Orlando Pace

No. 76     Chicago Bears
Offensive tackle
Personal information
Date of birth: November 4, 1975 (1975-11-04) (age 34)
Place of birth: Sandusky, Ohio
Height: 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	Weight: 325 lb (147 kg)
Career information
College: Ohio State
NFL Draft: 1997 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1
Debuted in 1997 for the St. Louis Rams
Career history
As player: St. Louis Rams (1997–2008) Chicago Bears (2009–present)
Roster status: Active
Career highlights and awards
2× Lombardi Award (1995, 1996) Outland Trophy (1996) UPI Lineman of the Year (1996) Jim Parker Award (1996) Super Bowl champion (XXXIV) 6× All-NFC (1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005) 3× AP First-team All-Pro (1999, 2001, 2003) 1× AP Second-team All-Pro selection (2000) 7× Pro Bowl selection (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)
Career NFL statistics as of week 17, 2008
Games played	158
Games started	154
Fumble recoveries	7
Stats at NFL.com

Orlando Lamar Pace (born November 4, 1975 in Sandusky, Ohio) is an American football offensive tackle for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams first overall in the 1997 NFL Draft. He played college football at Ohio State.

A five-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowl selection, Pace earned a Super Bowl ring with the Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV.

[edit] College career

Pace played college football at Ohio State University and was only the second true freshman ever to start on opening day for the prestigious Buckeyes football team. He won the Outland Trophy in 1996 for the best college football interior lineman. He won the Lombardi Award for the best college lineman or linebacker in 1995 and 1996 becoming the only two-time winner of that award. He is one of only twelve players to have won both the Outland Trophy and the Lombardi Award. He and Dave Rimington are the only three-time winners in the Outland/Lombardi category. He was a finalist for the 1996 Heisman Trophy finishing fourth in the voting, the highest finish for a lineman (offense or defense) since Hugh Green finished second in 1980. Pace is considered by many^[who?] to be the top offensive tackle in the history of college football. Pace also lined up at defensive tackle during some goal line situations during his junior year at Ohio State.

He was so dominant that the term pancake block—referring to when an offensive lineman knocks a defender on their back—gained popularity at Ohio State due to his play^[1][2][3], although several other college teams have been using the term since the 1980s, most notably Nebraska. In fact, the Ohio State Athletic Department distributed Orlando Pace pancake magnets as a promotion for his Heisman Trophy run. Pace did not allow a sack in his last two years at Ohio State. He was a Business major.

In 1999, Pace was selected as a starting offensive tackle by Sports Illustrated in their "NCAA Football All-Century Team". The other starting offensive tackle on that list was Bill Fralic. The second and third team offensive tackles were Ron Yary, George Connor, Dan Dierdorf and Bob Gain. Pace was one of five Ohio State Buckeye's on SI's All-Century Team 85-man roster; the others being Jim Parker, Archie Griffin, Chris Spielman and Jack Tatum.

[edit] Professional career

[edit] 1997 NFL Draft

After Peyton Manning chose to skip the 1997 NFL Draft and return to Tennessee, Pace was considered to be the top candidate for the Jets′ selection at No. 1 in the draft.^[4] The Jets eventually traded their top pick to the Rams one day before the draft.^[5] Pace was picked by Rams as the first offensive lineman since Ron Yary in 1968 to be drafted first overall.

[edit] St. Louis Rams

Pace played 13 games during the 1997 season, his rookie year. He made his first start against the Oakland Raiders on September 20, 1997 and started every single game for the rest of the season.

In the 1999 season, Pace played in 896 of 994 offensive plays and was elected to his first Pro Bowl. It was the first time that a Rams' offensive tackle was named to the Pro Bowl since Jackie Slater in 1990.

Pace has been voted to seven consecutive Pro Bowls dating back to the 1999 season, his third season in the league. Pace's blocking assisted the Rams to a championship win in Super Bowl XXXIV and a championship appearance in Super Bowl XXXVI.

Orlando Pace left in the second quarter against the Seattle Seahawks on November 12, 2006 after he tore his triceps, ending his 2006 season.

Pace was injured during the Rams' 2007 season opener against the Carolina Panthers on September 9, 2007. Officials confirmed that Pace would be out for the entire 2007 season, severely jeopardizing the Rams' offense for the remainder of the season.

Pace was released by the St. Louis Rams on March 10, 2009, ^[6] to save $6 mil. under the salary cap.^[7]

[edit] Chicago Bears

Pace signed a three-year, $15 million contract with the Chicago Bears on April 2, 2009.^[8]

[edit] Personal

Pace owns "Big O's Ltd" in his home town of Sandusky, Ohio. It is a family-friendly sports-bar located on W. Perkins Avenue. Pace likes to make appearances at his restaurant, occasionally signing autographs for his hometown fans. He also owns several homes in McArthur Park in Sandusky that he rents out to low income families. Orlando is also known for being a spokesman for "Our Little Haven “Safe & Warm” expansion project (1998)." He also donates five tickets to every home game for disadvantaged kids. He currently resides in St. Peters, Missouri.

[edit] References

He currently resides in Bannockurn , Illinois.

[edit] External links

• Chicago Bears bio
• Ohio State Buckeyes bio
• St. Louis Rams bio