RIP Dick Stanfel

Former Detroit Lions and Washington Redskins guard Dick Stanfel passed away Monday at his home in the northern Chicago suburb of Libertyville. He was 87.

Dick Stanfel was a dominant guard for the Lions (1952-55) and Redskins (1956-58). He was so great for the Lions that he was voted team MVP of the 1953 team that won the NFL Championship. He was so great for the Redskins that he was voted one of the 70 Greatest Redskins despite playing only three seasons for them. Baltimore Colts pass rushing great Gino Marchetti played with Stanfel at the University of San Francisco and against him throughout the 1950s. Marchetti compared Stanfel favorably with Colts tackle Jim Parker as a couple of the best offensive linemen to ever play in the NFL. Parker received immediate induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Stanfel is still waiting.

It sure would have been great to see Stanfel enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame while he was still alive. He deserved to be inducted decades ago. He was a senior candidate in 1993 and 2012. How he wasn't elected on either occasion is an absolute mystery. There really is no explaining why any voter with a passing knowledge of the game's history wouldn't vote for Stanfel as a senior candidate. Let alone vote against him twice. Hell, he should have been inducted before he ever became a senior candidate. He was named to the NFL 1950's All-Decade team. He was 1st team All-Pro five times. He was elected to the Pro Bowl five times. He was one of the best players in the history of two long-time NFL teams. He was an impact player on two Championship teams. He played in three NFL Championship games. DIck Stanfel was a great football player. One of the best of his era.

My father was a student at the University of San Francisco in the early 1950s. I grew up with tales of those Dons football teams. The talent at the school at that time was ridiculous. Ollie Matson, Gino Marchetti, and Bob St. Clair are honored in Canton. Pete Rozelle was the USF Sports Information Director. He's in Canton too. Dick Stanfel should have joined them long ago. After two misses as a senior candidate he may never get another a chance. It's a damn shame.

RIP Dick Stanfel. He's a Hall of Famer in my book.