Bill Fralic, who starred at the University of Pittsburgh before becoming a four-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman in the NFL, died Thursday after a fight with cancer, according to a news release from the Pittsburgh athletic department. He was 56 years old.
A three-time all-American who was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, Fralic went on to be selected No. 2 overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 1985 NFL draft. He played nine seasons in the NFL, including eight in Atlanta and one in Detroit, and was named to four Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams.
Fralic, who was perhaps best known for his run blocking, also has the unique honor of being the source of the phrase "pancake" blocks, which Pittsburgh officials first used to describe blocks in which Fralic pushed opponents onto their backs. The term has since become common parlance across the football world.
"Bill Fralic was not only an all-time player at the University of Pittsburgh, but also an all-time human being," Pittsburgh coach Pat Narduzzi said in a statement. "His generosity, support and concern for others was unmatched. For as hulking a figure as he was, Billy was even larger in his kindness and passion for others."
A Pennsylvania native, Fralic went on to found an insurance company and work on radio broadcasts for both Pitt and Atlanta. He also became a public critic of steroid use in football after admitting to using steroids in college.
Atlanta Falcons Arthur Blank issued a statement saying, “On behalf of the Atlanta Falcons we would like to extend our condolences to all the family and friends of Bill Fralic. Bill was a cornerstone of the Falcons for eight seasons, while earning four Pro Bowl nods and two All-Pro selections. He was a beloved Falcon, and we will always be grateful for the impact he made here in Atlanta.”
