Remembering The Great Middle Linebacker, Joe Schmidt

The letter “S,” in quantity and certainly quality, comes to mind in recalling the “s”uperb middle linebacker, Joe Schmidt, who died days back at age 92.

There is his name, nicknames (Our dominant athlete and eventual far better person, Santasieri, a sweatshirt, as “Schmidt/Schmo,” also Silly) and comparisons with another great at the position, named “S”am (Huff).

Joe Schmidt played his entire career with the Detroit Lions and managed in ’53 and ’57 to be on their last two title teams, representing half of the four they have won.

In Joe’s case as a way to attest to his greatness, more than the usual about voted awards as in ten consecutive years (’54-’63), he was voted both all league and to the Pro Bowl, the latter, once a fairly meaningful game and even now still an honor.