Bill Glass

William Sheppeard Glass (August 16, 1935 – December 5, 2021) was an American professional football player who was a defensive end for 11 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), beginning with the Detroit Lions and finishing his career as a standout with the Cleveland Browns.^[1][2] He played college football for the Baylor Bears and was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1985.

Glass lettered three years at Baylor University (1954–56) and was unanimous All-America guard in 1956. He made 154 tackles in 10 games. His pro career covered one year with Saskatchewan in the Canadian Football League (CFL) (1957); then four years with Detroit (1958–61); and seven years with Cleveland (1962–68).^[2]

Glass followed in his older brother's footsteps onto the football field. He became an All-American football player at Baylor University. Glass lettered three years at Baylor University (1954–56) and was chosen as All-America guard in 1956. He was taken at #12 in the first round of the 1957 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions, but signed with the Canadian Football League Saskatchewan Roughriders.^[3] After a year in the CFL, he signed with and spent four years with Detroit. He went to Cleveland in 1962 as part of the trade that sent quarterback Jim Ninowski back to Cleveland, along with running back Howard "Hopalong" Cassady. In return, the Lions received quarterback Milt Plum, running back Tom Watkins, and linebacker Dave Lloyd.^[4]

Glass started for seven years with Cleveland. He became a Pro Bowl defensive end with the Browns, playing a key role in the team's NFL championship in 1964 and Eastern Division championship in 1965.^[5] He retired after the 1968 season.^[4]

Recent research has estimated that Glass had 77.5 sacks during his 94 games with the Browns, which included 16.5 in 1965. He still holds the single-season record in sacks, but has since been passed by Myles Garrett for the all-time career record.^[6]

نشر جلاس مذكراته بعنوان " انضم إلى اللعبة! "، وهو كتاب يروي قصة حياة "أعظم لاعب دفاعي في فريق كليفلاند براونز". كما نشر كتابه " قف شامخًا ومستقيمًا " (1967، دار وورد بوكس ​​للنشر)، الذي شارك في تأليفه مع ستان موسير والدكتور ليزلي إي. موسير، والذي قدّم فيه نصائح للشباب حول مهارات الحياة الناجحة، وطُبع الكتاب عدة مرات. وقد ظهر جلاس في كنائس في أنحاء الولايات المتحدة للترويج للكتاب.

أمضى غلاس عدة فترات راحة من الدراسة في معهد ساوث وسترن اللاهوتي. عمل مع القس بيلي غراهام ، الذي شجعه على العمل في مجال الخدمة الدينية. أسس غلاس مؤسسة بيل غلاس للخدمات الدينية عام ١٩٦٩. ^{[ ٧ ]} ومنذ عام ١٩٧٢، انصبّت جهوده على خدمة السجون، ناشرًا الإنجيل بين النزلاء في جميع أنحاء أمريكا.

توفي جلاس في 5 ديسمبر 2021، عن عمر يناهز 86 عامًا. ^{[ 8 ]}