Sam Palumbo

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Sam Palumbo, born June 7, 1932 in Cleveland, Ohio, is a former NFL linebacker who stood 6 ft 2 in tall and weighed 226 pounds. He played college football at Notre Dame, where he was roommates with Regis Philbin. Palumbo was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round of the 1955 NFL draft (49th overall) and played for the Browns from 1955 to 1956. He helped the Browns win the NFL Championship in 1955. In October 1955, he dislocated his shoulder while diving for a fumble against the Green Bay Packers, but he still played in the Championship Game on December 26, intercepting a pass in the Browns’ 38–14 win over the Los Angeles Rams.

Palumbo also played for the Green Bay Packers in 1957 and for the Buffalo Bills of the AFL in 1960, recording one career interception. After retiring from pro football, he joined the Cleveland Football Officials Association and spent more than 40 years officiating at the high school and college levels, mentoring many younger officials. He was inducted into the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame on September 15, 2016.