Joe O'Donnell

Who is Joe O'Donnell?

Joseph Raymond O'Donnell is a former offensive lineman who played eight seasons for the Buffalo Bills in the American Football League and the National Football League. He was a part of the 1964 and 1965 AFL Championship teams. O'Donnell was an AFL Eastern Division All-Star in 1965. In 1974, he came out of retirement to play for the Birmingham Americans of the upstart World Football League. He played for the WFL's Birmingham Vulcans in the 1975 season until the league collapsed, returning him to retirement from pro football.

Joe was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the 3rd round of the 1964 NFL draft, and by the Buffalo Bills in the 13th round of the AFL draft. He chose to play for the Bills.

Joe played his college football at the University of Michigan, where he began his career as a fullback, but moved to the offensive line in his sophomore year. Joe also punted for the Wolverines, and is remembered for a fake punt in a game against Navy in 1963 in which he rambled 50 yards for a touchdown. The fake punt was not a called play. Joe had noticed the defensive end releasing early for the return on the previous punt and decided to run for it if he saw that again.