Tony Adamle
Encyclopedia
Anthony "Tony" Adamle was a professional American football
linebacker
and fullback
in the All-America Football Conference
and the National Football League
. He played his entire career for the Cleveland Browns
(1947–1951, 1954).
Adamle had been a member of the 1942 Ohio State Buckeyes
freshman team, but left school prior to the 1943 season to fight in World War II
. He returned for the 1946 season—his only season with the varsity Buckeyes—then joined many of his former teammates on the Browns. With the Buckeyes, his most notable moment was an interception
against the Northwestern Wildcats
.
With the Browns, Adamle was an All-Pro
fullback/linebacker on five champion teams. He retired after the 1951 season to attend medical school, but was called out of retirement in 1954 by Browns head coach
Paul Brown
.
Adamle finished his college education at Kent State University
while with the Browns. After his athletic career ended he continued his education, receiving a medical degree from Case Western Reserve University
.
He served as the team doctor for both Theodore Roosevelt High School and Kent State University in Kent, Ohio
, where he raised his family, for more than thirty-five years.
Tony's son, Mike Adamle
, was a fullback for the Chicago Bears
and then became a sports broadcaster.
Tony's father, Joe Adamle (1894–1965), worked at the General Motors Fisher Body factory in Cleveland, Ohio
.
On October 7, 2000, Tony died from cancer
after battling it for seven years.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
and fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
in the All-America Football Conference
All-America Football Conference
The All-America Football Conference was a professional American football league that challenged the established National Football League from 1946 to 1949. One of the NFL's most formidable challengers, the AAFC attracted many of the nation's best players, and introduced many lasting innovations...
and the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He played his entire career for the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1947–1951, 1954).
Adamle had been a member of the 1942 Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State Buckeyes football
The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state...
freshman team, but left school prior to the 1943 season to fight in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He returned for the 1946 season—his only season with the varsity Buckeyes—then joined many of his former teammates on the Browns. With the Buckeyes, his most notable moment was an interception
Interception (football)
An interception, intercept or pick is a move in many forms of football, including Canadian and American football, as well as rugby league, rugby union, Australian rules football and Gaelic football, which involves a pass, either by foot or hand, being caught by an opposition player, who usually...
against the Northwestern Wildcats
Northwestern Wildcats
The Northwestern Wildcats are the athletic teams that represent Northwestern University, a founding member of the Big Ten Conference and the only private university in the conference. Northwestern has eight men's and eleven women's Division I sports teams. The mascot is Willie the Wildcat...
.
With the Browns, Adamle was an All-Pro
All-Pro
All-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season. It began as polls of sportswriters in the early 1920s...
fullback/linebacker on five champion teams. He retired after the 1951 season to attend medical school, but was called out of retirement in 1954 by Browns head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Paul Brown
Paul Brown
Paul Eugene Brown was a coach in American football and a major figure in the development of the National Football League...
.
Adamle finished his college education at Kent State University
Kent State University
Kent State University is a public research university located in Kent, Ohio, United States. The university has eight campuses around the northeast Ohio region with the main campus in Kent being the largest...
while with the Browns. After his athletic career ended he continued his education, receiving a medical degree from Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University is a private research university located in Cleveland, Ohio, USA...
.
He served as the team doctor for both Theodore Roosevelt High School and Kent State University in Kent, Ohio
Kent, Ohio
Kent is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the largest city in Portage County. It is located along the Cuyahoga River in Northeastern Ohio on the western edge of the county. The population was 27,906 at the 2000 United States Census and 28,904 in the 2010 Census...
, where he raised his family, for more than thirty-five years.
Tony's son, Mike Adamle
Mike Adamle
Michael David "Mike" Adamle is a sports personality and former National Football League player. He is best known as the co-host of American Gladiators series for seven years....
, was a fullback for the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and then became a sports broadcaster.
Tony's father, Joe Adamle (1894–1965), worked at the General Motors Fisher Body factory in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
.
On October 7, 2000, Tony died from cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
after battling it for seven years.