Obituaries
Former Pitt Star, NFL Hall Of Famer Dies
A legendary University of Pittsburgh star who went on to a brilliant NFL career has died.
PITTSBURGH, PA — Joe Schmidt, a former University of Pittsburgh standout linebacker and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, died Wednesday. He was 92.
Schmidt played for the Panthers from 1950-52. He was selected first-team All-American in 1952 and also was selected to play in the Senior Bowl.
Schmidt played in the NFL from 1953 to 1965. He was named All-Pro 10 times, played in 10 Pro Bowl games and was named to the 1950s All-Decade Team. His teammates voted him Detroit's MVP four times. He served as team captain for nine seasons and totaled 24 career interceptions.
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Detroit won two NFL championships during Schmidt's career. He later coached the team for six seasons, leading the Lions to their only playoff appearance of the 1970s.
Schmidt became Pitt's first Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee in 1973. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000. Schmidt was a Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame inductee in 2019.
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Pitt retired Schmidt's number 65 at the 1997 Pitt-Miami game, in 1997, years after his final collegiate season.
"Joe Schmidt is a Pitt football icon," Panthers coach Pat Narduzzi said in a release. "His image is showcased throughout our facility for our players to see every day. That's because Joe set the highest of standards as a player and person at Pitt and in the NFL. We mourn his passing and share our deepest condolences with his family and many loved ones."- atic Victory at Cincinnati
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