| Born: | (1926-02-03)February 3, 1926 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Died: | March 26, 2009(2009-03-26) (aged 83) Royal Oak, Michigan, U.S. |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Offensive tackle |
| College | Notre Dame |
| NFL draft | 1950, round: 19 / Pick 239 |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1950–1952 | Detroit Lions |
| 1953 | Green Bay Packers |
| 1954 | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 1954 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| Career highlights and awards | |
August Blase Cifelli (February 3, 1926 – March 26, 2009) was anAmerican footballoffensive tackle who played for threeCollege Football National Championship teams with theNotre Dame Fighting Irish football team and won the 1952 NFL championship with theDetroit Lions. After retiring from football, he went to law school and was elected as a Michigan district court judge, where he served for more than two decades.[1][2]
He was born on February 3, 1926, inPhiladelphia and attendedLa Salle College High School.[1] He served in theUnited States Marine Corps duringWorld War II, and was awarded thePurple Heart for his service in thePacific Theater.[3] He attended theUniversity of Notre Dame after completing military service, where he majored in philosophy.[3] He was a part of three national championship teams at Notre Dame, graduating from the school in 1950.[2]
He was selected by theDetroit Lions in the 19th round of the1950 NFL draft, as the 239th pick overall, and played for the Lions from 1950 to 1952. He also played for theGreen Bay Packers in the 1953 season, and split time between thePhiladelphia Eagles andPittsburgh Steelers in the 1954 season.[1][2]
Cifelli was one of the former players who participated in the May 1967 old-timers game against the 1967 Notre Dame football team. While the bulk of the "old-timers" were graduates from the previous year, Cifelli was joined byHeisman Trophy winnersJohnny Lattner andLeon Hart. The game was broadcast on ABC and played in front of 20,000 fans atNotre Dame Stadium.[4]
After retiring from football, he earned a law degree at theUniversity of Detroit Mercy School of Law.[3] He was elected to serve as a judge of the 48th District Court inBloomfield Hills, Michigan, and served in that role from his election in 1973 until he resigned from his seat in 2000.[2] For 10 years, he served as the court's chief judge.[3]
Cifelli died at age 83 on March 26, 2009, atWilliam Beaumont Hospital inRoyal Oak, Michigan, due to natural causes.[2]