Bob DeMarco Biography
Robert DeMarco (born September 16, 1938) is an American former football center who played for 15 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for four teams.
Early years
Raised in Wood-Ridge, New Jersey, DeMarco graduated in 1956 from St. Mary High School in nearby Rutherford, New Jersey, where he played both offense and defense on the school's football team. He transferred to the University of Dayton from Indiana University, graduating in 1961 with degrees in business management and economics.
Football career
After playing three years of college football with the Indiana Hoosiers and the Dayton Flyers, and with one year of collegiate eligibility remaining, he was selected by the Chicago Cardinals in the 14th round of 1960 NFL Draft, the 157th overall selection. DeMarco played in the NFL from 1961 to 1969 for the St. Louis Cardinals, from 1970 to 1971 for the Miami Dolphins, from 1972 to 1974 for the Cleveland Browns and in 1975 for the Los Angeles Rams
DeMarco was named to three Pro Bowls (1963, 1965, 1967) and one first-team All-Pro team (1967) while playing for the Cardinals. In 1967, DeMarco was awarded a game ball after playing with a broken wrist and torn rib cartilage. The Cardinals released DeMarco after the 1969 season and he soon signed a contract with the Miami Dolphins.
DeMarco started every game at center for the Dolphins 1971 that went to the Super Bowl VI but lost his starting job to Jim Langer during the 1972 preseason. He was traded the Buffalo Bills but refused to report and retired. After missing the first two games of the 1972 season, he agreed to be traded to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a draft pick.
He was inducted into the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.
