he would develop under coach John Cooper and follow in the footsteps of a role model, former OSU lineman Korey Stringer. 

There, the term “pancake block” — coined to describe the way Orlando flattened defenders — stuck to him from his first practice as a Buckeye. His sophomore year brought national attention, as he became known for delivering “pancake blocks” and eliminating oncoming defenders. 

The nickname stuck, and “The Pancake Man” was born.

During the 1996 NCAA season, Orlando’s play was so dominant he was named the Big Ten Most Valuable Player and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, along with a run at the Heisman Trophy. Members of the OSU Athletic Department created a unique way of spreading the word of Orlando’s dominance, handing out pancake magnets as a promotion for his Heisman Trophy run. His fourth-place finish for the Heisman was the highest for an offensive lineman since 1973, and only one other offensive lineman has finished inside the top 10 since 1996 (2001 – eighth place). 

“There are some things that overtake the laws of physics,” Luke Fickell, Orlando’s teammate at Ohio State, said. “And Orlando is one of those things that doesn't obey the laws of physics.”

A highly rated prospect heading into the 1997 NFL Draft, countless teams wanted Orlando to become their franchise-changing offensive lineman.

Enter the St. Louis Rams.

A trade between the Rams and New York Jets saw the Rams acquire the No. 1 overall pick, sending the Jets their first-, third-, fourth- and seventh-round selections. The Rams selected Orlando, making him only the fourth offensive lineman taken No. 1 in NFL draft history to that point, a short list that included fellow Hall of Famers CHUCK BEDNARIK (1949) and RON YARY (1968).

As the blindside protector for quarterback KURT WARNER, Orlando was instrumental in the Rams’ historic “Greatest Show on Turf.” With weapons like MARSHALL FAULK, ISAAC BRUCE and Torry Holt, the offense set records for points and yards, while Orlando ensured Warner had the time to orchestrate it all. 

Coach DICK VERMEIL realized the importance of having a stalwart like Orlando anchoring the line after the team won Super Bowl XXXIV. 

“You cannot be a really smart football coach, you cannot win a Super Bowl, without a great left tackle," Vermeil told NFL Films.

For 13 seasons, Orlando was the gold standard at his position. He was named to seven Pro Bowls and first-team All-Pro three times. His consistency, durability and leadership made him a cornerstone of every team he played on, and his ability to neutralize the league's most fearsome pass rushers became the stuff of legend.

“The Pancake Man” routinely shut out opposing defenders in his 154 consecutive starts for the Rams, rarely penalized due to his brute strength and technique. 

Former Rams tight end Roland Williams, a teammate of Orlando’s on the Super Bowl XXXIV team, summarized his consistency and dominance perfectly. 

“You only notice linemen when they make mistakes,” Williams said. “Orlando didn’t make mistakes. You never walk into a house and say, ‘I’m so glad the light switch works; I’m so glad the water’s running.’ The Orlando Pace light switch was always working.”