Harley Edward Sewell (April 18, 1931 – December 17, 2011) was an

American football American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team with ...

guard Guard or guards may refer to: Professional occupations * Bodyguard, who protects an individual from personal assault * Crossing guard, who stops traffic so pedestrians can cross the street * Lifeguard, who rescues people from drowning * Prison ...

for the

Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit. The Lions compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) North Division. The team play their home games at Ford ...

(1953–1962), the

Los Angeles Rams The Los Angeles Rams are a professional American football team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Rams compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) West division. The Rams play ...

(1963). He was born in

Jefferson County, Oklahoma Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2010 census, the population was 6,472. Its county seat is Waurika. The county was created at statehood and named in honor of President Thomas Jefferson.University of Texas The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin, UT, or Texas) is a public research university in Austin, Texas. It was founded in 1883 and is the oldest institution in the University of Texas System. With 40,916 undergraduate students, 11,075 ...

. He and his wife, Jean (Moloney), had three children, James, Janet, and Nathan. They resided in Arlington, Texas. He died Saturday, December 17, 2011.

College career

At Texas, Sewell was an outstanding linebacker, however, the Lions drafted him as an offensive guard. He was the Lions’ first round draft pick in 1953. Used in the role of pulling guard, Sewell "was noted for his extreme hustle" and speed in blocking. Later, he was referred to as "a 'hillbilly' kid."

Professional career

A member of the Lion teams during the 1950s and early 1960s, Harley was the best draft choice for Detroit out of any choices in 1953. He moved immediately into the starting spot at right guard as a rookie and remained there for the next ten campaigns. A tireless worker, Harley was one of the toughest and most conditioned Lions of his era. He once said at the peak of his career, "(I) never feel like I have a job cinched." While that attitude may have served to motivate him, his abilities were never questioned by either teammates or his coaches. "Harley has hustled for us every minute since he joined the Lions," said his former line coach

Aldo Forte Aldo John Forte (January 20, 1918 – August 29, 2007) was a guard and an offensive tackle in the National Football League who played for the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, and the Green Bay Packers. Forte played collegiate ball at the Univer ...

. The 6-foot, 1-inch, 230-pound Sewell was a complete guard, equally skilled at either pass or run blocking. He was at his best when leading the running back on sweeps, inside traps, and counter plays. Harley's quick feet and acceleration allowed him to clear out larger defenders before they had time to counter his attack. Sewell was also a standout on special teams throughout his career. A regular on the punting and kickoff teams, he was once credited with 85% of the team's tackles on the kickoff unit in one season. Harley was a four-time Pro Bowl nominee during his career, making the season-ending trip after the 1957, 1958, 1959, and 1962 campaigns. He was inducted into the

College Football Hall of Fame The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and interactive attraction devoted to college football. The National Football Foundation (NFF) founded the Hall in 1951 to immortalize the players and coaches of college football that were vote ...

in 2000.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sewell, Harley 1931 births 2011 deaths American football offensive linemen College Football Hall of Fame inductees Detroit Lions players Los Angeles Rams players People from Montague County, Texas Players of American football from Texas Texas Longhorns football players Western Conference Pro Bowl players