March 16 marks birthday of Pro Football Hall of Fame guard Joe DeLamielleure

Joseph DeLamielleure, born on March 16, 1951, grew up near Detroit and graduated from St. Clement High School in Center Line. He played college football at Michigan State, where he earned All-American honors as a guard. The Buffalo Bills selected him with the 26th overall pick in the first round of the 1973 NFL draft. DeLamielleure was a crucial member of the ‘Electric Company,’ the offensive line that helped O.J. Simpson achieve a historic 2,003-yard rushing season. Throughout his career, he earned six All-Pro selections and contributed to the success of both the Bills and later the Cleveland Browns. In Cleveland, he protected MVP quarterback Brian Sipe and helped the team lead the league in fewest sacks allowed. After retiring from the NFL, DeLamielleure became an advocate for improved support for retired players, criticizing the NFL Players Association for insufficient efforts. In 2009, he biked from Michigan to Mexico to raise funds for an orphanage. Diagnosed in 2013 with early signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), he remained involved in football, coaching at Liberty University and Duke University. DeLamielleure was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003. Throughout his life, he maintained strong ties to Michigan, from his college days at Michigan State to his community work in the Detroit and broader Michigan area.