SPORT, January 1955
Most pro football players don't last long in the game. The training regimen is tough and dull, the competition nerve-racking and bone-crushing, the pay not to be compared with that in big-league baseball. Most players in the National Football League can’t (or don’t want to) work their way through more than five or six seasons. The few who do clear this longevity barrier and come back for more are usually both good and sturdy. And although backs are supposed to have easier jobs and better pay, most NFL veterans are linemen. Looking for all the world like coal miners or longshoremen, holding semi-official roles as elder statesmen of the game, and proudly wearing their hash marks, these are the “old pros.”
They have a special look about them, durable, tough, experienced, wise, and the confidence and aggressiveness of a top sergeant. You see it in the likes of Vince Banonis of the Lions (in his tenth year), Bruno Banducci of the 49ers (11), Bob Dove of the Lions (10), Ed Sprinkle of the Bears (11), Frank Gatski of the Browns (9), Elbie Nickel of the Steelers (8). Especially, you see it in the Philadelphia Eagles, an old-pro team. Vic Sears, who played tackle for 13 years for the Eagles, retired this season. But there is still Frank Kilroy (12), Mike Jarmoluk (9), Frank Wydo (8) and Pete Pihos (8).
Pihos, 30 years old and 215 pounds, looks and acts like an old pro. During a game, he moves up and down the sidelines. Seldom sitting on the bench, carefully watching his team on defense (Pete plays offensive end), talking with his coach, Jim Trimble (who was a senior tackle at Indiana in 1941 when Pihos was a freshman), and yelling to young players he thinks might need a little pepping up.
Pete is co-captain with Chuck Bednarik and leads the offensive team. A hard worker and loquacious teammate, Pete is an excellent offensive blocker and top pass-catcher. He led the league in pass receiving last season with 63 catches, one better than fellow old pro Nickel. Not especially fast, Pete fakes well, has good moves into the secondary, always seems to know what he’s doing, and has remarkable hands. He does most of his gaining with short passes (he favors button-hooking) and runs hard once he catches the ball. Before ’53, Pete was mostly a defensive end but had to make the switch when Harry Grant jumped to Canada. Old pro Pihos made no complaints. He went out and played the game. That’s what he gets paid for.