DeLamielleure

Through his ups and downs, Hall of Fame football player Joe DeLamielleure has remained a believer in stretching

Joe Delamielleure started as a rookie on the offensive line for the Buffalo Bills in 1973. That season he was a part of “The Electric Company” line that opened holes for running back O.J. Simpson. That was the start of a Hall of Fame career for DeLamielleure, who later played for the Cleveland Browns. He was elected to the NFL Hall of Fame in 2003.

DeLamielleure, who has six children and three grandchildren, has experienced some woes after retiring from the NFL, including losing $240,000 to a con man. He worked a number of jobs to climb his way out of debt, including coaching football at Duke, a stint as a boxer and a brief return to the field in the Arena Football League at the age of 42.

Throughout it all, DeLamielleure has always stayed in shape. Today, DeLamielleure lives with his family in Charlotte, N.C. He sells JoeD Bands, which are stretch bands used in exercise regimens. Among his customers are NFL and college football squads. “I’m Willy Loman out there,” he said.

Q You never missed a game during your days in the NFL. To what do you attribute that?

In the NFL

A I was at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony [in 2003], and I saw a lot of great athletes. These were the big shots of the ’70s and ’80s, and most of them can’t even walk now (the result of football injuries). My son never saw me play. He thinks all the guys are in shape like me. He said, ‘Dad that’s no hall of fame. That’s a MASH unit.’ It was really sad. I’ve always worked out. I’ve always been in shape. I never had a surgery. I played 185 straight games. I know some of it is luck; some of it is the grace of God. But a lot of it, I’m convinced, is flexibility and stretching. I always stretched after practice. I think muscles shorten up after a workout.

Q You played in the Arena Football League at the advanced age of 42. What led you there?

A Some guy conned me, and I lost my life savings. I never claimed bankruptcy. I was lucky that Sam Rutigliano (DeLamielleure’s coach on the Cleveland Browns) helped get me a job at Liberty University, and then I coached for Duke. I played Arena ball, and I also boxed at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. I boxed a 10-round draw with Charlie “The Preacher Man” Hopkins. It sucked, but I needed the money. Humpy Wheeler (the owner of the Charlotte Motor Speedway) said he’d give me $5,000 if I boxed. Arena ball, I was coaching. I was 42 and weighed about 255. I was timing the guys in the 40 (yard dash). They were running 5.3s and 5.4s. My son, who was in eighth or ninth grade, said, ‘Dad, you could beat all these guys.” I ran a 5.1. The head coach said, ‘Holy crap, you want to play?’ So, I played about four games. We were playing in Florida. I was playing noseguard, and the fullback cut (blocked) me. He got up, and said, ‘I’m sorry, sir.’ I quit after that.

Q So are you competing in sports these days?

A When we were digging out of the financial hole, we lived paycheck to paycheck. I didn’t have much time for anything else. I still like to compete. I play a little golf. Maybe down the road I’ll try the shot put in the [National] Senior Games. But I always want to stay in shape. I like to say, ‘I want to die healthy.’

Q Lastly, we have to ask: Did O.J. do it?

A I don’t know. I feel bad for Nicole’s family and the Goldman family. That’s an open sore forever. You never get over that.