Dick Modzelewski, the Giants’ tackle who played on the line that transformed defensive players into glamorous pro football figures during the team’s glory years of the late 1950s and early ’60s, died on Friday at his home in Eastlake, Ohio. He was 87.
His death was confirmed by his daughter Laurie Hardesty.
Modzelewski, the winner of the 1952 Outland Trophy as college football’s best interior lineman, playing for the University of Maryland, was obtained by the Giants in a trade before the 1956 season. Soon, chants of “Dee-fense” rang out at Yankee Stadium as Modzelewski at left tackle, Jim Katcavage at left end, Andy Robustelli at right end — all in their first season as Giants — and Rosey Grier at right tackle formed the first N.