Joe O'Malley

Joseph Patrick O'Malley (January 1, 1932 – March 20, 2015) was an American professional football defensive end who played two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round of the 1955 NFL draft. He played college football at the University of Georgia.

Early life O'Malley played high school football at Scranton Technical High School in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He earned all-scholastic honors and was the player of the game for the 1950 Scranton Lions Club Dream Game. He also participated in basketball and track and field. In basketball, he set several Lackawanna League scoring records, was widely considered one of the top inside players and was named to The Scranton Times All-Regional team twice. O'Malley was undefeated in the high jump his senior season and also competed in the 440-yard dash, broad jump and the shot put.

Professional career O'Malley was selected by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round with the 47th overall pick in the 1955 NFL draft. He was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers, appearing in 22 games and starting 9 from 1955 to 1956.

Personal life O'Malley married Sally Dodson in 1956, they had one daughter Shawn O’Malley, then separated and divorced in 1959. He then married schoolteacher Joyce Ervin on August 3, 1960. The couple lived in Conyers, Georgia and had three children Karen, Joseph II and Mike. O'Malley began working at General Wholesale Company in 1970 and retired from the company in 1994. O'Malley was a member of the Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Conyers. He is one of at least 345 NFL players to be diagnosed after death with this disease, which is caused by repeated hits to the head.