Orlando Lamar Pace was born on November 4,1975 and is an American former professional football player who was a tackle for 13 seasons in the National Football League, primarily with the St Louis Rams.
49 Facts About Orlando Pace
2.
Orlando Pace spent all but one season of his professional career in St Louis, concluding his NFL tenure as a member of the Chicago Bears.
3.
Orlando Pace was recognized as the cornerstone of a Rams offensive line that blocked for an offense with the most gross yardage, second-highest completion percentage, and fifth-most touchdown passes during his 12 years with the team.
4.
Orlando Pace was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2013 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016.
5.
Orlando Pace was a two-sport athlete for the Sandusky Blue Streaks at Sandusky High School.
6.
Orlando Pace was named to the Parade magazine high school All-America team as an offensive lineman and the USA Today All-America team as a defensive lineman.
7.
Orlando Pace attended Ohio State University, where he majored in business and played for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team from 1994 to 1996.
8.
Orlando Pace was only the second true freshman ever to start on opening day for the Buckeyes football team.
9.
Orlando Pace was a two-time consensus first-team All-American, and won the Outland Trophy in 1996 for the best college football interior lineman.
10.
Orlando Pace won the Lombardi Award for the best college lineman or linebacker in 1995 and 1996, becoming the only two-time winner of that award, and the most recent offensive lineman to be honored.
11.
Orlando Pace is one of only twelve players to have won both the Outland Trophy and the Lombardi Award.
12.
Orlando Pace was a finalist for the 1996 Heisman Trophy, finishing fourth in the voting, the highest finish for a lineman since Hugh Green finished second in 1980.
13.
Orlando Pace lined up at defensive tackle during some goal line situations during his junior year at Ohio State.
14.
Orlando Pace did not allow a sack in his last two years at Ohio State.
15.
Orlando Pace finished fourth in the Heisman trophy in 1996, which was practically unheard of for an offensive lineman, and demonstrated his dominance at the college level.
16.
In 1999, Orlando Pace was selected as a starting offensive tackle by Sports Illustrated in their "NCAA Football All-Century Team".
17.
Orlando Pace was one of five Ohio State Buckeyes on Sport Illustrated's All-Century Team 85-man roster; the others being Jim Parker, Archie Griffin, Chris Spielman and Jack Tatum.
18.
Orlando Pace was picked by the Rams as the first offensive lineman since Ron Yary in 1968 to be drafted first overall.
19.
Orlando Pace played 13 games during the 1997 season, his rookie year.
20.
Orlando Pace made his first start against the Oakland Raiders on September 28,1997, and started every game for the rest of the season.
21.
In 1998, Orlando Pace started 16 games at the left tackle position and was named Pro Bowl alternate.
22.
Orlando Pace was a First-team All-Pro for the Super Bowl winning Rams.
23.
Orlando Pace was anchor of offensive line that helped offense produce most passing yards in NFL history, playing in 1,006 of possible 1,013 offensive plays, second highest total on offensive line.
24.
Orlando Pace was one of three Rams' offensive linemen who were not penalized for holding.
25.
In 2001, Orlando Pace started every game for the fourth consecutive season.
26.
Orlando Pace played in 100 percent of offensive plays, joining Adam Timmerman as the only Rams to play in every offensive play.
27.
In 2002, despite missing six games due to injury, Orlando Pace earned his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl invitation.
28.
Orlando Pace had a lengthy holdout by reporting to camp on August 26,2003, and signing a one-year deal as the Rams franchise player.
29.
In 2003, Orlando Pace started all 16 regular season games and one playoff game, he helped the Rams' offense to rank second in the NFL with an average of 27.9 points a game.
30.
Orlando Pace earned a fifth consecutive Pro Bowl invitation as the Rams claimed their third NFC West title in five years.
31.
On September 5,2004, Orlando Pace ended another holdout and signed the Rams' $7.02 million offer.
32.
Orlando Pace went on to start all 16 regular season games at left tackle and both playoff games.
33.
Orlando Pace was one of three linemen to start every game and blocked for an offense that ranked eighth in the NFL in first downs.
34.
Orlando Pace helped Rams convert 13-of-16 fourth down attempts, second highest fourth-down conversion percentage in the NFL.
35.
Orlando Pace was a free agent in 2005 and explored the possibility of signing with another team.
36.
However, the day before the deadline, Orlando Pace accepted a seven-year, $52.9 million deal.
37.
In 2005, Orlando Pace earned seventh consecutive Pro Bowl invitation, tying him for fourth in Rams history, behind Hall of Famer DT Merlin Olsen, Hall of Famer G Tom Mack, and LB Les Richter.
38.
That season, Orlando Pace started all 16 games at left tackle, joining C Andy McCollum and G Adam Timmerman as only Rams linemen to start every game.
39.
In 2006, Orlando Pace started the 8 games he appeared in until he left in the second quarter against the Seattle Seahawks on November 12,2006, after he tore his triceps, ending his 2006 season.
40.
Orlando Pace was injured during the Rams' 2007 season opener against the Carolina Panthers on September 9,2007.
41.
In 2008, Orlando Pace played in and started 14 games, missing only two with an injury, compared to the 15 he missed in 2007 and the 8 he missed in 2006.
42.
Orlando Pace signed a three-year $15 million deal, with the Chicago Bears on April 2,2009.
43.
Orlando Pace started the first 11 games at left tackle in his lone season with the Bears in 2009 before sustaining a groin injury on November 29 in a loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
44.
Orlando Pace later finished the year as a reserve behind 2008 first-round draft pick Chris Williams.
45.
Orlando Pace owned "Big O's Ltd" in his home town of Sandusky, Ohio.
46.
Orlando Pace made appearances at his restaurant, occasionally signing autographs for his hometown fans.
47.
Orlando Pace was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame on December 30,2013, at the Pasadena Convention Center.
48.
Orlando Pace was a finalist in the 2015 Hall of Fame induction class and his second year of eligibility has made the final 15.
49.
Orlando Pace was portrayed by Brandon Murphy in the 2021 film American Underdog: The Kurt Warner Story.