Joe DeLamielleure

Joe DeLamielleure grew up in a family of 10 in Center Line Michigan in a factory neighborhood 10 miles from Detroit’s Tiger Stadium. Joe graduated from St. Clements High School and received a football scholarship to Michigan State University in 1969. An All-America and three-time All-Big Ten performer at Michigan State, “Joe D” as he was known, was selected in the first round of the 1973 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills.

A starter from the first game of his rookie season, he went on to play in 185 consecutive games during his 13 playing seasons with the Bills and the Cleveland Browns, only three of which were not starts.

He went on to become the most honored lineman of the Bills respected front wall. Eight times during his career he was selected first- or second-team All-Pro; seven times he was named first- or second-team All-AFC, and six times he was named to the Pro Bowl. In 1975, the NFL Players Association named him Offensive Lineman of the Year.

DeLamielleure, who was named to the NFL’s 1970s All-Decade Team, finished his career in 1985 with a final season back where it had begun, in Buffalo.

Joe and his wife Gerri have been married for over 35 years and have six children, which include 3 girls and 3 boys. Two of their boys were adopted from Korea.