You want to know how old school Don Colo is?
He played for Baltimore Colts, the New York Yanks, the Dallas Texans, and eventually established himself as one of the best defensive tackles in the league with the Cleveland Browns.
Colo, who will be inducted as a Browns Legend during ceremonies this weekend, was traded to Cleveland from Baltimore in 1953 in a then-record 15-player deal that also included sending future Hall of Fame coach Don Shula to the Colts.
The Browns so-so defense was completely transformed upon Colo's arrival. For the next five seasons, Cleveland would lead the league in points allowed behind the menacing lineman with powerful hands and ability to sense which plays were coming from opponents.
Colo won two NFL championships with the Browns, was selected to three Pro Bowls and also served as a captain in Cleveland's locker room. Otto Graham, Jim Brown and Lou Groza made the headlines and big plays while Colo was the consistent stone pillar week-in and week-out for the Browns.
Born in East Bridgewater, Massachusetts, the 90-year-old is one of the oldest living NFL alumni. Colo had never picked up a football before joining the team at Brown University. The 6-foot-4, 255-pounder excelled at the sport and was picked by the Colts in the third round of 1950.
When Colo announced his retirement in 1958, head coach Paul Brown had this to say: "His play has been important to us and we'll miss him."
Colo did have one final prediction when he met with reporters in December of 1958. He wanted to talk about the future of football.
"Biggest change is in the personnel – the players are bigger, faster and better," Colo said.
