Report: NFL Hall Of Famer, 2-Time Champion Dead At 92

NFL Hall of Famer Gino Marchetti died 92, as confirmed by his close family members.

Marchetti was a legend on the field, and was also a US Army soldier. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge as a machine gunner in World War II.

He was selected in the 2nd round of the 1952 NFL Draft by the New York Yanks, which later  turned into the Baltimore Colts.

During his career, Marchetty was selected to 11 Pro Bowls and was a 9-time 1st Team All-Pro!

Marchetti was named to the NFL’s 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, joining the group of Deacon Jones and Reggie White.

“I kissed him and he knew me and smiled,” said Joan Marchetti, his wife of 41 years. “That was Gino’s way of saying goodbye.”

“He revolutionized the way you play that position in the NFL,” said Shula, former Colts player and coach. “Prior to Gino, the attitude [of pass rushers] was to try to physically overpower the offensive tackle. Gino showed that with good instincts and a lightning quickness, he could get around his man without really engaging him. The offensive tackle’s uniform never got very dirty, but the quarterback’s sure did.”

“Gino Marchetti dominated the football field during his career in the 1950s and ‘60s as a leader of the great Baltimore Colts teams of that era,” Hall of Fame president and CEO David Baker said Tuesday in a statement. “His ferocious style of play defined the character of a man who possessed a strong desire to succeed, passion, and determination that made him a great teammate. Those same traits made him a highly successful business leader after his playing days. The legacy of Gino Marchetti’s well-lived life will forever be preserved in Canton, Ohio to serve as inspiration to future generations of fans.”

Bob Vogel, an All-Pro offensive tackle and the Colts’ No. 1 draft pick in 1963, will always remember the first time he lined up against Marchetti in training camp.

“Talk about a lamb being led to slaughter,” said Vogel, 77. “He went around me and through me. It was like he was saying, ‘I can put slick moves on you, but I can also run over your skinny butt.’

“But I also remember Gino sitting next to me on the plane after we got stomped in San Francisco that year. He said, ‘We will come back from this; don’t be discouraged.’ Here was the king of kings, talking to a kid who was wondering why the Colts drafted him. That was a precious moment for me.”

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