View source for Dick Modzelewski

{{Short description|American football player and coach (1931–2018)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name           = Dick Modzelewski
| number         = 70, 79, 77, 74
| position       = [[Defensive tackle]]
| birth_date     = {{Birth date|1931|2|16|mf=y}}
| birth_place    = [[West Natrona, Pennsylvania|West Natrona]], [[Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| death_date     = {{Death date and age|2018|10|19|1931|2|16}}
| death_place    = [[Eastlake, Ohio]], U.S.
| height_ft      = 6
| height_in      = 0
| weight_lb      = 250
| high_school    = [[Highlands High School (Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania)|Natrona Heights (PA) Har-Brack]]
| college        = [[Maryland Terrapins football|Maryland]]
| draftyear      = 1953
| draftround     = 2
| draftpick      = 16
| pastteams      =
* [[Washington Commanders|Washington Redskins]] ({{NFL Year|1953|1954}})
* [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] ({{NFL Year|1955}})
* [[New York Giants]] ({{NFL Year|1956|1963}})
* [[Cleveland Browns]] ({{NFL Year|1964|1966}})
| pastcoaching   =
* Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|1968|1975}}) <br> Defensive line
* Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|1976}}) <br> Defensive coordinator
* Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|1977}}) <br> Interim head coach/defensive coordinator
* New York Giants ({{NFL Year|1978}}) <br> Defensive coordinator
* [[Cincinnati Bengals]] ({{NFL Year|1979|1983}}) <br> Defensive line
* [[Green Bay Packers]] ({{NFL Year|1984|1987}}) <br> Defensive coordinator/defensive line
* [[Detroit Lions]] ({{NFL Year|1988|1989}}) <br> Defensive line
| highlights     =
* 2× [[History of National Football League Championship|NFL champion]] ([[1956 NFL Championship Game|1956]], [[1964 NFL Championship Game|1964]]) 
* [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1965 Pro Bowl|1964]])
* [[Outland Trophy]] (1952)
* Consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1952 College Football All-America Team|1952]])
* Second-team All-American ([[1951 College Football All-America Team|1951]])
| statlabel1     = [[Quarterback sack|Sack]]s
| statvalue1     = 32.5
| statlabel2     = [[Fumble]] recoveries
| statvalue2     = 12
| statlabel3     = [[Safety (American football score)|Safeties]]
| statvalue3     = 2
| pfr            = ModzDi00
| regular_record = {{Winning percentage|0|1|0|record=y}}
| pfrcoach       = ModzDi0
| CollegeHOF     = 1744 
}}

'''Richard Blair Modzelewski''' (February 16, 1931 – October 19, 2018)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/news-herald/obituary.aspx?n=richard-blair-modzelewski-little-mo&pid=190522048&fhid=2399|title=Richard Modzelewski Obituary|website=[[Legacy.com]] }}</ref> was an American professional [[American football|football]] [[defensive tackle]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) for the [[Washington Commanders|Washington Redskins]], [[Pittsburgh Steelers]], [[New York Giants]], and [[Cleveland Browns]]. He also served as interim [[head coach]] of the Browns in the final game of the [[1977 NFL season|1977 season]]. Modzelewski was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] in 1993.

==Early life==
Growing up in West Natrona, Pennsylvania as one of six children, Modzelewski was a three-sport athlete at Har-Brack High School (now [[Highlands High School (Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania)|Highlands High School]]).

==College career==
Modzelewski joined his brother, [[Ed Modzelewski|Ed]], and played [[college football]] at the [[University of Maryland, College Park|University of Maryland]]. Just as he was set to begin his sophomore season, Modzelewski moved into the starting lineup after an injury to the Terrapins' [[Ray Krouse]].

He would keep that status for the next three years, winning [[All-America]]n honors as both a junior and senior, while also capturing the 1952 [[Outland Trophy]]. In a 1951 game against the [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill|University of North Carolina]], Modzelewski paced a defense with 12 solo tackles, while the team held the Tar Heels to just 40 yards of offense. At the end of that season, Maryland was ranked third in the country and knocked off the top-ranked [[University of Tennessee]] Volunteers in the [[Sugar Bowl]].

===Washington Redskins===
The [[Washington Commanders|Washington Redskins]] took notice of Modzelewski's accomplishments and drafted him in the second round of the [[1953 NFL draft]], signing him on April 10. In his two years with the team, Modzelewski showed promise as a rookie, then began having conflicts with Redskins' coach [[Joe Kuharich]] in 1954.  As a result, Modzelewski signed with the [[Calgary Stampeders]] of the [[Canadian Football League]], ready to play for former Maryland assistant coach [[Jack Hennemier]]. However, after the Redskins filed an injunction to stop the deal, the Stampeders signed an agreement to tear up the contract.

===Pittsburgh Steelers===
With Modzelewski unhappy, the Redskins traded him to the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] on March 1, 1955, once again reuniting him with brother Ed, a fullback on the team. The brothers would not play together though, as Ed was traded to the Cleveland Browns as a replacement for retiring Hall of Famer Marion Motley, with whom he won the NFL Championship.  Dick was once again traded, this time twice in a four-day span. On April 24, 1956, he was traded to the [[Detroit Lions]], then was dealt three days later to the [[New York Giants]]. In an ironic twist, the player the Lions received was Krouse, whose 1950 injury at Maryland had led to Modzelewski's development.

