Former NFL defensive linesman who played with the Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders and Denver Broncos from 1971 through to 1991. Alzado amassed a string of prestigious achievements in his NFL career including being named ABC's 1977 Defensive Player of The Year and Defensive Linesman of the Year, plus he was a key player in the Los Angeles Raiders' Super Bowl victory over the Washington Redskins in 1983. He even flirted with the idea of becoming a professional boxer and fought eight rounds in an exhibition match with 'Muhammad Ali in 1986 and implied that he was over the hill, Alzado responded by saying "I can still kick your a--". Whilst no conclusive link was ever established, Alzado was sure that his steroid abuse caused the brain tumor that eventually took his life. He never drank, smoked or used recreational drugs during his life and stated that steroids were the only questionable thing he put into his body. After years of denying steroid abuse, he finally came clean and used his admission to try and help prevent younger people from making the same mistakes that he had made. He passed away aged only 43 on May 14th, 1992 at his home in Portland, Oregon.
Defensive end with the Denver Broncos (1971-1978), Cleveland Browns (1979-1981), and Los Angeles Raiders (1982-1985).
Blamed his cancer on steroid use.
Was a good friend of Gil Gerard , although they never acted together.
In an interview on ESPN Classics SportsCentury series, Peter Alzado who is Lyle Alzados brother spoke about Lyle: "That violence that you saw on the field was not real stuff. Lyle used football as a way of expressing his anger at the world and at the way he grew up".
Between acting and football gigs, Alzado was a popular TV spokesman for Hanes underwear: "Even we tough guys like a little extra comfort underneath." Lyle also produced and starred in his own workout video, "No Sweat."
Inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.
Alzado played college football at Yankton College in Yankton, SD. Yankton College is now a minimum security federal prison.
He is buried in Portland, Oregons River View Cemetery.
