Pro Football Hall of Fame 2016: Tackle Orlando Pace
For the second consecutive year, the Pro Football Hall of Fame will welcome eight new members. Here we take a look at talented tackle Orlando Pace.
The first weekend in August is always a special time for football fans. Training camps are in full swing, the preseason kicks off this Sunday and there’s hope for all 32 NFL teams.
There is also this little event called the Pro Football Hall of Fame ceremony. It celebrates the accomplishments of the men who have made this a great game, be it as a player, coach or administrator.
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For the second straight year, there are eight legends in the class. The proud city of Canton, Ohio welcomes owner Edward DeBartolo, Jr., coach Tony Dungy, quarterback Brett Favre, linebacker/defensive end Kevin Greene, wide receiver Marvin Harrison, tackle Orlando Pace, quarterback Ken Stabler and guard Dick Stanfel.
We will take a look at the magnificent careers of each of these men as each receives the ultimate honor when it comes to their place in football history.
We have already delved into the careers of DeBartolo, Dungy, Favre, Greene and Harrison. Now it’s time to look back at the career of tackle Orlando Pace, who had a plan when it came to his football career at a somewhat early age.
“I wanted to set a new standard for offensive linemen,” said the massive blocker to Tim May of the Columbus Dispatch. “I know that’s rare for an 18- or 19-year-old guy, but once I entered Ohio State I was hungry and driven to play at the next level as well. I wanted to go down as being one of the best players who ever played at Ohio State, and then ultimately have an opportunity to fulfill my dream of playing in the NFL.”
And he did in a big way. The 6’7”, 325-pound specimen from Ohio State was the first overall pick in the 1997 NFL Draft by the then-St. Louis Rams.
“I coached a lot of great athletes over the years,” said one-time Buckeyes head coach John Cooper said. “But when it comes to the best football player I ever coached, there’s no question. Orlando Pace.”
In his third season in the league, the Rams would go onto win Super Bowl XXIV. Pace protected Kurt Warner and paved the way for running back Marshall Faulk. That 1999 season was also the first of seven straight Pro Bowl invitations for the talented tackle. All told, he would play 12 seasons for the franchise before spending the 2009 as an 11-game starter for the Chicago Bears.
Now he joins the greatest collection of football talent in Canton, Ohio. It’s fitting for a player who was determined to get what he wanted via hard work.
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“I wanted to finish my blocks,” said Pace. “The whole ‘pancake’ (block) thing came out of that. Guys don’t see big guys running downfield making blocks anymore. I wanted to stand out and be recognized for some of the abilities that I had. It just so happened somebody noticed it and decided to say, ‘This guy is a pretty good player.’ “
Indeed.
Additional bio link courtesy of the Pro Football Hall of Fame website