Who is Dick Stanfel?

By Brad Weiss | Aug 5, 2016

CANTON, OH - AUGUST 9: General view of the exterior of the Pro Football Hall of Fame prior to the NFL Hall of Fame Game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on August 9, 2015 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Get to know 2016 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Dick Stanfel.

This month, Dick Stanfel will be posthumously inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but not many people know who he was. In fact, Stanfel had a career in football that spanned over 50 years and included numerous awards and accomplishments. Though he did not live to see himself inducted, he was more than deserving of the honor.

Stanfel was born on July 20, 1927, in San Francisco, California. After serving in the military, Stanfel went on to play collegiate ball at the University of San Francisco, playing so well that he was a first-time All-Coast player at defensive guard.

The Detroit Lions would make him the 19th overall selection in the 1951 NFL Draft, and after missing the 1951 season due to injury, he would go on to be one of the best offensive linemen in the NFL for the next seven seasons. Stanfel helped the Detroit Lions to the NFL Championship in 1952 and 1953, and after the 1955 season, he would finish his career by playing for the Washington Redskins from 1956-58.

He was honored with being a member of the 1950 NFL All-Decade Team and was an AP First-Team All-NFL team in five of his seven seasons.

After his playing days ended, Stanfel went on to be one of the best offensive line coaches in football, coaching in both college and the NFL. Former Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka called him the best offensive line coach in football. Stanfel helped the Bears to a victory in Super Bowl XX.

Stanfel was an assistant coach for most of his coaching career, but he was named the New Orleans Saints interim coach in 1980 when head coach Dick Nolan was fired. The Saints went 1-3 under Stanfel’s leadership, and he was not offered a contract after the season. In 1981, Stanfel was hired by the Chicago Bears.

Though he will be inducted posthumously, Stanfel was actually a finalist for enshrinement in 1993 and 2012, but he did not garner enough votes.

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