Alex Wojciechowicz

Alexander Francis Wojciechowicz (August 12, 1915 – July 13, 1992) was a professional American football player in the National Football League. He was an NFL Hall of Famer as an offensive lineman and linebacker for the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles.

Producer Danny Arnold, a New Yorker and fan of Fordham University athletics, named one of the detectives on the sitcom Barney Miller Stan Wojciehowicz, in honor of Wojie.

College career
He played college football at Fordham University, the center on the famed Seven Blocks of Granite offensive line, which included an undersized right guard named Vince Lombardi. He was named All-American in 1936 and 1937 and was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955.

Detroit Lions
Wojciechowicz was the Detroit Lions' first pick in the 1938 NFL Draft and won the starting center job in his first game as a Lion. Even though the Lions were in decline as a team, Alex would play with full effort on both offense and defense. In 1944, he demonstrated his defensive talents when he intercepted seven passes, a Lions record for several years. Although Wojciechowicz received his fair share of personal recognition, he yearned to play on a championship team. That never happened in Detroit. But when he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in the middle of the 1946 season, the two-time All-Pro selection joined a team that seemed poised to deliver him his dream.

Philadelphia Eagles
At age 30, Wojciechowicz went to the Eagles as their most well-known defensive player. His veteran leadership made him a major contributor to the Eagles’ championship runs in 1948 and 1949. From the time he was picked as Detroit's number-one draft choice in 1938 until he retired in 1950 after 13 seasons of professional football.

After retirement
He was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968. A resident of South River, New Jersey, he died there on July 13, 1992 at the age of 76.