Wabash, 1982
• 1982 Honorable Mention Academic All-America® (Basketball)
Peter Metzelaars was inducted into the CoSIDA Academic All-America® Hall of Fame in 2011.
Though known primarily for his decades of distinction playing and coaching in the NFL—he played a record 235 games as a tight end, including four Super Bowls with the Buffalo Bills—in college Pete Metzelaars was just as formidable on the court as he was on the gridiron. Nicknamed “The Wabash Cannonball,” this 6’7” standout finished his college basketball career holding several school basketball records, including most rebounds (1,176) and was second in scoring with 1,976 points.
After earning Academic All-America® status in 1982, Mr. Metzelaars played three seasons with the Seattle Seahawks before being traded to the Buffalo Bills, where he spent ten of his 16 years playing for the NFL. In Buffalo he found his niche as a versatile player known for both his blocking and receiving skills, breaking the team’s record for receptions by a tight end, with 68 in his 1993 season. He played one season with the Carolina Panthers, catching the first touchdown pass in the team’s history, and finished his career playing two seasons with the Detroit Lions. He returned to the NFL in 2003 as part of the Indianapolis Colts coaching staff, where he stayed until 2012.
Throughout the years, Mr. Metzelaars and his wife Barbara have generously supported charities in their communities, earning the title 1995 Western New York Citizens of the Year for their philanthropic work in Buffalo.
Born: Three Rivers, Mich.
High School: Portage Central High School (Portage, MI)
Occupation: TE Coach, Buffalo Bills