Local Sports

East Palestine great made his way in the NFL

HILTON HEAD, S.C. -- Former Cleveland Brown Fred Hoaglin, one of East Palestine High School’s most distinguished athletes in school history, died suddenly on Aug. 1 at the age of 82 with his wife Jan by his side.

The 1962 East Palestine High School graduate helped the 1960 Bulldogs capture the Tri-County League football championship and in 1961 he played under future Youngstown State head coach Rey Dempsey.

The three-sport athlete who also played basketball and ran track was inducted into the East Palestine Distinguished Hall of Fame’s first class in 2002.

In a 1997 Morning Journal interview, Hoaglin said he never had his sights on pro football while in high school.

“I was tall and good, but thin and skinny,” Hoaglin said.

Tall and good was enough to get the attention of the University of Pittsburgh though.

“I couldn’t believe (coach Steve Petro) wanted me,” Hoaglin said. “I was 205 pounds in football, 185 in basketball and the day Petro showed up to give me a scholarship I had just won the county track meet and only weighed 170 pounds.”

While at Pitt he lettered twice in football and golf while pursuing a degree in industrial engineering. Hoaglin’s 1964 Pitt team went 3-5-2. In 1965, Hoaglin, who played tackle in high school, became the starting center for the Panthers in a 3-7 season which did include wins over Oklahoma, Miami and Penn State.

He played in the 1965 North-South All-Star game and entered the 1966 NFL draft where he was selected 93rd overall in the sixth round by the Browns.

“I wanted to go and try and see if I could do this,” Hoaglin said about playing in the NFL. “I didn’t want to go through life wondering if I could do it. When I was 2 years old I watched Lou Groza. During my first two years with the Browns my locker was right next to his.”

Hoaglin did not have to wait long to play a role on the Browns. Starting center John Morrow suffered a leg injury against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Hoaglin was called upon to start the final six games of the 1966 season for the Browns.

In 1967, Hoaglin started all 14 games for the Browns in a division title winning season blocking for future Hall of Fame running back Leroy Kelly who recorded 1,205 rushing yards that season.

In spring 1968, Hoaglin fulfilled his goal of getting his engineering degree at Pitt. He had one year to complete his degree upon leaving for the NFL and wanted to make sure he finished what he started.

“I wanted to do it. My wife would stay in Cleveland and I would drive to Pittsburgh and stay Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to complete classes. On Thursday I drove back to Cleveland. In all that time, I only received one speeding ticket.”

In 1968, Hoaglin started all 14 games and helped lead the Browns to a 10-4 record which included a division title. The offense ranked third in points and second in total yards while allowing the fewest sacks in the league. Kelly led the NFL in rushing that season with 1,239 yards. The Browns knocked off the Dallas Cowboys 31-20 in the playoffs to advance to the NFL championship game where the team fell 34-0 to the Baltimore Colts.

In 1969, Hoaglin again started all 14 games for the Browns and earned a Pro Bowl spot. The Browns won the division for the third straight year while finishing third in points scored and fifth in total yards. The Browns defeated the Cowboys in the playoffs 38-14 behind 344 yards of total offense. In the NFL championship game, the Minnesota Vikings blocked the path to the Super Bowl for the Browns with a 27-7 win.

For the fourth consecutive season Hoaglin started all 14 games for the Browns in 1970. During that campaign the Browns finished 7-7 but had the fifth most passing yards in the league and second fewest sacks allowed.

In 1971, Hoaglin played in 11 games and started eight for the Browns. The missed games were due to a calf injury. That Browns team finished 9-5 and won the division. Hoaglin did not start the divisional playoff game against the Colts which ended in a 20-3 loss.

In 1972, Hoaglin started four and played in all 14 games for the Browns as the team went 10-4 to again win the division. The perfect 1972 Miami Dolphins team ended the Browns season with a 20-14 triumph in the divisional playoff round.

Hoaglin was traded to the Colts for a third round draft pick in 1973 and played in all 14 games that season. The Colts turned around and traded Hoaglin in August 1974 to the Houston Oilers for a 10th round draft pick.

With the Oilers, Hoaglin played in 28 games over two seasons while starting seven.

He finished his NFL playing career in 1976 with the Seattle Seahawks after he was gobbled up in the expansion draft. Hoaglin played in 13 games while starting seven.

After his playing career ended, he took a job as an engineer with the Kenworth Trucking Co. in Seattle before the Detroit Lions sought him out as an offensive line coach in 1978.

After coaching with the Lions from 1978-84, Hoalin moved on to the New York Giants in the same role and helped win the Giants the Super Bowls XXI and XXV under head coach Bill Parcells.

“At that time you knew you were the best in the world at what you did,” Hoaglin said. “There are not too many professions where we can say we’re the best and everyone agrees.”

In Super Bowl XXI in January 1987, the Giants beat the Denver Broncos, 39-20, with Salem High School graduate Rich Karlis kicking two field goals for the Broncos.

After the Giants, Hoaglin followed Parcells to the New England Patriots from 1993-1996. His last stop was as an assistant tight ends coach under Tom Coughlin with the Jacksonville Jaguars where he served from 1997-2001.

“On Mondays, people on the radio always have a lot of suggestions for you on how to beat the team you played on Sunday, but on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, there is no one coming by to help with the work,” Hoaglin said. “Anyone who has ever played a sport at any level has probably though about quitting and not going out on the field. I’ve always put my shoes on and gone out and done it.”

Following the NFL, he continued helping young athletes as an assistant football coach at Hilton Head High School. In August 2023 he paid a visit to the East Palestine football team to offer his wisdom.

In his obituary published by Keith Funeral Home of Hilton Head, Hoaglin was said to have a deep passion for the Christian faith throughout his life. His family said his greatest legacy was not on the football field, but in his faith, his devotion to family and his kindness, integrity, humility and encouragement.

Hoaglin was preceded in death by his parents, George and Mary Jane Hoaglin. He is survived by his wife Jan, daughter Patricia, son Rick and sister Nancy. He also leaves six grandchildren and four great grandchildren.