===New York Giants===
Over the next eight seasons, the Giants played for the NFL championship six times, but their only victory came during Modzelewski's first season in 1956. Among a colorful group of defenders, Modzelewski's low-key approach often saw him remain in the shadow of these players, but his presence helped the team remain a perennial title contender.

===Cleveland Browns===
On March 4, 1964, Modzelewski was traded to the Browns, in exchange for wide receiver [[Bobby Crespino]]. Originally expected to be a supplement to starting defensive tackles [[Jim Kanicki]] and [[Frank Parker (American football)|Frank Parker]], Modzelewski was rushed into the lineup following an injury to Parker in the season opener on September 13.

Over the course of the season, Modzelewski's veteran leadership helped lead the Browns to their first Eastern Conference title in seven years. In the NFL Championship game on December 27, he joined an aggressive defense in completely shutting down the [[Baltimore Colts]] offense, giving the Browns a 27–0 shutout victory.

In his final two years as a player, the Browns again reached the title game in 1965, but fell short the following year. During his final campaign, Modzelewski was joined by another brother, Gene, who played one season before fulfilling a military commitment.

==Coaching career==
Modzelewski served as a scout for the Browns in 1967, then joined the team's on-field staff the following year as defensive line coach. After two solid years in which the team again reached the NFL Championship game, the Browns' fortunes declined over the next five years, with a then-team-worst 3–11 record in 1975 forcing head coach [[Forrest Gregg]] to make changes.

On February 13, 1976, Modzelewski was promoted to defensive coordinator and  the team responded with a six-game improvement. Midway through the [[1977 NFL season|1977 season]], the Browns had a 5–2 record and seemed destined for their first playoff berth in five years. However, a season-ending injury to starting quarterback [[Brian Sipe]] led to a tailspin that culminated with Gregg's dismissal on December 13. Modzelewski was named interim head coach for the team's final game, a 20–19 loss to the second-year [[Seattle Seahawks]].

As 1978 began, new Browns head coach [[Sam Rutigliano]] quickly announced he was eliminating the defensive coordinator position, and offered Modzelewski the job of defensive line coach. Seeing the offer as a demotion, Modzelewski resigned and returned to the [[New York Giants]] as their defensive coordinator. That position would last only one season after another wholesale coaching change, but he would resurface as defensive line coach with the [[Cincinnati Bengals]] in 1979 under head coach [[Homer Rice]].

After first being dismissed with the entire staff one day after the end of the [[1979 NFL season|1979 season]], Modzelewski was rehired by Gregg, who had been selected as the Bengals' new head coach. The team struggled to a 6–10 season in 1980, but then put together a memorable year in 1981, ending with the franchise's first-ever trip to the [[Super Bowl]]. Despite a 26–21 defeat to the [[San Francisco 49ers]] in [[Super Bowl XVI]], the Bengals returned to the post-season the following year, but lost in the first round of the expanded playoff system.

After a disappointing 1983 season, Gregg left to take over his dream job: head coach of the [[Green Bay Packers]], then brought Modzelewski with him to again serve as defensive line coach and defensive coordinator. After four frustrating years, Gregg resigned and Modzelewski landed with the Lions in 1988 as the defensive line tutor. He spent two years in that role until announcing his retirement.

==Legacy==
In 1993, Modzelewski was honored for his college football exploits with his induction into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] and in 1986, Dick was inducted into the National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://polishsportshof.com/inductees/football/dick-modzelewski/|title=NPASHF &#124; Dick Modzelewski}}</ref>

Dick Modzelewski played and started in 8 NFL championship games. 1956, 1958, 1959, 1961–1963  with the [[New York Giants]], and 1964 and 1965 with the [[Cleveland Browns]]. He was an NFL Champion twice with the 1956 New York Giants and 1964 Cleveland Browns. 
He has been a player in more NFL championship games than just about any player in NFL history. [[Tom Brady]] has also played and started in 8 title games, all Super Bowls. 
Hall of Fame Left Tackle and Place Kicker [[Lou Groza]] played in 9 NFL Championship games plus 4 AAFC Championship games (All American Football Conference 1946–1949). Lou Groza was back up Offensive lineman in 2 Championship games and starting Left Tackle for 2 in the AAFC title games. In the NFL Groza was starting Left Tackle in 7 NFL championship games (1950–1955 & 1957) and Place Kicker in 2 more (1964 & 1965).

==See also==
* [[1952 College Football All-America Team]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{1951 Maryland Terrapins football navbox}}
{{Redskins1953DraftPicks}}
{{Cleveland Browns coach navbox}}
{{1956 New York Giants}}
{{1964 Cleveland Browns}}
{{Outland Trophy}}
{{1952 College Football Consensus All-Americans}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Modzelewski, Dick}}
[[Category:1931 births]]
[[Category:2018 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Harrison Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Allegheny County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:All-American college football players]]
[[Category:American football defensive tackles]]
[[Category:American people of Polish descent]]
[[Category:Cincinnati Bengals coaches]]
[[Category:Cleveland Browns coaches]]
[[Category:Cleveland Browns players]]
[[Category:College Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Detroit Lions coaches]]
[[Category:Eastern Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:Green Bay Packers coaches]]
[[Category:Maryland Terrapins football players]]
[[Category:NFL defensive coordinators]]
[[Category:New York Giants coaches]]
[[Category:New York Giants players]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players]]
[[Category:Washington Redskins players]]
[[Category:Cleveland Browns head coaches]]