Tom Sestak

Tom Sestak
Date of birth March 9, 1936(1936-03-09)
Place of birth Gonzales, TX
Date of death April 3, 1987
Place of death Buffalo, NY
Position(s) Defensive tackle
College McNeese State
AFL Draft 1962 / Round 17
Career highlights
AFL All-Star 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965
Awards All-Time All-AFL Team
Honors American Football League Champion, 1964, 1965
Buffalo Bills WOF
Buffalo Bills 50th Season All-time Team
Stats
Statistics
Teams
1962-1968 Buffalo Bills (AFL)

Thomas Joseph Sestak (March 9, 1936 - April 3, 1987) was an American collegiate Professional Football defensive lineman for the Buffalo Bills of the American Football League.

In 1962, following an innovative AFL trend of drafting players from small colleges, the Bills drafted Sestak as a tight end in the 17th round from McNeese State University. Sestak would never play that position for the Bills, but instead became one of the league's greatest defensive tackles. At 6-4, he had the size, speed and strength to handle any offensive lineman.

Sestak was a starter in his rookie year and, until a series of knee injuries ended his career after the 1967 season,used his strength to dominate the line of scrimmage. Sestak was a three-time selection to All-American Football League teams and a unanimous All-AFL defensive tackle in three consecutive years; 1963, 1964 and 1965. Sestak served as the cornerstone of a defense that took the Bills to the playoffs four straight years (1963–1966) and consecutive AFL championships in 1964 and 1965. Over the 1964 and 1965 seasons, Sestak and his defense mates held opposing rushers without a touchdown for seventeen consecutive games, a Professional Football record that still stands. Twice during his outstanding career he realized the defensive lineman's "dream", returning interceptions for touchdowns, and once returned a recovered fumble for a score.

His teammates described his play as "crazy as hell".

During the sixties, only six professional defensive linemen were unanimous All-League selections for three or more years, Sestak (3), Bob Lily (5), Merlin Olsen (4), Willy Davis (3), Gino Marchetti (3), and Deacon Jones (3). The latter five, all former NFL players, have already been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, while Sestak, a star from the AFL, like many other AFL players has been ignored by the Hall of Fame selectors.

In January 1970, Sestak was selected as a member of the All-Time All-AFL Team, and in 2009 as a member of the Bills' 50th Anniversary Team.

Tom Sestak died of a heart attack in 1987.

See also

External links

Buffalo Bills
Founded in 1959 • Based in Orchard Park, New York
The Franchise
Stadiums
Culture
Lore
Head Coaches
Ramsey • Saban • Collier • Johnson • Rauch • Ringo • Knox • Stephenson • Bullough • Levy • Phillips • Williams • Mularkey • Jauron • Gailey
Division Championships (10)
Super Bowl Appearances (4)
XXV • XXVI • XXVII • XXVIII
League Championships (2)
Wall of Fame
Seasons
1960 • 1961 • 1962 • 1963 • 1964 • 1965 • 1966 • 1967 • 1968 • 1969 • 1970 • 1971 • 1972 • 1973 • 1974 • 1975 • 1976 • 1977 • 1978 • 1979 • 1980 • 1981 • 1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1985 • 1986 • 1987 • 1988 • 1989 • 1990 • 1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011
Media
Current League Affiliations
Rivalries
Offense: Jim Kelly (QB) • Thurman Thomas (RB) • Andre Reed (WR) • Eric Moulds (WR) • James Lofton (WR) • Pete Metzelaars (TE) • Jim Ritcher (G) • Ruben Brown (G) • Joe DeLamielleure (G) • Billy Shaw (G) • Kent Hull (C)
Defense: Bruce Smith (DE) • Tom Sestak (DT) • Fred Smerlas (DT) • Darryl Talley (LB) • Mike Stratton (LB) • Cornelius Bennett (LB) • Shane Conlan (LB) • Butch Byrd (CB) • Nate Odomes (CB) • George Saimes (S) • Henry Jones (S)
Special Teams: Steve Christie (PK) • Brian Moorman (P) • Steve Tasker (Gunner)
Coach: Marv Levy